At Mount Sinai Wellness Center, we have treated countless recovering addicts who have a history of trauma. Sadly, their terrifying daily reality causes them to seek out drugs to cope with the constant stress they experience. Our drug rehab program offers Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to treat recovering addicts who also have a co-occurring mental health disorder (dual diagnosis).

If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and you abuse drugs and/or alcohol, you’re not alone. Studies show how those with PTSD are more than twice as likely to have substance abuse disorder (SUD). The most common reasons some people suffer from debilitating PTSD is because they suffer in the aftermath of an extremely distressing event where they felt powerless, such as combat stress, assault, rape, abuse, or injury accidents.

What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

ART is an effective form of cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients who undergo ART have reported significant improvement in their symptoms in as little as 1 to 5 sessions. ART is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and depression, and has also shown promising results for individuals with phobias, panic, anxiety, and other malfunctioning behavior that disrupts general functioning and wellbeing. ART has been recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, as well.

How Does ART Treat Co-Occurring PTSD & Addiction?

The process is quite straightforward, but ART is very different from any type of talk therapy. During ART, patients do not have to talk about their trauma out loud. Rather, they are comfortable and safe in the presence of a therapist and begin to recall a trauma they have experienced. As they recall their distressing memories, the patient moves their eyes back and forth while silently recalling the scene of their trauma.

As the patient continues ART, the brain reprocesses their disturbing memories and gives him or her an overall sense of peace. By reprogramming how they experience distressing memories and images, this means they will no longer experience strong physical and emotional reactions from triggering thoughts. ART is useful because you will still retain your memories, but the treatment can lessen the pain and your visceral reaction to negative images, sensations and symptoms. That’s why ART proponents say, “Keep the Knowledge, Lose the Pain.”

How We Use ART at Mount Sinai Wellness Center

We offer several evidence-backed programs to address dual diagnoses, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Either of these treatments can successfully restructure a patient’s flawed thought processing and identify their unhealthy behaviors so they can replace them with more positive actions.

Our therapist, Jennifer Robinson MS, LMFT, has had a high patient success rates by helping them process their trauma and mental health problems so they can focus better on their sobriety and recovery. Jennifer is currently trained in the basic ART as well as advanced and enhancement training. Jennifer has worked with 9/11 survivors, and with those who have experienced extensive trauma related to any type of abuse, attack, assault, phobia, grief, accident, or other distressing event.

Contact Us at Mount Sinai Wellness Center to Learn More

Do you have co-occurring mental illness and addiction? Our staff at Mount Sinai Wellness Center has seen many patients confront their fears and go forth to live a more fulfilling life free of substance use. If you are ready to kick drugs and learn how to cope with triggering memories, we can help. By using evidence-backed therapies like ART and other proven therapeutic techniques, we hope to reach as many individuals as possible who suffer from PTSD and SUD and help them learn how to cope in life without resorting to drugs or alcohol.