Skip to main content

IS-ART Conference 2026

 Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries, 

When I started this blog, I wanted to find a way to share therapeutic tips for clients while also providing insight to other providers and future providers and this week I think I have the perfect topic to do just that. 

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the annual International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (IS-ART) Conference. The conference is an annual professional event designed for mental health clinicians who use or are interested in Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It brings together therapists, researchers, and trainers to share knowledge, explore clinical techniques, and stay up to date with developments in trauma treatment. The conference included live presentations and case studies and the best part for me is that it was held virtually so despite the 5 hour time difference, I was able to attend from England! 

The 2026 conference was centered on enhancing clinical effectiveness when working with trauma and related conditions. During the expert talks, practitioners were given some great tools to assist in deepening their use of ART, integrating it into their existing practice, and improving outcomes for clients through evidence-informed approaches. One of my favorite talks was on the use of ART with patients who are diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

In my practice, I utilize ART for Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, and for mental health issues related to chronic illness such as Type One Diabetes. I've seen ART be used on a patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the effects were a significant reduction in pain and so I was very optimistic about the outcomes of ART on those with ALS. To protect the integrity of the speaker I won't be discussing specific points from her presentation but rather summarizing my after thoughts. 

Using Accelerated Resolution Therapy with clients living with ALS requires a deep sensitivity to the realities of a progressive, life-limiting condition. In my personal opinion this isn't something any ART clinician should be taking on. If I were advising a ALS patient, I would suggest they look for a Master ART Practitioner (a level above advanced) and I would also be looking to ensure that provider has experience working with progressive conditions as well. 

While ART is not designed to treat the neurological course of ALS itself, it can play a meaningful role in addressing the emotional and psychological burden that often accompanies the diagnosis such as fear, anticipatory grief, trauma, loss of identity, and anxiety about the future.

A diagnosis of ALS (or any chronic or progressive diagnosis) can feel abrupt and overwhelming, often experienced as a psychological shock. Many clients carry distressing mental images tied to their diagnosis, future decline, or medical experiences. ART offers a structured, gentle way to process these images without requiring clients to verbally relive every detail. Through techniques such as eye movements and voluntary image replacement, clients can reduce the intensity of distressing memories or thoughts and shift how they emotionally respond to them. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who feel mentally “stuck” in worst-case scenarios or intrusive thoughts about disease progression.

One of the strengths of ART in this context is its efficiency and adaptability. Sessions can be shorter and more contained, which is important for clients who may experience fatigue, reduced mobility, or difficulty with sustained verbal communication. The therapist can modify pacing, incorporate breaks, and rely more heavily on imagery than dialogue when needed. This allows clients to engage in meaningful therapeutic work without becoming overwhelmed physically or emotionally.

Grief work is central when supporting individuals with ALS. Unlike traditional grief tied to loss after death, ALS often brings ongoing, layered losses- of function, independence, roles, and future plans. ART can help clients process these losses as they arise, reducing emotional flooding and supporting a sense of internal control. It can also be used to address earlier life traumas that may resurface or intensify following a serious diagnosis, helping clients feel more grounded as they navigate their current reality.

It’s also important to recognize the relational and systemic impact of ALS. Partners, families, and caregivers are often deeply affected, and clients may carry distress related to being a perceived burden or witnessing their loved ones’ pain. ART can support processing around these themes, helping clients access more adaptive beliefs, such as acceptance, connection, and meaning, even in the face of uncertainty.

Clinically, using ART with this population calls for flexibility, consent-driven pacing, and a strong attunement to the client’s physical state. Therapists must remain mindful of communication needs, accessibility, and potential medical complications, collaborating with the broader care team where appropriate. The goal is not to “fix” the experience of ALS and that should be made clear to the client to prevent future distress. The goal here, as with most chronic diagnosis we work through with ART, is to reduce unnecessary suffering and help clients feel more emotionally regulated, present, and empowered.

Ultimately, ART as a modality, offers a compassionate, efficient approach to supporting the psychological wellbeing of individuals living with ALS. By helping clients process distressing imagery, soften fear responses, and reconnect with a sense of agency, it can create space for moments of calm, meaning, and dignity, even in the midst of profound challenge.

Working with clients living with ALS reminds us that therapy is not about changing the reality of a diagnosis, but about transforming how that reality is carried. Accelerated Resolution Therapy offers a gentle yet powerful way to ease emotional suffering, helping clients move through fear, grief, and distress with greater calm and clarity. By meeting individuals where they are, both physically and emotionally, we can create space for dignity, connection, and meaning, even in the most challenging circumstances.

To find out more about ART visit the website here: Accelerated Resolution Therapy


For more information on how I use ART be sure to check out the Voyager Therapy Website

 Until next time- be kind to your mind.

—The Therapist Diaries

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wicked for Good: There Is No “Right” Way to Respond to Trauma

 Hello and Welcome to the Therapist Diaries,  If you’ve ever watched  Wicked , you probably went in expecting a story about good versus evil. What you may not have expected is a deeply human portrait of trauma, identity, and survival disguised as a musical. When Elphaba and Glinda sing  For Good , it isn’t just about friendship, it’s about how trauma reshapes us, redirects our pathways, and ultimately, transforms who we become. Trauma does not look the same on everyone. In fact, one of the most misunderstood things about trauma is the assumption that there is a “correct” way to respond to it. Some people cry. Some become quiet. Some become angry. Some become driven. Some dissociate. Some rebuild. And some like Elphaba, become the very thing the world once accused them of being. Elphaba’s trauma begins early. She grows up as an outsider, judged for a physical difference she did not choose. She is rejected by her father and mistreated by her peers. Her experience...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stress vs Burnout: How to tell the Difference

  Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  Congratulations, you’ve made it through January. However you did that, I’m not here to judge, only to offer a breath of fresh air as we finally step into February… one day closer to Spring! All jokes aside, I found January really stressful. Returning from the holiday period, the beginning of tax season, the lead up to the Super Bowl… there’s just so much going on in one month. This month, I’ve definitely learned  how important it is to take it slow, calm it down, and not let the stress of the season overwhelm us.  Stress and burnout are words we hear and use constantly, often as if they mean the same thing. Many people describe themselves as “burned out” when they’re under a lot of pressure, while others say they’re “just stressed” when what they’re experiencing runs much deeper. Although the two are connected, they aren’t interchangeable, and knowing the difference matters. What helps relieve stress doesn’t always ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Therapist’s Tale: Using Fairy Tales and Fables as Tools for Mindfulness and Mental Health

 Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  I recently found myself rewatching one of my favorite childhood TV shows -  Once Upon a Time . For those unfamiliar, it’s a modern-day retelling of classic fairy tales, where Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, and other beloved characters live double lives in a small town called Storybrooke, completely unaware of their magical origins. I've always loved the storytelling, the magic, and the drama, but watching it now, through the lens of a therapist and mindfulness practitioner, something deeper stood out. Fairy tales are more than whimsical stories for children; they are powerful mirrors of our inner self. At their core they are stories of transformation, much like the journey of healing. They’re filled with moments of struggle, uncertainty, and revelation, echoing the emotional landscape we navigate in therapy. And as surprising as it might sound, these age-old stories offer a powerful metaphor for mindfulness: the process of ...
Post a Comment
Read more