Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Intensives in Utah County

Focused, 1–2 day trauma therapy with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Sometimes weekly therapy isn’t quite enough for what you’re carrying. Travel, work, parenting, church service, or just the weight of the past can make it hard to stay in the work week after week.

An ART intensive gives us a dedicated block of time—often 1–2 days—to focus on one or two big targets, using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to help your nervous system finally exhale. You stay fully awake and in control; we move at your pace, with breaks and grounding built in.

I’m Matthew Benavidez, LMFT, a Master ART Clinician and trauma therapist serving American Fork and the greater Utah County area (Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Pleasant Grove, Highland, Alpine, Orem, Provo, and nearby communities)

What is an ART Intensive?

An ART intensive is a structured block of therapy time—usually a half-day, full day, or 1–2 consecutive days—where we:

  • Focus on one main issue or cluster of memories (for example: a car accident, medical trauma, betrayal, or a specific pattern of panic).

  • Use repeated ART sessions in a row, with plenty of rest and grounding, instead of spreading the work out over many weeks.

  • Built in preparation, processing, and integration time so you’re not just “doing the work” but also understanding it and making a plan for life afterward.

ART uses guided eye movements and imagery rescripting to help your brain reprocess distressing images and body sensations so they no longer trigger the same level of alarm. You remain aware and in charge the entire time.

Who ART Intensives Are For

An ART intensive may be a good fit if:

  • You’re dealing with single-event trauma (car accident, medical event, loss, assault, religious or relational rupture).

  • You have repeating distressing images or body sensations that keep hijacking your day.

  • You’ve done talk therapy before, but feel stuck telling the story without much change in your nervous system.

  • Your schedule or travel makes regular weekly sessions hard (for example, you’re out of town often, or driving in from outside Utah County).

  • You’re ready to focus deeply on a specific issue and would rather concentrate the work instead of spreading it out.

Intensives are designed for adults (18+) and can be helpful whether you’re coming on your own or also doing couples work with me. For couples, ART can help calm trauma triggers that show up in the relationship, while Gottman and EFT tools help you reconnect.

How an Intensive Is Different From Weekly Sessions

Weekly ART sessions are wonderful for:

  • Ongoing support

  • Gradual pacing

  • Complex life situations where we need to move slowly

ART intensives are designed for:

  • A more concentrated experience

  • Addressing specific targets in a short window

  • People who want to carve out focused time to do deeper work and then return to regular life with clearer next steps

We’ll talk together about which format makes the most sense for your nervous system, schedule, and support system..

Safety, Screening, and Fit

Because intensives are focused and powerful, we’ll start with a careful screening process. This includes:

  • A consultation call to learn about your history, current supports, and goals

  • Screening for things like current substance use, self-harm risk, dissociation, seizure history, cardiac/respiratory issues, pregnancy, or ocular concerns

  • Coordinating with your existing providers (primary care, psychiatrist, or referring therapist) if appropriate

Intensives may not be the best fit if:

  • You’re in active crisis (current suicidality, self-harm, or unsafe living situation)

  • You’re in need of detox or residential care

  • You don’t yet have any stable support (friends, family, church, or other providers)

In those cases, I can help you explore other options or referrals that prioritize your safety

What’s Possible

Many clients report after ART work that they:

  • Think about past events with less emotional charge

  • Sleep better or feel less jumpy

  • Notice fewer intrusive images or body “alarms”

  • Feel freer to show up in relationships and daily life

At the same time, it’s important to be clear:

  • Results vary from person to person.

  • No therapist or therapy can promise specific outcomes or “erase” the past.

  • Sometimes we uncover additional layers that need more time and attention.

My commitment is to offer skilled, grounded, and compassionate care, to move at your nervous system’s pace, and to be honest about what we’re noticing together.

Practical Details

  • Location:
    In-person intensives are typically held at my office in American Fork, Utah (377 E 60 S), serving American Fork, Lehi, Highland, Alpine, Pleasant Grove, and Saratoga Springs, with many clients also traveling from all over Utah

  • Length:

    • Half-day intensives (morning or afternoon)

    • Full-day intensives

    • In some cases, 1–2 consecutive days for complex or multi-layered work

  • Fees & payment:

    • Intensives are billed at a special half-day or day rate rather than per 50-minute session.

    • We’ll review the current fee structure, any out-of-network options, and whether you may be able to use HSA/FSA funds.

    • A deposit is typically required to hold your date, with clear cancellation and rescheduling policies.

We’ll go over all of this in writing before you decide, so there are no surprises.

How to Explore an ART Intensive

You don’t have to know for sure that you want an intensive yet. Think of this as a curious next step, not a commitment.

Step 1: Share your interest

Complete this short ART Intensive Interest Form. It asks for:

  • Basic contact information

  • Whether you’re an existing or new client

  • A few checkboxes about what you’re hoping to work on

  • General availability for potential dates

This form is for interest only and is not monitored 24/7.

If you’re in crisis, please call 988, dial 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Step 2: Free 15–20 minute consult

Once I receive your form, I’ll reach out to:

  • Ask a few more questions about your goals and history

  • Talk through whether an intensive, weekly sessions, or a combination makes sense

  • Answer questions about schedule, fees, and what to expect

Step 3: Plan and prepare

If we decide together that an intensive is a good fit:

  • We’ll choose a date and length (half-day, full-day, or 1–2 days).

  • You’ll receive simple prep suggestions (sleep, hydration, gentle movement, support people to have on standby, etc.).

  • We’ll confirm paperwork, payment details, and any coordination with your other providers.

Step 4: Intensive day(s) + follow-up

After your intensive:

  • We’ll talk about what changed, what still feels tender, and how to care for yourself in the days after.

  • We may schedule a follow-up session to check in, integrate changes, and decide whether more work is needed.

FAQs About ART Intensive

Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?

No. One of the things many people appreciate about ART is that you don’t have to retell every detail for it to work. You’re welcome to share as much or as little as feels right; I’ll guide the process with your consent.

Will I feel wiped out afterward?

It’s common to feel tired, lighter, or simply “different” after an intensive day—your brain has been doing a lot of work. We build in rest and grounding, and I’ll give you specific aftercare suggestions. Most people are able to go home, rest, and return to normal activities the next day, but it’s wise not to over-schedule yourself afterward.

Can couples do an ART intensive together?

Often, one partner may come for an individual ART intensive to work on trauma that’s affecting the relationship (such as betrayal, past abuse, grief, or faith transitions). Then we use Gottman + EFT couples sessions to apply that healing in the relationship itself. In some cases, we can design a hybrid intensive that includes both individual ART work and joint couples time; we’ll decide this carefully together.

Will my insurance cover an ART intensive?

Coverage varies. Intensives are typically billed differently than weekly sessions, and some clients choose to use out-of-network benefits, HSA, or FSA funds. During our consult, I’ll explain how billing works on my side so you can talk with your insurance company or benefits provider if you’d like.

Ready to Explore an ART Intensive?

If something in you is saying, “I’m tired of carrying this alone,” but weekly therapy hasn’t quite fit—or you’re just curious about a more focused way to heal—an ART intensive might be worth exploring.

You don’t have to white-knuckle through this forever. Together, we can create a focused plan to help your brain and body step out of survival mode and into something steadier and more hopeful.

Ready to Begin?

Serving American Fork, Lehi, Highland, Alpine, Pleasant Grove, and Saratoga Springs.
Call/Text: 801-210-9147 • Email: matthew@benavidezlmft.com • Contact to schedule a consult.