Photo by Jody Isaackson Midwest Wellness Institute, PLLC Chief of Operations Sharon Clark and licensed therapist Kelsey Tollefson stand by the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatment machine. Tollefson also conducts a new medication free therapy called Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

MARSHALL — Licensed therapist Kelsey Tollefson is introducing accelerated resolution therapy (ART) at Midwest Wellness Institute.

Tollefson has a master’s degree in social work and is licensed as an independent clinical social worker. She received her undergraduate degrees at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, and her graduate degrees at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She also is trained in dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy as well as the new ART.

“ART is a form of psychotherapy with roots in existing evidence-based therapies, but shown to achieve benefits much more rapidly,” Tollefson said, “usually within one to five sessions, each lasting 1-1 1/2 hours.”

The treatment is very straightforward, using relaxing eye movements and a technique called voluntary memory replacement to change the way in which the negative thoughts and images are stored in the brain, she said.

“The end result is that traumas and difficult life experiences will no longer trigger strong emotions or physical reactions,” Tollefson said. “Importantly, clients do not even have to talk about their traumas or difficult life experiences with the therapist to achieve recovery.”

It is a scripted process where Tollefson will read statements such as the following:

“You will be in total control of the therapy. This is not hypnosis and you will be speaking to me just as you would during a session that does not involve eye movements.”

She said just like REM sleep, rapid eye movements are used to help relax the client as they visualize the traumatic experience.

“You may find that you connect pieces of information that are already stored in your memory to help you resolve your issues,” Tollefson said. “The brain, while focused on a problem and concurrently using eye movements, makes new connections with a person’s strengths and problem solving abilities.”

Tollefson then uses her hand to guide client eye movements from side to side as rapidly as they can keep up while they visualize their traumatic experience.

The ART process is as effective with adults as well as children, although Tollefson said she usually only works with people who are older.

“I prefer to work with 15-16 year olds and up,” she said. “It takes a special craft and different words to work with tots and grade schoolers.”

ART is often used for law enforcement personnel to treat mental health issues with total confidentiality because the client does not verbalize their traumatic experiences. The facts in their case files are not exposed.

For this same reason, ART is also effective for those who cannot communicate verbally, Tollefson said, such as those with disabilities including autism.

Midwest Wellness Institute, PLLC also offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for depression with Dr. Clay Pavlis. Like ART, TMS does not use prescription drugs. If a patient does need prescriptions for their mental health, the institute also has nurse practitioner Dawn VanRuler on staff who can write them.

Most insurances cover ART like they would any other therapy, Tollefson said. She’s been with Midwest Wellness Institute, PLLC since September 2017 and holds office hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Questions can be addressed to chief operations officer Shannon Clark by calling (507)337-0556.