In July 2025, Help REACH Africa (HERA), in partnership with Yale University and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, introduced Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to Kenya for the first time. This marked a significant milestone in expanding access to innovative, trauma-informed mental health care for vulnerable populations.

Conducted at Subiaco Retreat Centre in Nairobi, the six-day training brought together 24 healthcare providers from public health facilities and community-based organizations, including Health Options for Young Men on HIV/AIDS/STIs (HOYMAS). These providers serve communities that often face stigma, discrimination, and limited access to mental health services.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a brief, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and grief. Unlike traditional therapeutic approaches that may take months or years, ART has demonstrated the ability to deliver meaningful relief within just a few sessions. As one of the trainers described it, the goal is simple yet profound: “Keep the experience, but lose the pain.”

The training combined theoretical learning with practical, hands-on experience. Participants engaged in role-plays, rotating as therapists, clients, and observers. This immersive approach allowed them to witness firsthand the rapid and transformative impact of ART.

For many participants, the experience was deeply personal. Long-standing trauma often normalized or suppressed was brought to the surface and processed in ways that felt immediate and empowering. What initially seemed unfamiliar quickly became a tool they embraced with confidence.

As healthcare providers began applying ART in their communities, its impact became even more evident. Clients who had struggled with conventional counselling methods responded positively to this new approach. In some cases, individuals reported noticeable emotional relief after just one session, describing a renewed sense of hope and clarity.

The approach has also proven particularly effective among populations that face barriers to traditional therapy. Children, for example, have responded well to ART’s visual and less verbally intensive methods. For others, especially those dealing with trauma linked to stigma or marginalization, ART offers a safe and efficient pathway to healing.

Beyond individual outcomes, ART is contributing to broader system-level improvements. By equipping healthcare providers with new skills, HERA is strengthening the integration of mental health services within existing HIV and primary healthcare programs. This holistic approach recognizes the critical link between mental health and overall wellbeing, particularly in communities affected by trauma.

The introduction of ART has also generated growing demand. As more clients experience its benefits, word-of-mouth referrals have increased, highlighting both its effectiveness and the urgent need to expand access.

However, scaling up ART remains a challenge. Advanced training is required to address more complex cases, including childhood trauma and grief, but the cost of training continues to limit the number of providers who can be equipped with these skills.

Despite these challenges, ART represents a promising step forward. It offers a practical, scalable, and impactful solution to one of the most pressing yet often overlooked aspects of healthcare -mental health.

As HERA continues to expand its work, interventions like ART demonstrate what is possible when innovation, partnership, and community-centered approaches come together to restore hope and transform lives.