I often get asked whether EMDR Therapy can be done online. The short answer to that question is:
yes absolutely! The longer answer is that it is down to personal preference and/or willingness as well
as other practicalities (such as having a safe and secure place to do so). My personal preference is
face to face so most of my EMDR work currently is face to face. However, as I work nationwide (and
sometimes internationally), I do a lot of online EMDR too and it works just fine. If you are unsure of
what EMDR therapy is, click HERE. Below, I will give a brief explanation of how EMDR can be
achieved online and a few things to keep in mind for online therapy.
Firstly, in EMDR, we use bilateral stimulation (BLS) when processing. Whether that is eye-
movements (as the name suggests), using auditory tones, buzzers which vibrate alternatively, and
self-tapping (or a combination of the above). We can achieve all of these forms of BLS online.
Currently, I use a platform called Bilateral Base, which provides a light bar onscreen and has a
function to use auditory tones if the client has a set of headphones. I find Bilateral Base is great as it
is browser based, meaning you do not need to download anything and clog up computer space;
unless using a smart device where an app is needed. There are also platforms emerging where you
can purchase vibrating buzzers with USB cables. Without a specific EMDR platfrom, BLS can still be
achieved. The client can do self-tapping on arms or legs, or interlock thumbs and alternatively tap on
the collar bones. Self-directed eye-movements can also work online, as can therapist led eye-
movements where the therapist waves a pen or wand across the screen (no, EMDR is not magic,
though can sometimes feel like it); or a mixture of the above used at the same time to achieve the
Bilateral Stimulation. So yes, EMDR can be done online, with or without a specific EMDR platform.
Visual cues are essential in EMDR Therapy, so I would not recommend calls without a video element.
Some other things to consider: if you hate the idea of online therapy, it’s probably not going to work
for you in my experience. It is likely you will sit there thinking “I don’t like online therapy”, resulting
in you not be connected to the process enough, then it will not be as successful as a result. If you like
the idea of online or are at least open to it, it can work just fine. Some therapists tell me they have
had better success online, perhaps this is due to the disinhibition effect that can happen when a
person (the therapist) isn’t directly in front of you, and therefore, can feel less intimidating for some
people. It is extremely important to have a backup form of communication in case technology fails.
In my opinion, it’s best to have a large screen and to use headphones- this helps create immersion, a
feeling of being more connected to the process. Small screens such as tablets can suffer with less
immersion and may be limited to short eye-movements which could be less effective or forced to do
a different type of Bilateral Stimulation. Laptop and computer screens are usually large enough. As
always with online work, a safe and secure place to do the therapy is important, where there are no
worries of being overheard and if possible, to be done at a time where you can have time to yourself
for a short period after the session.
EMDR Online
