EMDR is a therapeutic process that uses bilateral stimulation - rhythmic, alternating sensory input to both sides of the body, such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones - to help process disturbance and shift blocked beliefs. It works by engaging and taxing working memory, allowing the brain to reprocess experiences that have become stuck.
EMDR is one of the most extensively researched therapy modalities in existence, and it works across a remarkably wide range of difficulties. It was originally developed for trauma, but I now use it regularly with clients experiencing sexual dysfunctions, nervous system dysregulation, limiting beliefs, future anxieties, and present-day symptoms. Its versatility is one of the things I find most compelling about it.
One of the questions I'm asked most often is whether EMDR can be done online. The short answer is yes. For many people it works just as well as in-person therapy. Whether online or face-to-face is the better option depends on your preferences, your circumstances, and the way you like to work.
Can EMDR be done online?
This is something I’m asked about regularly - there’s often an assumption that EMDR can only be done in person, but that isn’t the case. In reality, around two-thirds of my EMDR clients work with me online at any given time. There are platforms designed specifically for online EMDR - video call software with bilateral stimulation built in: a light bar on screen and sounds through your headphones. Tapping is another form of bilateral stimulation your therapist can guide you through, and works just as well whether you're in the room or at home.
In some ways, I find EMDR translates particularly well to an online setting. I weave a number of techniques into my EMDR work - somatic releasing, parts work, and visualisations - and working remotely can actually support this. If a client is doing something they might feel self-conscious about in front of another person, they have the freedom to turn their camera or microphone off for a few minutes and simply be in their own space with it.
Is in-person EMDR ever better?
That said, online isn’t the right fit for everyone. In-person EMDR suits some people better - particularly if you feel more at ease in a shared physical space with your therapist. When we work together in person, I also have access to pulsators alongside the light bar and headphones - small handheld devices that deliver gentle alternating vibrations - which add an extra dimension to the bilateral stimulation that usually can’t be replicated online.
How do I know which is right for me?
Ultimately, whether you work in person or online, EMDR can be a powerful and effective process - and finding the right fit is something your therapist can help you explore before you begin.