Can Bilateral Stimulation Be Used With Eyes Open or Closed?

Can Bilateral Stimulation Be Used With Eyes Open or Closed?

Short Answer: Yes, depending on the type of bilateral stimulation being used. If you are following a visual target from side to side, your eyes need to be open so you can track it. If the stimulation uses alternating sounds or tapping instead, your eyes do not need to stay open for the stimulation itself. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can use visual, auditory, or tactile bilateral stimulation, so whether your eyes are open or closed can depend on the method and what works best for the session.

Key Takeaways

• Visual bilateral stimulation normally requires your eyes to be open.
• Alternating sounds can be used without visually tracking anything.
• Tapping or other tactile stimulation can also be used with the eyes closed.
• EMDR does not require eye movements in every set or every session.
• The type of bilateral stimulation can be changed if another method fits better.
• Whether your eyes are open or closed does not by itself determine whether EMDR is working.

When Do Your Eyes Need to Be Open?

Your eyes need to be open when the bilateral stimulation depends on vision.

For example, visual stimulation may involve following:

• A therapist's fingers
• A moving light
• A dot moving across a screen
• Another visual target moving from side to side

To follow that target, you need to be able to see it.

This is the form most people picture when they hear the name Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, because eye movements were part of the original development of EMDR and remain one of its best-known features.

But eye movements are not the only form of bilateral stimulation used in EMDR.

Can You Do EMDR With Your Eyes Closed?

Some forms of EMDR bilateral stimulation can be used while your eyes are closed.

For example, you may be able to keep your eyes closed while using:

• Alternating sounds through headphones
• Alternating tapping
• Other tactile stimulation

These methods do not require you to visually follow a moving target.

EMDR guidance for online sessions has specifically described clients who process with their eyes closed and the use of auditory guidance or tactile methods such as body tapping.

So doing EMDR with your eyes closed does not automatically mean bilateral stimulation has stopped. It may simply mean a nonvisual form is being used.

How Do Alternating Sounds Work With Eyes Closed?

Auditory bilateral stimulation usually involves sounds that alternate from one side to the other.

For example, a tone may play in the left ear and then in the right ear.

Because the task uses hearing rather than vision, closing your eyes does not prevent you from following the stimulation.

You can continue focusing on the memory, thought, emotion, image, or body sensation while listening to the alternating sounds.

This is one of the reasons EMDR can use more than one sensory method.

How Does Tapping Work With Eyes Closed?

Tapping uses touch rather than sight.

You might feel alternating taps on the left and right sides of the body, or use a self-tapping method such as alternating taps across the upper chest or shoulders.

Because the stimulation is tactile, your eyes do not need to be open to feel the left-right pattern.

EMDR materials recognize tapping as another form of bilateral stimulation alongside eye movements and auditory tones.

Does Closing Your Eyes Change the EMDR Process?

It can change the sensory experience, but it does not necessarily change the overall structure of the process.

You may still:

1. Bring a memory, thought, emotion, image, or body sensation to mind.
2. Use bilateral stimulation.
3. Pause after a set.
4. Notice what has changed.
5. Continue with another set.

The main difference is simply that the bilateral stimulation is being delivered through hearing or touch rather than through visual tracking.

Why Might Someone Prefer Eyes Closed?

Some people may simply find it easier to focus internally with their eyes closed.

Closing the eyes can reduce visual distractions in the environment and make it easier to notice images, thoughts, emotions, or body sensations.

That does not mean eyes closed is always better.

Other people may find it easier to stay oriented and engaged with their eyes open.

The preference can vary from person to person and from one session to another.

Why Might Someone Prefer Eyes Open?

Keeping the eyes open may feel more natural when using visual stimulation.

It can also help some people stay connected to the room and the present moment while they focus on a memory.

There is no requirement that everyone have the same preference.

The useful question is whether the chosen method allows you to follow the stimulation and stay engaged with the material you are working on.

People exploring EMDR in relation to anxiety may also find that their preferred eye position depends on which stimulation method helps them stay engaged.

Is Eye Movement Still Required for EMDR?

No.

Despite the name, EMDR can use more than eye movements.

EMDR resources describe bilateral stimulation using:

• Eye movements
• Alternating auditory tones
• Alternating tactile stimulation or tapping

Researchers have also studied other dual-attention tasks, and some findings suggest that the attention demands created by the secondary task may be more important than eye movements themselves.

That is why a session can still use EMDR procedures even when the bilateral stimulation is delivered through sound or touch.

Does Eyes Open Versus Eyes Closed Affect How Well EMDR Works?

Research does not provide a simple rule that one is always better than the other.

The answer partly depends on what type of bilateral stimulation is being used.

If the stimulation is visual, the eyes need to be open enough to track the target.

If the stimulation is auditory or tactile, eye position is less central to the task.

The broader goal is to maintain attention to both the material being processed and the stimulation.

The same practical question can come up when EMDR is being used for PTSD, because eye position still depends largely on the type of bilateral stimulation.

Can Someone Switch Between Eyes Open and Closed?

Yes.

The type of bilateral stimulation can change during EMDR.

For example, someone might begin with visual eye movements and later use tapping or tones.

EMDR training materials explicitly recognize eye movements, taps, and tones as different forms of dual-attention stimulation and note that alternatives to eye movements may sometimes be used.

That means a person does not have to commit to one visual setup for the entire session.

What About Online or Self-Guided EMDR?

This question is especially relevant to online and self-guided EMDR because digital programs can deliver bilateral stimulation in different ways.

With the Virtual EMDR self-guided program, bilateral stimulation is built into the online experience, and users can select and adjust available stimulation settings themselves.

If the stimulation is visual, you need to watch the screen to follow it. If an available method uses sound instead, visual tracking is not required in the same way.

The broader principle is the same whether EMDR is therapist-guided or self-guided: the position of your eyes depends largely on how the bilateral stimulation is being delivered.

Conclusion

Bilateral stimulation can be used with your eyes open or closed, depending mainly on the type of stimulation.

Visual eye movements require you to keep your eyes open so you can follow the target. Alternating sounds and tactile stimulation such as tapping do not depend on visual tracking, so they can be used with the eyes closed.

EMDR is therefore not limited to one eye position or one sensory method.

The important distinction is simple: if you need to see the stimulation, your eyes need to be open. If the stimulation is delivered through sound or touch, they do not.