Can EMDR Be Done Online?

Can EMDR Be Done Online?

Short Answer: Yes. EMDR can be done online in more than one way. Traditional EMDR can be conducted remotely with a therapist through a video session instead of meeting in person. There are also self-guided online EMDR programs that allow you to work through a structured EMDR process independently. Virtual EMDR is one such self-guided program. These formats are different, even though both involve doing EMDR online.

Key Takeaways

• EMDR can be done online rather than only in an office or clinic.
• Therapist-guided online EMDR takes place through live video sessions with a therapist.
• Self-guided online EMDR uses a structured program that you work through independently.
• Bilateral stimulation can be delivered online through visual, audio, or other methods.
• Research supports remotely delivered therapist-guided EMDR, particularly for PTSD, although the research base is smaller than for EMDR overall.
• Online EMDR can offer more flexibility in where sessions take place.
• “Online EMDR,” “virtual EMDR,” and the Virtual EMDR program do not always mean the same thing.

What Does Online EMDR Mean?

Online EMDR simply means doing EMDR remotely rather than attending an in-person session.
There are two main formats.

Therapist-guided online EMDR involves meeting with a therapist remotely, usually through a live video platform. The therapist conducts the EMDR session much as they would during an in-person appointment, but you participate from another location.

Self-guided online EMDR uses an online program that guides you through the process without a therapist conducting the session in real time.

Both happen online, but the way the session is guided is different.

Is Online EMDR the Same as “Virtual EMDR”?

This terminology can be confusing because Virtual EMDR has two different uses.

Virtual EMDR is the name of a specific self-guided online EMDR program. With the Virtual EMDR program, you work independently through a structured online process rather than participating in a live therapist-led session.

You may also see therapists, EMDR organizations, and other websites use the general phrase “virtual EMDR” or “virtual EMDR therapy” to describe traditional EMDR conducted remotely through video.

In that usage, a therapist is still conducting the session.

So when you see the phrase “virtual EMDR,” it helps to check which type is being discussed:

• Virtual EMDR program: structured, self-guided online EMDR
• “Virtual EMDR” as a general term: therapist-guided EMDR delivered remotely

They are different ways of doing EMDR online.

How Does Therapist-Guided Online EMDR Work?

Therapist-guided online EMDR usually takes place through a video appointment.
You and the therapist are in different locations but communicate in real time.
The overall EMDR process can still include the familiar elements of EMDR, such as:

• Identifying what you want to work on
• Focusing on a memory, thought, feeling, or sensation
• Identifying related beliefs
• Rating disturbance
• Using bilateral stimulation
• Pausing to notice what comes up
• Checking whether anything has changed

The main difference is simply that you and the therapist are communicating through a screen rather than sitting in the same room.

How Does Self-Guided Online EMDR Work?

Self-guided online EMDR removes the live therapist from the session itself.
Instead, an online program provides the structure and instructions.
Depending on the program, you may be guided through steps such as:

• Choosing what you want to focus on
• Identifying thoughts or feelings connected with it
• Rating how disturbing it feels
• Using bilateral stimulation
• Pausing and noticing what comes up
• Repeating parts of the process
• Checking whether your response has changed

Because the process is self-guided, you manage your own pacing.
That means you decide when to begin, when to pause, and when to stop.

How Does Bilateral Stimulation Work Online?

Bilateral stimulation is an important part of EMDR, and it does not require two people to be physically together.
Online EMDR can provide bilateral stimulation in several ways.

Visual Bilateral Stimulation

A visual object may move from one side of the screen to the other while you follow it with your eyes.
This creates the alternating left-to-right visual movement commonly associated with EMDR.

Audio Bilateral Stimulation

Sounds may alternate between the left and right ears when headphones or earbuds are used.

Tapping

Alternating tapping can also be used, depending on the particular EMDR format.
The specific method can vary, but online delivery does not prevent bilateral stimulation from being used.

Does Online EMDR Still Follow the EMDR Process?

It can.
Moving EMDR online changes where and how the process is delivered, not necessarily the basic ideas behind the process.
Traditional EMDR is generally described as an eight-phase approach that includes preparation, assessment, processing, installation of positive beliefs, body awareness, closure, and reevaluation.
Therapist-guided online EMDR can follow this structure remotely.
Structured self-guided programs may adapt EMDR into a format designed to be completed independently.
The exact experience therefore depends on which online approach you are using.

Is Online EMDR Effective?

Research on remotely delivered EMDR has grown as telehealth has become more common.
Studies and clinical reports have found that therapist-guided EMDR can be delivered remotely, including for people working with PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
However, it is useful to distinguish between two different evidence questions.
There is a substantial overall research base supporting EMDR, particularly for PTSD.
The research specifically examining online delivery of EMDR is smaller, although findings have generally been encouraging.
There is also less research specifically on fully self-guided EMDR programs than on traditional therapist-guided EMDR.
These differences do not mean that all online EMDR is the same. They simply reflect that the different formats have been studied to different degrees.

What Are Some Advantages of Doing EMDR Online?

One of the clearest advantages is convenience.
Online EMDR can remove the need to travel to an office for every session.
Depending on the format, other advantages may include:

Location Flexibility

You can participate from your own space rather than traveling somewhere else.

Easier Scheduling

Remote sessions may be easier to fit around work, family responsibilities, or other commitments.
Self-guided programs provide even more scheduling flexibility because they do not require coordinating an appointment with another person.

Familiar Surroundings

Some people simply prefer doing EMDR in their own environment.

Access

Online options can make EMDR available to people who do not live close to an EMDR provider or who find regular travel inconvenient.
These advantages are practical rather than universal. Some people prefer online EMDR, while others prefer meeting with someone in person.

Is Online EMDR Different From In-Person EMDR?

The biggest difference is how the session is delivered.
With traditional in-person EMDR, you and the therapist are physically in the same location.
With therapist-guided online EMDR, you communicate through video.
With self-guided online EMDR, you use a structured program independently.
The core EMDR elements can still include focused attention, bilateral stimulation, check-ins, and noticing how your response changes.
The experience, however, can feel different simply because the setting and amount of real-time guidance are different.

Do You Need Special Equipment for Online EMDR?

Usually, the equipment is fairly simple.
Depending on the format, you may need:

• A computer, tablet, or other compatible device
• An internet connection
• A screen large enough to comfortably follow visual bilateral stimulation
• Headphones or earbuds if you are using alternating audio

A comfortable place where you can focus without frequent interruptions can also make the session easier to follow.
The exact requirements depend on the platform or program you use.

Can You Do Online EMDR at Home?

Yes.
Home is one of the most common places to participate in online EMDR.
You may find it helpful to choose somewhere you can focus for the length of the session without being interrupted frequently.
For example, you might:

• Silence unnecessary notifications
• Let other people know you want some uninterrupted time
• Choose a comfortable chair
• Keep water nearby
• Make sure your device is positioned comfortably

These are practical choices rather than special EMDR requirements.
The goal is simply to create an environment where you can pay attention to the session.

Can You Pause Online EMDR?

Yes, although exactly how this works depends on the format.
During therapist-guided online EMDR, you can tell the therapist when you want to pause.
With a self-guided online program, you manage the pacing yourself and can pause according to the program's available controls.
That flexibility can be one of the practical differences between self-guided and therapist-guided formats.

Can EMDR Eye Movements Really Work on a Computer Screen?

Visual bilateral stimulation can be displayed on a screen.
For example, an object may move repeatedly from left to right while you follow it with your eyes.
The important feature is the alternating visual movement, not whether the moving object is a therapist's fingers or something displayed digitally.
Online EMDR may also use alternating audio or tapping rather than visual stimulation.

What If You Prefer Audio Instead of Eye Movements?

Eye movements are not the only form of bilateral stimulation used with EMDR.
Some online systems offer alternating sounds that move between the left and right ears.
This typically works best with headphones or earbuds so the left-right alternation can be heard clearly.
Some people prefer visual stimulation, while others prefer audio.
The available options depend on the particular online system you are using.

Is Self-Guided EMDR the Same as Watching an EMDR Video?

No.
A structured self-guided EMDR program is different from simply watching a video that demonstrates eye movements or bilateral stimulation.
EMDR involves more than watching something move from side to side.
The process may include choosing a target, identifying associated thoughts and feelings, rating disturbance, using bilateral stimulation, checking in with what comes up, and noticing changes over time.
A structured program guides you through those steps.
Simply playing a bilateral-stimulation video does not provide the same structure.

Virtual EMDR as a Self-Guided Online Option

Virtual EMDR is a specific online program designed to provide EMDR in a structured, self-guided format.
Instead of meeting with a therapist in real time, you move through the program independently.
The program provides the session structure and bilateral stimulation, while you control your own pacing and can select and adjust available visual or audio settings.
This is different from what some therapists call “virtual EMDR therapy,” where a therapist conducts a traditional EMDR session remotely through video.
Both happen online, but one is self-guided and the other is therapist-guided.

Is Online EMDR Right for Everyone?

People have different preferences about how they want to do EMDR.
Some people prefer having another person guide the process in real time.
Others prefer working independently.
Some like the convenience and privacy of being at home, while others prefer having a separate place to go for sessions.
There is no single online or in-person format that everyone has to choose.
The useful question is which type of experience fits the way you prefer to work.

Conclusion

Yes, EMDR can be done online.
Therapist-guided online EMDR allows traditional EMDR sessions to take place remotely through video, while self-guided online EMDR uses a structured program that you work through independently.
Bilateral stimulation can also be delivered online through visual movement, alternating sounds, or other methods.
The important distinction is that online EMDR describes a way of delivering EMDR, not one single format. When comparing options, it helps to check whether the service is therapist-guided or self-guided and choose the format that best fits how you prefer to work.