Can Self-Guided EMDR Be Used Between Therapy Sessions?

Can Self-Guided EMDR Be Used Between Therapy Sessions?

Short Answer: Yes. Self-guided Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be used between therapy sessions if you want an additional way to work independently. It does not have to be treated as homework, and doing more EMDR does not necessarily mean making faster progress. If you are already seeing a therapist, self-guided EMDR can simply be another option you use at your own pace between appointments.

Key Takeaways

• Self-guided EMDR can be used between therapy appointments.
• Traditional therapist-guided EMDR generally does not require you to do additional EMDR work between sessions.
• More sessions are not automatically better or more effective.
• Self-guided EMDR gives you flexibility to decide when, how often, and what you want to work on.
• If you are already working with a therapist, you may choose to let them know you are also using self-guided EMDR.
• Virtual EMDR is a structured, self-guided online EMDR program that can be used independently between therapy appointments.

Why Might Someone Use Self-Guided EMDR Between Therapy Sessions?

Therapy appointments are usually scheduled at particular times, while thoughts, memories, emotions, and everyday stresses do not necessarily follow that schedule.

Some people like having something they can use independently between appointments rather than waiting until their next therapy session.

Self-guided EMDR provides that flexibility.

You might use it because:

• Something specific came up during the week that you want to work on
• You want to continue exploring an issue you have already been thinking about
• You prefer having more control over when you do EMDR
• Your therapy appointments are spaced farther apart
• You want an independent option in addition to the therapy you already receive

None of this means you need to do EMDR between appointments. It simply gives you another option.

Is EMDR Between Therapy Sessions Considered Homework?

Not usually.

Traditional therapist-guided EMDR is different from some forms of therapy that regularly assign exercises or practice between appointments. EMDR itself generally does not require daily homework.

That distinction is important.

Using self-guided EMDR between therapy appointments is something you may choose to do. It is not something you have to do in order for your therapist-led EMDR sessions to work.

If you prefer to leave EMDR entirely within your scheduled therapy appointments, that is perfectly reasonable.

If you prefer having access to a self-guided program between appointments, that is another option.

What If Your Therapist Is Already Using EMDR With You?

If you are already doing therapist-guided EMDR, you may wonder whether adding self-guided sessions between appointments will help you make progress more quickly.

More is not necessarily better.

EMDR is a process, not a race. You do not need to fill every available day with additional sessions.

If you are already working on particular memories or concerns with a therapist, you may prefer to leave those specific areas for your scheduled sessions and use self-guided EMDR for other concerns.

You can also simply use self-guided EMDR less frequently and see how that schedule works for you.

If you are working with a therapist, you may choose to tell them that you are also using self-guided EMDR. This can help both of you understand what you have been working on between appointments.

What If You Are Using a Different Type of Therapy?

Your regular therapy does not have to be EMDR for self-guided EMDR to be relevant.

For example, you may be participating in talk therapy while also wanting an independent way to work with a particular memory, thought, feeling, or emotional reaction.

The two experiences do not have to be identical.

Talk therapy often involves discussing your experiences with another person. EMDR uses a structured process that combines focused attention with bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping.

Some people may appreciate having both approaches available.

How Often Can You Use Self-Guided EMDR Between Appointments?

There is no reason to assume that you need to do a self-guided session every day or every time something upsetting comes to mind.

A more useful approach is to pay attention to what actually works for you.

You might sometimes want to do a session between therapy appointments and sometimes not.

You may also find that shorter or less frequent sessions fit better into your schedule.

The goal is not to complete as many sessions as possible. The goal is to use EMDR in a way that feels useful and manageable.

If you already completed a meaningful EMDR session recently, you do not need to immediately start another simply because you have access to one.

Can You Work on the Same Issue Between Sessions?

You can, but you do not have to.

Sometimes a person may want to continue working with the same memory or concern they have been addressing in therapy. At other times, they may prefer to leave that issue alone until their next appointment.

With self-guided EMDR, you decide what you want to focus on.

You may also choose a different, more immediate issue that came up during the week.

Having that choice is one of the advantages of a self-guided format.

What If You Start a Session and Don't Want to Continue?

You can stop.

Using self-guided EMDR between therapy sessions does not create an obligation to finish every session you begin.

You can:

• Pause
• Stop for the day
• Choose a different focus
• Shorten the session
• Come back another time

There is no benefit to treating self-guided EMDR as something you have to complete simply because you started.

Using Virtual EMDR Between Therapy Sessions

Virtual EMDR is a specific self-guided online EMDR program designed to let you move through a structured EMDR process independently.

This is different from the general phrase “virtual EMDR,” which is also sometimes used to describe traditional therapist-led EMDR conducted remotely through video or telehealth.

With the Virtual EMDR self-guided program, you decide when to use it, what you want to work on, and when you want to pause or stop.

That flexibility can make it useful for people who are already attending therapy but would also like access to EMDR between appointments.

It can also be used independently by people who are not currently seeing a therapist.

Do You Need Your Therapist's Permission?

Using a self-guided program is ultimately your choice.

If you are already seeing a therapist, however, you may find it useful to mention that you are also doing self-guided EMDR between appointments—particularly if you are working on some of the same issues in both settings.

This does not mean your therapist needs to supervise every self-guided session.

It simply gives you the option of keeping the different parts of the work connected if that is helpful to you.

Conclusion

Self-guided EMDR can be used between therapy sessions, but it does not need to become another assignment on your schedule.

Some people like having an independent way to work on memories, thoughts, feelings, or everyday concerns between appointments. Others prefer to keep their EMDR work within their scheduled therapy sessions.

Both approaches are reasonable.

If you choose to use self-guided EMDR between appointments, you can decide when to use it, what to focus on, how long to continue, and when to take a break. More EMDR is not automatically better. The flexibility to find a pace that works for you is one of the main advantages of a self-guided approach.