Through the power of technology, therapy can meet you where you’re at. Experience healing from the comfort of your home. Explore if virtual EMDR therapy is a fit for you.

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a powerful modality for memory reconsolidation and trauma healing. Increasingly, people are turning to this therapy to move beyond symptom management and address pain at its source.

The good news? There are more ways to access EMDR now than ever.

This transformative brain-body therapy is no longer confined to cozy office settings. After the pandemic turned our worlds upside down a few years ago, therapists adapted EMDR to fit an online context.

Today, virtual EMDR is not just a dull replacement for in-person work – it’s a creative, dynamic, and effective form of healing. Studies show that online EMDR is just as impactful as in-person therapy for treating trauma and improving overall wellbeing.

Now, you might be wondering, “Can EMDR actually work through a screen?”

As a therapist who specializes in online EMDR, I can say: absolutely, yes! A core principle of EMDR is that your brain and body have a natural inclination toward healing. In therapy talk, we call this Adaptive Information Processing. This is the psychological equivalent of watching a papercut heal on your finger: with time and TLC, the skin repairs itself. The brain and body know what to do.

My job is to help you access your inner healing power. This happens through the various phases of EMDR:

exploring your history
practicing self-soothing skills (brain-body practices such as Calm Place, Container, and Healing Light Stream)
pinpointing the specific memories that are causing distress
using bilateral stimulation (BLS) to help your brain reprocess and heal painful memories
once the processing is complete: using more BLS to install positive states into your nervous system — joy, hope, self-compassion, confidence

Whether we meet in person or online, this process remains the same. Let’s break it down, step by step.

What does an online EMDR session look like?

Settling In

We’ll log into the virtual therapy platform. I’ll check in on how you’re feeling and what’s been happening in your life since our last session.

Preparing for Launch

We’ll double-check that you have everything you need on your end – water, tissues, a comfortable seat, and grounding objects (stone, fidget toy, blanket) if desired.

Taking Flight

I’ll ask a few questions to help you identify a memory that needs processing. These questions will “light up” the memory in your brain – just enough so that you can step one foot into the past and keep one foot grounded in the present. This dual awareness makes it possible to process distressing memories in a safe and manageable way.

Traveling through Awareness

As you notice the memory in your awareness, I will guide you through sets of bilateral stimulation – body-based techniques that activate communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. There are a few options for BLS: eye movements (watching a ball move across the screen, through a therapist-controlled software); auditory tones (listening to alternating sounds through your headphones); or self-tapping (using your hands to tap your body).

Combining memories with BLS is like opening a window, letting in fresh air to clear away the dust and cobwebs.

As you process the memory with BLS, its intensity and emotional charge will gradually lessen, paving the way for new, more positive associations.

Landing & Grounding

As we near the end of the session, the memory processing may or may not reach completion. If it’s not complete (meaning you still feel strong emotional distress with the memory), that’s okay. Not every session ends with a perfectly wrapped bow – because we’re humans, and healing is messy.

We’ll always wrap up our sessions on a grounded note – with time to debrief your insights and engage in self-soothing practices. We’ll make sure to “close the door” on processing for the day. We’ll plan to re-open the door at our next session, picking up where we left off.

Who is a good fit for online EMDR therapy?

If you’re busy and need low-key logistics

Online therapy decreases the intensity of transitions – the part where you have to get dressed, get in the car or on the bus, commute to the office, sit in a waiting room, and then do it all over again, in reverse.

If you struggle with transitions – or have a busy schedule that makes this degree of task-switching impossible – online therapy might be a good option for you.

With virtual EMDR, all you have to do is turn on your computer and log in. The time you would’ve spent commuting might instead be used to: step outside for a breath of fresh air, prepare a cup of tea, journal, or make your space nice and comfy.

If you enjoy being at home

Let’s be real – sometimes you just want to be alone, in your cozy nest, surrounded by creature comforts. Your pets, plants, and favorite mug may bring a sense of relaxation that even the most well-decorated therapy office cannot provide.

Adjusting to the sensory stimuli of a new space – with all its different textures, temperatures, scents, sounds, and lighting – may take away from the energy you need to engage in therapy.

Depending on your sensory needs, online therapy may offer greater accessibility and comfort. Therapy is hard enough work as it is – there’s no need to make it any more overwhelming!

If you cannot / prefer not to drive

You may have limited mobility or no access to transportation. You may be able to feel more present for EMDR sessions – and dive deeper into the healing process– if you know that there is no commute afterward.

Whether driving is stressful, inaccessible, or simply not your favorite thing to do, you can choose to bring therapy to you.

If you live in a remote area

Maybe you live in a small town, where therapists are few and far between. With online therapy, you have the option to work with any therapist who is licensed in your state. You’re no longer limited to finding someone within driving distance; or getting on a waitlist because every EMDR therapist in the area is full.

Who is virtual EMDR therapy not for?

While online EMDR offers incredible accessibility and convenience, it’s not for everyone. Here are some signs that online EMDR is not a fit for you.

If you don’t feel comfortable using your computer

If you don’t have a reliable Internet connection

While there are creative ways to work around technical glitches, internet connections that frequently cut out for several seconds or minutes at a time may impede the healing process. To participate in virtual EMDR, your Internet should be able to reliably sustain a 1+ hour video call, with minimal disruptions.

If you don’t have a private space for online sessions

There are some ways to ensure privacy. If you live with other people in the home, you might place a sound machine outside your door. Or you might schedule therapy for times when you know you’ll be alone. But if you’re constantly worried that your roommate will overhear your vulnerable conversations, seeing a therapist in-person might be a better option.

If you prefer to be in the same room as your therapist

If you need another physical presence in order to feel grounded

These last two go hand and hand. You might feel more comfortable letting go and being in the process, while in the presence of a trusted therapist.

Whichever path you choose – online or in-person – remember that the healing journey does not have to be solitary. Support is within reach, even through the screen.

If you’re curious about online EMDR therapy, let’s connect.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TO WORK WITH ME

{FOR COLORADO RESIDENTS}

Therapy services are available virtually, for adults located in Colorado.

About the Author

I’m Liz Zhou, a holistic trauma therapist (MA, LPCC, she/her). My work integrates teachings from psychology, neurobiology, multicultural awareness, and spirituality. I provide compassionate therapy for highly sensitive people across Colorado.

How Does EMDR Therapy Work Online?