Can you do EMDR therapy online effectively?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is known for its effectiveness in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But many wonder if EMDR therapy online works.

In this article, we look at what EMDR therapy is, how EMDR therapy online is done, how it compares to in-person EMDR, and the benefits it offers.

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What is EMDR therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps people process and heal from traumatic experiences and painful memories. 

Created by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is helpful for PTSD, anxiety treatment, depression treatment, and phobias. It’s especially helpful for those who’ve experienced significant trauma, like abuse or accidents.

In-person or online EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS). Bilateral stimulation is a process of activating both sides of the brain alternately. Whether online or in person, 1 of 3 forms of BLS are used for EMDR:

• Guided eye movements (visual cues) where you use your eyes to track a ball from one end of the screen to the next.
• Bilateral tapping, where you’re encouraged to tap back and forth from side to side. (In person, the therapist may use an assistive device for the tapping.)
• Auditory tones (sound cues) where a sound plays in 1 ear then the other and back and forth.

As you engage in the BLS activity, you’re encouraged to let your mind wander, pay attention to any thoughts, emotions, or specific memories that arise to help you process traumatic memories. 

During an EMDR session, you work with a therapist who guides you through specific steps. See What happens during a session? below.

Online EMDR therapy retains the core elements of traditional EMDR, which are:

• Identifying a memory to focus on
• Using tapping, eye movements, or sounds to help decrease the intensity of the emotions
• Processing and talking about your memory and related thoughts to change your thought patterns and feelings about it

At the end of the EMDR process, your therapist will ask you what you’re thinking and what you thought of during your session. Your therapist will ask you to share these experiences and help you to process and reframe them in a healthier, less distressing way. This ongoing dialogue can reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories and promote overall healing and well-being. It helps make your memories less distressing and lets you reframe them in a healthier, less traumatic way

Can you get EMDR therapy online?

Yes, EMDR therapy can be done online. You can get virtual EMDR sessions from the comfort of your home or when traveling. Online EMDR therapy retains the core elements of traditional EMDR.

One key difference between online and in-person EMDR therapy is the medium through which the sessions are conducted. Online EMDR is done over a video connection rather than in the same room with your therapist. This means you’ll use your own computer or device to follow the therapist’s guidance and instructions. 

While the setting is different, the effectiveness of the therapy is the same. The therapist still guides you through the process, helps you identify and process memories, and uses techniques like eye movements, tapping, or sounds to aid in your healing.

How to do EMDR therapy online

To do EMDR therapy online, you and your therapist use a private, secure space and a stable internet connection to connect using a HIPAA-compliant video platform. The session may start with relaxation techniques to make you feel safe and comfortable. 

Over the course of several sessions, your therapist will ask about your past experiences to find out what triggers your distress. They’ll explain how EMDR works and teach you techniques to handle any distress you have between sessions. 

During an online session, your therapist will ask you to focus on a troubling memory while they use a technique, such as guiding your eye movements, playing audio tones, or tapping to help process the memory. Your therapist will instruct you to let your mind wander and think about what comes naturally. 

Once the BLS portion of the session ends, your therapist will ask you what you thought of and how it makes you feel now. You’ll discuss the memory again to see if it has the same impact on you as it did before starting the EMDR with BLS session. 

You may do one session on one traumatic or painful memory or multiple sessions on one memory. You may do sessions for different memories. In each session, your therapist will review your progress and decide if you need more work on the same memory or to address different ones.

Online EMDR therapy vs in-person EMDR therapy

Research supports that EMDR therapy online is effective. A research article published in Frontiers in Psychology looked at the effectiveness of online EMDR for high-risk groups with PTSD due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys and interviews from the study revealed that 88% of clients were comfortable with online EMDR therapy. 

While online EMDR therapy maintains the same therapeutic principles as in-person sessions, the main difference lies in the delivery method. Instead of being in the same room, you and your therapist connect via video. This means you will follow the therapist’s guidance on your screen. For techniques like tapping, which might be therapist-administered in person, you perform these actions yourself. 

Despite these logistical differences, the therapeutic process and outcomes are consistent, which ensures that you receive the same level of care and effectiveness as you do in a traditional, in-person setting.

Whether you choose to do EMDR online or in-person is up to you. You can even do some sessions online and some in person if your therapist is near enough to you. 

Here’s a simple breakdown of the potential advantages of each format.

Does EMDR therapy online work?

Yes, online EMDR therapy is an effective, accessible option for trauma recovery. It offers outcomes equal to in-person treatment. And research substantiates that virtual EMDR therapy maintains the core components of in-person EMDR treatment and provides the same benefits.

A systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology (2018) confirmed the efficacy of EMDR therapy for PTSD, including online formats. The review found that online EMDR improved PTSD symptoms and overall mental health, which supports its effectiveness as an online treatment option.

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry highlighted that remote EMDR therapy shows promise for reducing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression. This review found that online sessions are a feasible alternative to in-person therapy, although it noted limitations such as small sample sizes and reliance on self-reported data. 

This study substantiated “the potential efficacy of online EMDR as an accessible therapeutic option for addressing mental health difficulties, particularly during times of limited in-person interaction.”

What to expect from online EMDR therapy

During an online EMDR therapy session, you go through a structured and supportive process aimed at helping you heal from trauma. Here’s what to expect.

What happens during a session?

1. Preparation and setup: You connect with your therapist via a secure video platform, begin with a check-in to review progress, and discuss the session’s goals and your comfort.
2. Targeting trauma: Your therapist asks you to identify and focus on a specific traumatic memory or distressing experience and explore the negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations associated with the memory or experience. If you haven’t done EMDR before or are nervous about jumping into your most upsetting memories first, your therapist may ask you to start with a less stressful memory for your first session.
3. Bilateral stimulation: Your therapist guides you through BLS, such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones, while you focus on the traumatic memory to help reprocess and integrate it.
4. Processing and integration: You observe any thoughts and emotions that you had during BLS and talk about them with your therapist. 
5. Closure and reflection: Your session ends with a closure process to restore your emotional balance. The process may include grounding exercises or relaxation techniques. Your therapist will end your session with a review of progress and goal-setting for future sessions.

What benefits can you expect from EMDR online?

Online EMDR therapy offers several benefits of counseling in general. Similar to in-person sessions, it effectively reduces PTSD symptoms and trauma-related distress that can contribute to depression or anxiety. 

People often experience significant improvements in emotional resilience, reduced anxiety, and achieve better overall mental well-being. Research shows that this can happen in as few as 8 sessions. 

Who offers EMDR online therapy?

EMDR online therapy is offered by licensed mental health professionals, typically those who specialize in trauma and PTSD treatment, who see patients online. EMDR therapists include clinical psychologists (LCPs), licensed counselors (LCPCs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs),  and licensed social workers (LCSWs) trained in EMDR. Providers can be found on telehealth platforms, such as Klarity Health. 

If you need help finding an EMDR therapist, you can check with your primary care provider, friends, or family. Additionally, you can check professional directories, seek referrals from local mental health organizations, or consult online reviews to find qualified therapists. If you have health insurance, reviewing your plan’s list of in-network providers is also a helpful way to locate an EMDR therapist.

To ensure you receive effective care, look for therapists with credentials and experience in EMDR therapy and who have positive reviews from previous clients.

Does insurance pay for online EMDR therapy?

Your insurance coverage may depend on the provider you choose and your insurance plan’s specific coverage options. But because EMDR is a valid therapy option, it is covered by most insurance plans that cover mental health therapy. You’ll want to check with your insurance provider to understand the specifics of your coverage and in-network versus out-of-network providers.

If you work with a provider on Klarity Health, you don’t need insurance to cover mental health therapy and access EMDR therapy. Providers on Klarity Health offer convenient and affordable EMDR online or in person depending on the provider. And you can get an invoice for your sessions to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. 

Key takeaway

• Effectiveness of online EMDR therapy: online EMDR therapy is as effective as in-person sessions for treating trauma and trauma related to anxiety and depression. Research has shown significant reductions in distress and improvements in mental health with online EMDR sessions.
• Session structure: online EMDR sessions offer a structured process, including preparation, selecting a memory to focus on, bilateral stimulation, processing, and closure, all done over a secure video platform.
• Benefits: online EMDR therapy provides comfort and accessibility, helps reduce PTSD and other mental health symptoms, and enhances emotional resilience while maintaining the therapeutic relationship and effectiveness.
• Qualified providers: Licensed therapists trained in EMDR offer online sessions through telehealth platforms.

Find an EMDR-trained therapist

Find a qualified, EMDR-trained therapist on Klarity Health who can help you tackle anxiety, depression, and PTSD from the comfort of home. No insurance is needed and there are no hidden fees. Discover the benefits of online EMDR therapy and take the first step toward healing today. Find a provider now.

Sources

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Addressing mental health need after COVID-19: a systematic review of remote EMDR therapy studies as an emerging option, Jan. 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10799678/

Frontiers in Psychology, The effect of the online eye movement desensitization and reprocessing early intervention protocol (EMDR R-TEP) for the risk groups with post-traumatic stress symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sept. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9559741/

Frontiers in Psychology, The Use of Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder—A Systematic Narrative Review, June 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3951033/

Springer Nature, Clinician and Patient Experience of Internet-Mediated Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy, Feb. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8812350/

Springer Publishing Connect, Using EMDR Therapy to Treat Clients Remotely, Feb. 2021, https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgremdr/15/1/73

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage.  

If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.

How we reviewed this article: This article goes through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author.