Online EMDR Therapy: How It Works
Let’s chat about Online EMDR therapy! EMDR therapy has continued to be one of my most requested services and I often get asked a lot of questions about how virtual EMDR works.
✨What is virtual EMDR?
✨How does online EMDR therapy work?
✨Is EMDR therapy more effective in person?
If you are curious to learn more about how you can receive online EMDR therapy, then I’m here to answer your questions. Let’s get started!
What is EMDR?
What is EMDR Therapy? EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Many of the clients I work with have tried different types of therapy over the years and are looking for a different way to relate to difficult emotions, thoughts, or experiences. EMDR therapy is a structured technique that encourages clients to briefly place their focus on trauma-based or difficult memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Which is associated with reductions in heightened emotional experiences. EMDR is effective in treating a range of issues including trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, grief and loss, and body image concerns.
How does EMDR Therapy work?
EMDR therapy draws upon the body’s natural healing processes. When we break a bone, we go to a physician, get a cast, and are told that our body will heal itself. In the same way, our brain can typically incorporate new information, adjust to changes, and move towards a natural healing process.
Except sometimes, the process gets stuck somewhere along the way…
Let’s say when you were five years old you had an unthinkable trauma occur. It’s too much to take in. Too much to process. Sometimes our minds act as a protector to shield us from hurt, harm, and overwhelm. This protection, however, can keep us stuck and hold us back from fully integrating our experience into our memory network. It’s no wonder that oftentimes, these blocked experiences and memories can show up in our current day suffering.
Online Therapy in Los Angeles & Throughout California
Before the pandemic, 100% of my work with clients was conducted in person in Los Angeles. Like most of us, I worried if my job would translate to the virtual world. Would clients still want to be seen? Would therapy feel the same? Or would it feel like another forced virtual contact?
As the world continues to open up, I’m surprised to find that many of my clients actually prefer online therapy. They often share that it allows them to have therapy and to skip the 30-45 minutes of time in the car, to fit sessions in during their lunch break, or to meet in the morning before their work day begins. In a lot of ways, online counseling has opened up the option of therapy for busy moms, working women, students, and folks on the go. It also provides more options for coming in on less busy days and still meeting on a day when you would have needed to cancel. Like when your kids get sick, your car is in the shop, or you’re running late getting ready for the day.
While I absolutely love in-person therapy, I’m so grateful for the ability to meet with clients who live too far away for a regular weekly visit (e.g. San Francisco, San Diego, and more rural parts of California). Online therapy has opened up the world of therapy for a lot of people and I’m honored to be part of the change.
EMDR Therapy in California
A large part of what makes EMDR different from other approaches is that it’s not a traditional talk therapy. If you’ve ever seen EMDR demonstrated, then you’ve likely seen examples of bilateral stimulation (e.g., tapping, eye movements, bilateral sounds). EMDR therapists tend to have a preference for how they provide bilateral stimulation.
Types of Bilateral Stimulation
Here are some ways that could look:
✨ Your therapist guides you to tap your shoulders or clavicles in a butterfly hug.
✨ The EMDR therapist uses a light bar machine for bilateral visual stimulation.*
✨ Your therapist provides you with buzzers to hold in each hand that provide bilateral tactile stimulation.
✨ You wear a headset that allows you to listen to bilateral auditory stimulation.
✨ The EMDR therapist sits next to you and taps on your hands, knees, or a pillow placed gently on your lap to create bilateral tactile stimulation.
✨ Your therapist sits next to you and uses their hand as the focal part to follow for bilateral visual stimulation.
✨ Your EMDR therapist provides you with a tablet to use for visual bilateral stimulation.
* Please note that visual bilateral stimulation is not recommended for those who experience frequent headaches or have a history of migraines. Talk to your Online EMDR therapist about how the other approaches can be a good fit for you.
Bilateral Stimulation Still Works in Online EMDR Therapy
One thing to note is that while you certainly have a lot of options**, some clients I have worked with have shared that the presence of someone watching them in the room can feel overwhelming while engaging in bilateral stimulation.
I was so excited to find that these clients tend to love virtual EMDR because they feel less self-conscious throughout the EMDR Processing. I love that there are options for in-person and online EMDR therapy. And research shows us that they are equally effective if you’re able to meet some important requirements we’ll explore below. You will receive the same benefits of EMDR whether you’re sitting in the comfort of your therapist’s office or from the comfort of your favorite spot at home.
**I do want to share that there are ways of making this process feel more collaborative and balanced. For my clients who want to feel more connected throughout the process of EMDR, I’ll use the butterfly hug and I will engage in tapping on my own at the same time as my client. Like all therapy, there is no one size fits all and you can speak with your Online EMDR therapist to find out the best option for you.
Online EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles & Throughout California
There are a number of ways of doing Online EMDR therapy. I use a combination of bilateral tactile stimulation (tapping) and a HIPAA-compliant virtual EMDR tool called a Remote EMDR, which involves bilateral visual and/or auditory stimulation.
If you’re interested in starting online EMDR therapy with me, I’m more than happy to show you the website during your free 30-minute consultation.
To give you a little more information, I start off by meeting with my online EMDR therapy clients on Zoom. For a client who has already built their EMDR skills and worked on emotional regulation, a typical virtual EMDR session typically starts with:
A check-in on how things have been going
Taking the temperature of your emotional experiences over the week
Determining where we would like to pick up.
Once you’re ready, I send you a one-time session link for Remote EMDR and we begin the Online EMDR therapy bilateral stimulation. Which is followed by
Processing your emotions
Exploring and reflecting on your experience
Evaluating any takeaways for the week
Requirements for Online EMDR Therapy
In order to make the most of therapy, it’s important to create a space that fits the context. One of the beautiful parts of a therapy office is the intention that is put into having a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Where you can focus your attention on the therapy work without any distractions. In much the same way, online therapy is effective when you have that same ability to quiet the outer noise of life.
Here are some important requirements for EMDR Therapy:
✨ A stable and reliable internet connection
✨ Access to Zoom
✨ A desktop or laptop computer if you would like to engage in the bilateral visual stimulation. If you have access to a smaller device, then the sessions would only include bilateral auditory stimulation or tapping.
✨ Privacy. While you may have kids in the background, a roommate, or family at home - it’s incredibly important that you are able to have a relatively quiet space/room for 50 minutes. I would also recommend that you try to plan some self-care time for 30 minutes following your session.
✨ Good lighting. An important aspect of therapy is that your EMDR therapist can read your body language and facial cues.
✨ The ability to soothe yourself and regulate when faced with distressing thoughts or memories. These skills will be assessed and taught to you before virtual EMDR processing begins.
I hope this helps answer your Online EMDR-related questions!
Online EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles
EMDR therapy is one of the most highly requested services at Worth and Wellness Psychology. With modern technology, I love that I can easily provide clients with online EMDR therapy when they want to address anxiety and/or trauma online.
As a Los Angeles Psychologist, I often engage EMDR for clients struggling with anxiety, trauma, and/or PTSD, as well as for those with phobias (e.g., fear of driving, flying, heights, etc…). Clients who engage in online EMDR therapy often remark that they like that they can take a break from home after a session, rather than having to hop back in their car and sit in traffic.
If you are in Irvine, Los Angeles, New Port Beach, San Diego, or anywhere in California and want to start virtual EMDR follow these steps:
Reach out for a free consultation where you can ask questions and we can connect.
Schedule your first appointment for virtual EMDR.
Start letting your brain heal.
Other Counseling Services I Offer in Irvine, California
At Worth and Wellness Psychology, I offer a variety of services. This includes individual therapy for relationship issues, and dating. In addition to therapy for therapists and women of color, I also love working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs). Reach out to talk about how I can support you.
About the Author, an EMDR Therapist
Dr. Adrianna Holness, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for women at Worth and Wellness Psychology, serving clients in-person in Los Angeles and online throughout California. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from Loma Linda University. As a trauma and PTSD psychologist, she specializes in creating space for healing and wholeness as clients take on the brave and beautiful work of addressing life’s hardest moments. She is trained in many evidence-based trauma treatment approaches, including EMDR trauma treatment. She also works with clients in the spaces where trauma intersects with your self-confidence, relationships, dating, anxiety, and identity.
Disclaimer:
This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website, or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical or mental healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We cannot diagnose, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website.
