Can EMDR Therapy be Done Online?
Yes, EMDR Works Online (And It Might Be Exactly What You Need)
When the world shut down in 2020, therapy didn’t. In fact, for many women, that was the moment they finally gave themselves permission to get support—without having to sit in a waiting room or put on real pants.
But when it came to trauma therapy, especially EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a lot of people wondered:
“Can this even work online?”
Spoiler alert: It can. And it does.
At first, even some therapists were skeptical. EMDR had always been done in-person, often with a therapist guiding your eye movements by moving their fingers side to side. It felt “hands-on.” So how could it possibly translate through a screen?
Well… we found a way. And not only did it work—it thrived.
The Truth About Online EMDR: It’s Still Powerful (Sometimes Even More So)
Here’s the thing: EMDR doesn’t rely on a therapist’s finger or a specific room. It relies on something called bilateral stimulation—basically, helping your brain process stuck memories by activating both sides of your body (and brain) in a rhythmic, back-and-forth pattern.
In an online session, this might look like:
🌀 Tapping your shoulders or knees in an alternating rhythm
🌀 Watching a moving light on your screen
🌀 Following gentle audio tones through headphones
🌀 Using an app designed for bilateral stimulation
And yes, all of that can happen while you’re curled up on your couch, coffee in hand, soft blanket wrapped around you. Safety, comfort, and healing? That’s the goal.
In fact, some clients feel more at ease doing this work from home. No commuting. No sterile offices. No trying to hold it all together in public. Just a safe space to finally let your guard down.
But… Does It Actually Work?
Anecdotally? Yes. (There are so many stories.)
Clinically? Also yes.
Recent research is backing up what therapists and clients have already seen for years: EMDR therapy is just as effective online as it is in-person. A 2021 study (among others) confirmed it.
And if your brain just whispered, “Yeah, but my stuff isn’t trauma trauma…”
Let me gently say: You don’t have to call it trauma for it to be valid.
Your body remembers what your mind has tried to minimize.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is most known for trauma healing—but “trauma” doesn’t just mean war or disasters. It can mean:
🌿 Growing up with emotionally unavailable or unpredictable caregivers
🌿 Feeling unseen, dismissed, or emotionally manipulated in relationships
🌿 Having to be the strong one while your own needs went unmet
🌿 Experiencing betrayal, grief, or a loss that never got the space it needed
EMDR can also help with:
Anxiety that won’t quit, even when everything’s “fine”
Body image and food struggles that feel bigger than willpower
OCD patterns or perfectionism that keep you stuck
Phobias that seem random but feel very real
Therapy That Meets You Where You Are—Literally
Online EMDR is secure, confidential, and completely tailored to you. Whether you want to dive deep or gently ease in, you get to set the pace.
And just because the pandemic has ended doesn’t mean online therapy has to. Many of my clients choose to stay virtual—because it works, and because their healing deserves convenience and comfort, not just courage.
Curious if EMDR could help you finally feel more at peace?
Let’s talk. You don’t have to do this alone.
📞 Reach out to schedule your first session or ask any questions. We’ll take it one gentle step at a time.
SOURCES:
https://www.emdria.org/research/online-emdr-therapy-recent-research-and-overview/
https://emdrhealing.com/online-emdr/