Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice, and does not constitute a client-therapist relationship.

Ever since EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy has entered the mainstream public consciousness (thank you Prince Harry), one of the questions I get asked often in conversations with people is, can EMDR be done online?

Yes! Absolutely. Not only can it be done online, but I have seen several benefits from doing EMDR virtually. 

The pandemic shifted how mental health care and therapy is delivered in the United States - many people tried online therapy, who otherwise would not have. I am happy to say I think it’s here to stay and I find it beneficial for my clients for many reasons. While online therapy isn’t for everyone or all circumstances, for most people, most of the time, it is very effective and convenient.

How does EMDR work? A brief primer

What does EMDR entail and how does it work exactly? This is one of the most frequent questions I’m asked and to be honest, it’s a bit hard to explain. But it’s a great question! 

Here is how I explain it to clients:

Typically, our brain processes our experiences while we sleep, during a phase of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM). During this phase of sleep, our eyes dart back and forth, left and right, at a fast clip, and our brains process our experiences and emotions and file them away in an organized way. Our brains make connections between this experience and others, making sense of it and linking it with other information that helps us cope. For example, let’s say that I have a scary experience being bit by a dog. My brain might connect and sort this experience with all the other experiences I had with dogs which are mostly neutral or positive, as well as referencing all the skills I have to keep myself safe (not startling dogs, keeping space, calling for help, etc.) and help me to know and FEEL that I’m safe with dogs going forward.

However, sometimes with painful or overwhelming experiences, such as trauma, the brain says “NOPE” and skips processing it. This means these painful experiences stay stuck, locked in the same distressing emotions that we experienced at the time and not linking up with the other information and experiences in our brains that might help me feel safe. This means that my brain stays stuck in a place of fear and no matter how much I might KNOW that I’m safe with dogs, I don’t FEEL safe, because my brain didn’t process this experience fully. 

EMDR simulates the processing that happens with rapid eye movement by creating a rapid left-right (bilateral) stimulation, while bringing to the forefront of the mind the experiences that feel stuck that we want to process. The therapist will guide you through this process, but really, it’s about you and your therapist creating the right circumstances (safety, coping skills, bilateral stimulation, and bringing up what you want to process) to jumpstart the brain’s natural ability to heal from painful experiences and then staying out of its way while it does this. EMDR helps your brain make a shift when you know something to be true intellectually (“I’m safe”), but it doesn’t feel true.

Online EMDR works

Overall, EMDR is an effective, evidence-based intervention, which means that there is a lot of research showing that it works. EMDR was originally designed as a treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) but it has been shown to be effective for treating a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, grief and loss, body image concerns, sexual concerns, and many other issues. 

The good news is that, generally speaking, online EMDR is just as effective as in person EMDR! There are some caveats to this - such as if a client lacks privacy to do EMDR virtually and would only have that privacy in a therapist's office. But overall, EMDR is equally effective no matter where you do it.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (stimulating both sides of the body and brain) to jump start the brain’s natural healing abilities and help you process painful memories and experiences that get stuck. There are many ways to do this bilateral stimulation that work in a virtual format, such as watching your therapists fingers move left and right across the screen, crossing your arms to alternate tapping your left and right shoulders, tapping your left and right knees, or walking your feet on the floor. 

Online EMDR is more convenient than in person therapy

Ultimately, the most effective therapy is going to be the one you can attend most regularly (and where you have a great fit with your therapist). Online therapy is great for increasing attendance and engagement because there are far less barriers to attending - no traffic, no flat tires, no gas or public transportation, etc.. All you need is a stable internet connection and privacy.

Also, when you have to drive to your therapist’s office, especially if you live in the Los Angeles or Bay Area, you have to allow 3 hours for your appointment, just to account for the possible driving time there and back. It is a LOT harder to fit in 1 hour vs 3 hours into a busy day, especially for clients who have their days packed with career and home responsibilities like mine do. This way, you can do therapy from the comfort of your own home without having to deal with the 405, Bay Bridge traffic, or East Bay gridlock. Even if you live locally in Manhattan Beach, or nearby Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, or El Segundo, you can still save valuable time (your most precious asset!).

You can do EMDR in the place of your choice

One of my favorite perks of doing EMDR virtually is that the client can choose where they want to be for the session. This could be at home, in their favorite cozy nook of their house. It could be in a quiet corner of their backyard. It could be in their office, with their door shut. Or it could even be from a hotel on a business trip (when otherwise you’d have to cancel your session). This allows clients to be in therapy where they feel most comfortable.

It also means that if they have an EMDR session that goes particularly deep and they are feeling raw afterwards, they don’t have to immediately go out into the world. It can be hard to have a good cry and then immediately have to go out in public and drive somewhere. With virtual EMDR, you can take a few minutes to collect and ground yourself. You might even be able to take a short walk, nap, or a shower to give yourself a buffer after your session. 

Online EMDR is more accessible

It is hard enough as is to find a therapist that’s the right fit for you, but what happens if you find a great EMDR therapist in Los Angeles, but you live in San Diego or Sacramento or the Central Valley? Or what happens if you live in rural Northern California or Napa and there’s just not that many providers in your area? With online EMDR, you have the whole state to choose from, which makes it much easier to find the right provider for you and may even be the difference between doing EMDR and not having it available at all.

Start Online EMDR Therapy in California

I hope that this blog post has helped you understand the reasons why online EMDR can be beneficial. I provide EMDR online to residents of California, Illinois, New York, and Washington with a focus on trauma and women’s issues. To find an EMDR provider in other states, you can search on Google, check the EMDR International Association’s provider directory.

Well Woman Psychology offers online EMDR to residents of California, Illinois, New York, and Washington. Learn more about if EMDR is a good fit for you, learn tools to regulate yourself, and help get your brain unstuck with these steps.

1. Reach out for a consultation at Well Woman Psychology

2. Meet with an online EMDR therapist in California.

3. Start receiving the support you deserve.

About the author

Dr. Linda Baggett is a Licensed Psychologist and the CEO/Founder of Well Woman Psychology, which serves clients online in California, Illinois, New York, and Washington. She received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Memphis. As a trauma and PTSD psychologist, she specializes in helping people heal from trauma and learn how to shift from surviving to thriving. She has specialized training as an EMDR therapist and believes in the power of this treatment. She also loves to support clients where trauma intersects with relationship issues, sexuality, pregnancy loss and miscarriage, birth trauma and postpartum issues, infertility, and body image and size-based oppression.