What Does a Client See During an Online EMDR Session?

Clients new to online EMDR often ask what will actually appear on their screen. This article describes the client side of a session in BilateralSync specifically. Other tools work differently.

This is a product description rather than a clinical article. It describes how the BilateralSync client view works today and makes no claim about clinical outcomes.

The short answer: the client keeps their normal video call with the therapist, opens one link in a browser, and sees a calm screen with a moving stimulus that the therapist controls.

The therapist sends a link. The client opens it in a modern browser on a laptop, desktop or tablet. There is nothing to install and no client account to create. A short "Preparing your secure session" message appears while the connection is set up.

A preparation screen lists a few simple suggestions: use headphones (recommended for bilateral audio), enter fullscreen, sit comfortably, make sure you are in a private environment, close distracting applications and test your audio. The client then waits for the therapist; the screen shows "Waiting for your therapist…".

When the therapist starts a set, a moving stimulus appears and travels across the screen. The client simply follows it with their eyes. The therapist chooses speed, pattern and appearance; the client sees changes immediately. More on this in visual bilateral stimulation.

If the therapist uses sound, tones alternate between the left and right ear. Headphones are needed for the alternation to be heard correctly. Browsers sometimes block sound until the page has been tapped, so the client may be asked to tap the screen once.

A fullscreen button hides browser bars and notifications so that only the stimulus is visible. The client can leave fullscreen at any time.

• No settings: speed, pattern and sound are controlled by the therapist.
• No starting or stopping sets.
• No account, password or download.

If the connection is interrupted, the screen shows "Reconnecting…" and resumes when the connection returns. When the therapist ends the session, the client sees "Session completed".

The client view only renders the stimulation; it does not use the client's camera or microphone, which stay in the separate video call. How session data is handled is described on the security page. The full therapist workflow is on how it works, and therapists can try the experience with the free EMDR tool or read about the wider EMDR platform.