REMOTE EMDR · 18
Remote EMDR, from link to close-out.
A practical workflow guide for therapists delivering EMDR by video, using a browser-based bilateral stimulation platform.
DEFINITION
Remote EMDR is EMDR therapy conducted at a distance — typically by video — with bilateral stimulation delivered on the client's own device rather than by the therapist's hand or an in-room light bar.
The remote EMDR workflow
Open the video call. Open BilateralSync in a browser tab. Generate a session link and send it to the client. The client opens the link and sees the target. Control speed, pattern and audio from your side while you time sets and titrate to the client's response.
Preserving protocol fidelity
Every element of the eight-phase protocol is preserved. Only the delivery of BLS changes — the medium is the client's screen and audio instead of the therapist's hand.
Requirements
Modern browser on both sides, a stable connection, a video platform (Zoom, Teams, Doxy.me, Google Meet, SimplePractice), and headphones on the client side for auditory BLS.
Frequently asked questions
What is remote EMDR?＋
Remote EMDR is EMDR therapy conducted by video, in which bilateral stimulation is delivered on the client's own device instead of by the therapist's hand or a physical light bar in the room.
Does remote EMDR work?＋
Peer-reviewed studies and case series report outcomes for remote EMDR broadly comparable to in-person EMDR when protocol fidelity is preserved and client selection is appropriate.
What is the practical workflow?＋
Start the video call, open BilateralSync in a new tab, generate a session code, share the link with the client. The client opens the link and sees the target immediately. Speed, pattern and audio are controlled from the therapist's side.
How is remote EMDR different from virtual EMDR?＋
The terms are used interchangeably. Both mean the same thing: EMDR delivered by video, with bilateral stimulation on the client's device.
Related reading
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Remote EMDR Therapy
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Can EMDR Be Done Online?
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