EMDR and trauma
How online EMDR therapy works.
If distressing memories still feel present in your body or daily life, EMDR may be one option to explore. Before any processing, we assess fit, build grounding skills, and plan for privacy and safety in the online setting.
Online EMDR begins with preparation.
Before processing, we review your history, current concerns, goals, grounding skills, and the support available between sessions. Together, we decide whether EMDR is appropriate and whether online sessions provide enough privacy and stability for the work.
During processing, we may use brief sets of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or sound. Together, we track the thoughts, emotions, images, and body sensations that come up and check the level of distress as we go. The aim is to help the memory feel less immediate and less controlling in daily life.
- Before processing, we build grounding skills and make a plan for privacy and safety.
- We pace the work carefully and monitor distress throughout the session.
- We leave time to settle before the session ends.
- EMDR is a clinical treatment provided by a trained, licensed clinician.
Before online EMDR, we review privacy, safety, and current support.
A consultation gives us time to consider current symptoms, the support available between sessions, and whether online processing can be done safely. Depending on what you need, we may recommend EMDR, trauma-informed therapy, or another form of support.
What to ask about safety and pacing before online EMDR.
Ask how readiness is assessed, what preparation comes first, how privacy and interruptions will be handled, what bilateral stimulation options are available online, and what will happen if distress remains elevated near the end of a session. A trained therapist should explain the process and revisit suitability as circumstances change.
You can pause at any time. We set the pace together based on your goals, current stability, support system, and ability to use grounding strategies. Processing begins only when enough preparation and safety are in place.
Further reading
Tell us what you want help with.
We can discuss whether online EMDR may fit and what preparation would need to come first.