The Covid-19 pandemic has stretched us all in ways we probably didn’t want to be stretched. The lack of connection was hard for many people. This has been a time in our lives when we have had to be innovative and creative in how we reach others and keep our relationships alive and well. As therapists, we have had to find ways to support people in their mental health at a distance. We have had to find ways to provide our services through online therapy. Despite all of the distance and scurrying to figure things out in a pinch, I have found unexpected positive results with online therapy. One of them was seeing people be able to utilize EMDR more effectively through online therapy than they were able to in person. People were better able to engage with EMDR over computer screens than they were face-to-face. Trauma impacts our sense of safety, and through online EMDR therapy people were able to feel safer at home. We have also found that EMDR is just as effective through online therapy as it is in person.
What’s the difference between doing EMDR in-person versus with online therapy?
As I shared in my last EMDR FAQS, the secret sauce of EMDR is bilateral stimulation. We have a variety of ways we can use bilateral stimulation in EMDR based on what you need. When it comes to online therapy, I like to use auditory bilateral stimulation to help with reprocessing trauma or negative experiences. This just means it’s a sound that plays alternatively back and forth in your ears like a metronome. or sounds like a ping-pong ball. When we are using EMDR online, the therapist and the client might check in more often than we would in person but otherwise, we are using the same methods as we would with in-person EMDR.
What’s the benefit of online EMDR therapy?
I have found with some of my clients the benefit of using EMDR online is they can do it in the comfort of their homes. Doing trauma work is one of the most difficult types of therapy for a person to go through, and it’s important to feel safe during this process or else it can make symptoms worse. My clients have felt safer in their homes surrounded by things that bring them comfort. They like to be able to have their pets, fidget toys, and weighted blankets during EMDR. Online therapy is helpful for people that get anxious about going to a therapy office and ultimately wouldn’t go at all because it seems too scary. Online therapy is for people that have busy schedules and don’t want to be stuck in traffic or want to commute. Online therapy is really for everyone and using EMDR online is just as effective as in-person.
Can everyone do EMDR therapy online?
Not everyone can do EMDR through online counseling. Those that do not have access to the internet or a computer may not be able to use EMDR through online therapy. People that don’t feel safe at home may also not feel they can be vulnerable and utilize EMDR while there. People that don’t have adequate coping skills or experience severe dissociation may also not be the same fit for EMDR virtually. Something to be aware of and keep in mind is one of the steps of EMDR is adequate preparation. An EMDR therapist will help you develop adequate coping skills and help you remain present through the process, which may eventually make it so you can do online EMDR therapy.
5 Tips for a successful EMDR online therapy session:
1. Make sure you have privacy
It really doesn’t matter where you are in your home for these sessions as long as it’s private. I have had people do online therapy from their closets because it’s where they felt they had the most privacy. If you don’t have enough privacy you aren’t going to be able to feel that you can be open about what you are experiencing and feeling. You don’t want to have to constantly be worried people overhearing what you are saying. If you feel comfortable make sure your family or roommates know that you need to maintain privacy for the hour so you don’t have any unexpected surprises.
2. Eliminate distractions
There are things that are always outside of our control. Distractions can be one of them. I live by train tracks and trains come barreling through in the middle of EMDR sessions I am conducting. My clients and I are used to it by now and know how to ignore it but my point is there seems to always be something that can prove to be a distraction. If it’s possible make sure you are in a space where you won’t be distracted by children, roommates, or co-workers. Part of EMDR is helping you focus on a particular memory or experience and it’s difficult to stay focused when you have distractions. Trying to eliminate these as much as possible can be important in the process.
3. Use earphones
Because we are using sound when it comes to doing EMDR therapy online, you want to make sure you bring earphones or headphones to the session. This allows you to have the sound close to your ear to help with processing so it enhances your ability to hear. It also helps with your sense of privacy.
4. Make sure you have a stable internet connection
Sketchy internet happens to the best of us including myself. It’s happened in the middle of an EMDR session, and t’’s not something we have full control over. Honestly, most of the time that this has happened, it’s been my sketchy internet’s fault. We can work with imperfect internet but really terrible internet causes many disruptions in processing and is not ideal. It also can disconnect us from contact when you are feeling vulnerable, and I don’t want that. I want to help you through your emotions and experience. Try to make sure you have a stable internet connection and you may need to ask others in the household not to use streaming services during your session.
5 Have time after the EMDR session to decompress
In EMDR you connect with emotions that can be difficult to feel. Even when you end the session feeling relief and a weight lifted off your shoulders, you still need time to decompress and breathe. It can be helpful not to have somewhere you need to rush off to right after your session but to be able to take a moment and ground yourself. Most people report feeling tired after an EMDR session so it might help if you can take some time to rest after the session.
EMDR therapy is just as effective through online therapy
EMDR is an effective form of therapy that helps people make changes and shifts that they feel like they haven’t been able to do otherwise. EMDR helps reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It has far-reaching benefits that are often unanticipated by those who utilize it. It does not matter whether it is don’t through an online platform or in-person when it comes to being effective. EMDR is something I recommend for many of my clients, regardless of how big or small they believe their experiences to be, and online therapy makes it possible. Online EMDR therapy gives people access to working through these experiences that they may not have access to otherwise. I recommend giving EMDR therapy online a shot.
Online Therapy in Utah
EMDR therapy isn’t the only thing that can be done online. All of Maple Canyon Therapy’s counseling services are available through online therapy in Utah.
I work with clients in Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more.
Ready to start EMDR therapy in Utah?
You don’t have to keep living in trauma and fear. EMDR therapy can help you find relief from your symptoms. This Utah Counseling Practice has an EMDR therapist who specializes in EMDR therapy. To begin therapy, follow the steps below:
Meet with an EMDR therapist in Utah
Begin EMDR therapy
Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy
EMDR therapy isn’t the only mental health counseling service provided at this Northern Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include body image therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, eating disorder therapy, and birth trauma therapy.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt LCSW is a licensed therapist at Maple Canyon Therapy located in Spanish Fork, Utah. Ashlee holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Family Life and Human Development, and a master’s in social work. Ashlee has extensive training and experience in the treatment of eating disorders, anxiety, and trauma, and works primarily with women