One of the questions I get most often is: "Can EMDR be done online?" It's a fair question. EMDR involves bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping), and it seems like a process that would require being in the same room.
The short answer: yes, it works. The long answer has nuances worth knowing.
What the evidence says
Since 2020, research on online EMDR has accelerated. The available studies show that results from EMDR delivered by video call are comparable to in-person EMDR in most cases. The main professional EMDR organisations have validated its online use with adapted protocols.
This shouldn't surprise us: bilateral stimulation can be delivered through a screen (guided eye movements, self-administered tapping, or auditory stimuli through headphones). The processing your brain does is the same regardless of the medium.
What changes in the online format
There are practical differences worth keeping in mind. Bilateral stimulation is adapted: instead of following the therapist's fingers, we use self-tapping techniques (the butterfly hug) or on-screen stimuli. Your space matters more: you need somewhere private and quiet, where you can feel freely without worrying about being overheard. And the connection needs to be stable — technical interruptions during processing can be disruptive.
When in-person is preferable
In my experience, in-person EMDR is preferable when there is complex trauma with a high dissociative load (the therapist's physical presence provides a containment the screen doesn't fully replicate), in the early phases of a process with very intense material, or when the person struggles to stay regulated during processing and needs more co-regulation support.
The format doesn't determine effectiveness — the therapeutic relationship and the quality of the processing do.
The advantages of the online format
For many people, online EMDR is not just equivalent but preferable. You can have your session from your own safe space (your home, your room), you don't need to travel after an intense session, and you can access a specialised therapist without geographic limits — especially relevant if you're looking for a specific profile (bilingual, LGBTI+ affirmative, experienced in complex trauma).
In my practice, I combine both formats. Many clients start in person and move online once the process is consolidated, or alternate depending on the week. The flexibility of the format is an advantage, not a limitation.
Want to explore EMDR in your own process? In person in Madrid or online: this is how I work with EMDR.