Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is considered one of the most effective therapies for processing trauma and treating the distress caused by disturbing memories. Until quite recently, EMDR sessions were always conducted in person, requiring the client and therapist to be in the same physical space. But with so many therapies now possible online, you may wonder if EMDR dan also be done at a distance. We answer this question, and more, in this blog from Yatra Centre.

While Yatra does now offer online EMDR sessions, EMDR remains an integral part of our holistic approach to treating trauma. Contact us today on +66 96 916 3287 for more information on how we can help you recover from trauma at our serene coastal location in Krabi, Thailand.

What is EMDR?

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a trauma therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. EMDR is designed to help you process and heal from traumatic experiences by engaging the brain’s natural healing processes.

During an EMDR session, your therapist will ask you to briefly bring to mind traumatic memories, while guiding you in bilateral stimulation (BLS) exercises – generally rapid left to right or up and down eye movements, but also focusing on tapping or sounds. The purpose of these is to change the brain’s default responses to painful memories. When recalling traumatic experiences, the mind and body at once tend to react with emotions such as fear or disbelief, and physical symptoms such as increased heart rate. Proactively engaging in bilateral stimulation interrupts the process, since the brain is busy focusing on the task at hand.

In this way, EMDR helps create new neural responses, so that when painful memories arise, the mind no longer automatically travels down the same old pathways. The memories themselves do not disappear, but the emotional charge associated with them is reduced. In effect, EMDR changes how past events are stored in the brain. To borrow an analogy, traumatic memories become downgraded from ‘currently relevant’, to ‘processed and filed away’ status. This leads to a significant reduction in trauma-related symptoms.

EMDR is particularly effective for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but has also been used successfully to address anxiety, depression, phobias, and other mental health conditions. The structured approach of EMDR helps you gradually confront distressing memories in a safe environment, so as to reframe them, and make them less intrusive and overwhelming.

Does EMDR Work Online? The Effectiveness of Virtual Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was formerly only available in-person, but in recent years therapists have begun offering online EMDR. But is this method of EMDR as effective as face to face therapy?

First of all, the good news is that a number of studies comparing in-person and remote EMDR, whether as primary care or private sessions, showed no significant differences in treatment completion rates or outcome satisfaction. Virtual EMDR does work – let’s take a comparative look at both types of session setting.

The Advantages of Virtual EMDR

Not only can EMDR be done virtually, there are in fact several benefits to having EMDR sessions in this way.

Accessibility and Convenience

One of the most obvious advantages of virtual EMDR is accessibility. If you live in a remote area or have mobility issues, online EMDR therapy allows you to receive treatment without the need to travel.

Flexible Scheduling

Virtual EMDR means you can fit sessions into your busy life at times that are convenient to you, thereby saving you the added stress of time management issues or commuting. This can be particularly helpful if you have a tight schedule or if traditional office hours are challenging for you.

Continued Support

Virtual EMDR treatment makes it easier to ensure continuity when personal circumstances, or outside events such as the Covid pandemic, threaten to interrupt treatment. Consistency is key in maintaining progress and managing symptoms, and with virtual EMDR it is guaranteed.

Secure home environment

Having sessions from the comfort of your home enables you to do EMDR in a familiar, safe environment. This can help reduce anxiety and make it feel easier to open up during therapy.

The Limitations of Virtual EMDR

When done virtually, EMDR is nevertheless restricted in ways which do not apply during in-person Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing sessions.

Technical Issues

As with all online processes, ideal conditions cannot always be 100% guaranteed for virtual EMDR. Treatment may be affected by technical problems – internet connectivity issues, software glitches, and other obstacles which can disrupt the flow of a session and affect how effective it is.

Distractions

Being at home means there may be distractions that would not be present in a therapist’s office. This can be counteracted by creating a quiet, private space for your virtual sessions where you will not be disturbed.

Therapeutic Connection

While virtual EMDR can still foster a strong therapeutic connection between the therapist and their patient, some people find it harder to experience this through a screen. 

Being in the physical presence of the therapist, and receiving the non-verbal cues that are possible in face-to-face sessions, feels very reassuring to some, and can make the therapeutic bond stronger. 

When Caution is Advised

Trauma by definition has far-reaching effects and a profound impact on people’s lives – as a result, trauma treatment must be undertaken with care, in order to optimize conditions and ensure safety. As a result, there are a number of contributing factors that may make online EMDR more complicated.

· Lack of a quiet, safe, private space: online EMDR cannot work in cases where a person is unable to isolate for the duration of a session, or in a location with significant and constant outside noise and disturbance.

· Unstable or abusive living environment: EMDR cannot be offered remotely in situations where a person has no fixed accommodation or stable living space. Nor is a home shared with an abusive partner (even if they are absent at the time of sessions) suitable for online EMDR, as a person is unlikely to feel wholly safe or relaxed there.

· Complex trauma: people with a history of self-harm, or with very complex trauma causing frequent dysregulation, may not be safe unless in the presence of a qualified therapist.

With the above being said, there are often ways around circumstances that make online EMDR difficult, through taking preventive measures, prior planning and preparation, and adequate communication with the therapist.

Creating an Optimal Virtual EMDR Experience

If you decide to start virtual EMDR, there are various steps you can take to support the process and make your sessions more effective.

Set Up a Private Space

Choose a quiet, private space where you can attend your sessions without interruption. Let the people around you know your therapy schedule to avoid disruption or outside disturbances. Creating a comfortable and safe environment will help you to focus fully on the therapy process.

Use Reliable Technology

Make sure you have a stable internet connection and familiarize yourself with the video conferencing platform your therapist uses. Test your equipment beforehand to ensure everything is functioning as it should be. Having a backup plan, such as a phone call or alternative internet connection can also be helpful should technical problems arise.

Communicate Openly with Your Therapist

Effective communication is key to successful therapy – virtual or otherwise. Before you begin, share any concerns you have, or any important feedback from prior sessions, with your therapist. This will help them provide guidance or adjust their approach to better suit your needs. If you begin to have doubts about EMDR online, you should also inform your therapist, since pressuring yourself to continue therapy from a distance will only be counterproductive in the long-run.

EMDR at Yatra Centre 

At Yatra Centre, we offer all our clients EMDR. We have found that his trauma-focused form of therapy is one of the most effective in treating trauma, particularly when it is used as part of our holistic program of trauma recovery. Since EMDR effectively reprograms the brain to respond differently when traumatic memories arise, it has been shown to provide lasting symptom relief and durable results.

However, as with any healing modality, not everybody will resonate with EMDR, or feel comfortable with the process. That’s why our programs at Yatra are truly holistic and tailored to the needs of each client. No two individuals will share an identical path to healing, and what provides good outcomes for one person, may fall short for another. That’s why we have a whole team of therapists specializing in a wide range of therapeutic approaches.

For more information on what we do at Yatra, contact us today on +66 96 916 3287.