Does EMDR Work Online? Virtual EMDR in Ontario

If you have been thinking about EMDR, you may have wondered whether it can work through a screen. EMDR is known for its eye movements, taps, and tones, so it is fair to ask how any of that translates to a video call. The short answer is that online EMDR has become a practical option for many people in Ontario, and early research is encouraging — with some honest caveats worth knowing before you decide.

This guide covers how EMDR is adapted for virtual sessions, what the research says so far, who it tends to suit, and how to set yourself up so online sessions feel safe and grounded.

A Quick Refresher: How EMDR Works

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured psychotherapy most often used for trauma and post-traumatic stress. When a painful experience has not been fully processed, a reminder — a sound, a date, a tone of voice — can bring back fear, shame, or physical tension as if it were happening again. EMDR aims to help the brain process those memories so they feel less charged.

Treatment does not start with memories. Early sessions focus on your history, your goals, and building grounding and calming skills. When you are ready, your therapist guides you through short sets of bilateral stimulation (back-and-forth eye movements, taps, or sounds) while you briefly focus on a memory, belief, or body sensation, and each session closes with time to settle. You can read more about how we use it on our EMDR therapy page.

How EMDR Is Adapted for Online Sessions

The structure of EMDR stays the same online. What changes is how the bilateral stimulation is delivered and how your therapist keeps track of how you are doing.

• Eye movements on screen: you follow a moving dot or light across your screen, guided by your therapist through a secure tool.
• Self-tapping: you tap your own knees or shoulders in an alternating rhythm, sometimes with your arms crossed over your chest (often called the butterfly hug).
• Audio tones: you listen through headphones to sounds that alternate from one ear to the other.

Your therapist watches your face and body language through the video, checks in between sets, and helps you slow down or return to grounding skills if things start to feel like too much. Many therapists also agree on a backup plan before processing begins — for example, a phone number to call if the video connection drops in the middle of a difficult moment.

What the Research Says So Far

Research on online EMDR is still catching up with practice, but the early findings are encouraging. One of the more detailed studies so far is a 2023 service evaluation from a specialist traumatic stress service in Cardiff, Wales, published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. It compared 45 people who received EMDR online with 33 people who received it in person the year before.

The researchers found no clear difference between the two groups in how many people completed treatment, how many dropped out, or how many experienced adverse events. People who completed online treatment finished with PTSD symptom scores that were, on average, somewhat lower than the in-person group, although that difference was not statistically clear. In interviews, clients and therapists described online EMDR as safe and effective. Clients valued not having to travel and feeling more in control in their own space. Their main concerns were privacy at home and having time and space to transition between a session and the rest of their day.

It is important not to overstate this. The study was not a randomized trial, it took place in a single service, and it only compared symptom scores for people who finished treatment. The authors themselves called for larger, randomized studies. What it does suggest is that, with the right setup, online EMDR can be a reasonable alternative to in-person sessions for many people — not that it is better.

Source: Strelchuk, D., Turner, K., Smith, S., Bisson, J., Wiles, N., & Zammit, S. (2023). Provision of online eye movement and desensitisation therapy (EMDR) for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a multi-method service evaluation. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2281182.

Who Online EMDR May Suit

Virtual EMDR can be a good fit when getting to an office is the main barrier to starting or staying in therapy. That might be because of distance, a busy work schedule, caregiving, mobility or health concerns, or living in a smaller community where privacy feels harder to protect. Some people also find it easier to work through difficult material from a familiar space where they already feel safe.

Online sessions can also help with consistency. EMDR tends to work best when sessions happen regularly, and removing travel time can make it easier to keep that rhythm through busy seasons, bad weather, or a minor illness.

When In-Person EMDR May Be the Better Choice

Online EMDR is not the right fit for everyone. In-person sessions may make more sense if:

• you do not have a private space where you can speak freely without being overheard
• your internet connection or device is unreliable
• you often feel disconnected, numb, or “far away” when you are distressed and would feel safer with your therapist in the room
• you are in crisis, feel unable to stay safe, or need a higher level of support
• you simply feel more grounded in an office setting

Readiness matters more than format. Whether you meet online or in person, your therapist may suggest spending time on stabilization first — learning to notice triggers, calm your nervous system, and use skills such as DBT-informed emotional regulation — before moving into memory processing. Some people also combine formats, starting in person and moving online once they feel settled, or the other way around. If you are weighing the two, our guide to in-person vs. online therapy may help.

How to Set Up Your Space for Virtual EMDR

A little preparation can make online sessions feel steadier:

• Choose a private room where you will not be interrupted, and let others at home know you need the time.
• Use headphones, both for privacy and for audio-based bilateral stimulation.
• Check your internet connection, and set your device on a stable surface at eye level so your therapist can see you clearly.
• Keep a few grounding items nearby, such as water, a blanket, or something with a calming texture or scent.
• Leave 10 to 15 minutes after each session before your next commitment. A short walk or a cup of tea can help you transition, rather than moving straight into a work call or a busy household.

Virtual EMDR at Balanced Life Therapy

Balanced Life Therapy offers EMDR in person at our Barrie office and through secure online therapy across Ontario. Care is paced to you, with time for preparation before processing and support in choosing the format that fits your life.

If you are not sure whether online EMDR is right for you, a free 20-minute consultation is a simple place to start. You can ask how sessions are set up online, what happens if you feel overwhelmed during processing, and how progress is measured — without committing to anything or telling your full story right away.