More people are trying EMDR online to overcome unresolved trauma. Can it work for you?

In general, people have been curious about EMDR therapy. How does it function? Will it feel strange or unsettling? And, most importantly, can specialized treatment like EMDR be performed virtually? Here's an overview of how online trauma therapy works, how EMDR works, and how the two work together.

How Does Online Therapy Work?

Numerous terminologies define video conference sessions, such as online therapy, virtual therapy, or telehealth. These terms can vary slightly; however, for this article, we will only be referring to online and face-to-face (in-person) sessions, not other models of delivery of services that are text-based or back-and-forth messaging, similar to e-mail.

Typically, trauma therapists predominately use the traditional face-to-face model for providing mental health services for anxiety, depression, and more complex disorders. However, for years, therapists have been treating PTSD online before COVID-19.

Providing telehealth services to clients is not a new concept that developed in response to the pandemic; instead, it is the efficiency and effectiveness that allowed thousands of mental health providers, such as Licensed Professional Counselors Jennifer L. Hillier M.A. LPC who has been providing telehealth services since 2015 to continue providing counseling to their clients while expanding access to much-needed counseling services.

During lockdown an increasing need for counseling to address mental health issues, hospice, grief and loss, and social anxiety due to death, illness, and social isolation during the global COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The popularity of counseling online continues to grow.

An online counseling session is similar to traditional in-person sessions in that both provide services in real-time to their clients. They differ in the manner in which they deliver the medium, as face-to-face sessions offer in person in the privacy of a counselor's office. Online counseling is provided through a private HIPAA compliance video platform (similar to Zoom). You meet your therapist at a specific time and speak directly to each other, just like an in-office appointment.

The difference is that while the therapist is conducting the session in their office via telehealth, the client is in the comfort and privacy of their own home during the session.  Additionally, some therapists have a therapy portal similar to the one used by TherapyNotes that allows you to log into your therapy portal, schedule your appointments online, and cancel appointments as needed.

Is Online Trauma Therapy Effective?

When comparing in-person sessions vs. online sessions, the consensus is that sessions that take place online vs. face-to-face can be as diverse as what happens in any therapist's office when providing individual, couples, and family sessions, among other services.

Most experts agree that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is essential to successful outcomes. When clients feel safe and respected in their relationships with their therapist, they are more likely to engage in the treatment process and take advantage of its benefits, whether it is services offered online or in person.

Where things differ is the accessibility of online trauma therapy vs. in-person, which is a significant factor contributing to its effectiveness. For those dealing with trauma, accessing treatment without leaving their home or work environment can be invaluable and make them more likely to continue.  In addition, the convenience of virtual therapy eliminates travel time, childcare costs, and other barriers associated with traditional in-person therapy.

Even before the pandemic, many people went to therapy over the phone or via video chat. Several studies have shown that it is appropriate and effective for a wide range of conditions. More specifically, a research study by McGowan et al. (2021) has demonstrated the effectiveness of online EMDR therapy. The studies suggest that EMDR therapy is not only a viable option for in-person therapy but has resulted in substantial mental health improvements for those attending EMDR therapy online.

Virtual therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder has been explicitly studied (PTSD). The outcomes of in-person versus distance therapy were comparable, and both types provided long-term benefits (Janine V. Olthuis, Lori Wozney, Gordon J.G. Asmundson, et al., 2016).

What is EMDR?

One therapy treatment that is now commonly practiced online is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). But before we get there, let's go over what EMDR is. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a one-of-a-kind therapy that involves activating both sides of your brain using bilateral stimulation. As your brain is processing the targeted trauma, your counselor will assist you in noticing and comprehending events that have occurred. This will assist you in reducing the physical and emotional symptoms experienced when triggered by traumatic memories of the event.

Bilateral stimulation is a critical component of EMDR therapy; it involves using tactile, auditory, or visual stimuli (such as alternating sounds, tapping on the shoulder, or hand movements) to activate both hemispheres of the brain. This helps the client access and process traumatic memories more effectively. Through this type of therapy, clients can gain insight into their emotions and reactions and develop healthier coping strategies for dealing with their trauma.

While EMDR is best known for its use in the treatment of trauma and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, it is also used to treat complex trauma (often childhood memories), depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Many research studies have found that EMDR is an effective treatment and is now one of the most popular and sought-after therapies in the United States.

EMDR Going Online

So, if online therapy works and EMDR works, how do the two complement each other? When compared to other commonly known therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR is unique in comparison to traditional talk therapy. EMDR is an interactive therapy involving the patient engaging with a therapist to explore their memories and physical and body sensations. The therapist uses various techniques and tools to help the patient directly confront their trauma and process it in a way that is less emotionally burdened by using bilateral brain stimulations.

Bilateral movements used for brain stimulation in EMDR sessions help keep the brain in a window of tolerance, allowing the client not to become overstimulated or distressed when processing targeted memories or behaviors, allowing the brain to optimally process the traumatic targeted events and reduce their emotional impacts.

This kind of online trauma therapy can be highly effective for those who had traumatic experiences. In addition, some research has found that EMDR can alleviate symptoms of PTSD in a shorter period of time than traditional talk therapies (McGowan, I. W., Fisher, N., Havens, J., & Proudlock, S. (2021).

While EMDR therapists have traditionally used hand movements or blinking lights during in-person sessions to help simulate bilateral eye movements, therapists have found that clients prefer an alternative method of tapping (even during in-person sessions). The "butterfly hug" method involves tapping both sides of your body and is a popular alternative. Other therapists may have a client watch their fingers move back and forth, or they may use tapping techniques.

The butterfly hug technique has been used to provide EMDR therapy online and shown to be effective. More research is needed, but preliminary findings indicate that EMDR is particularly effective in virtual formats, according to Researchers Spence J, Titov N, Johnston L, et al. (2013).  Many clients, anecdotally, report the same benefits as those who have completed in-person EMDR. With the growing popularity of online therapy, more research is likely to become available in the near future.

Is Online EMDR a Good Fit for You?

Many people are understandably skeptical of therapy, particularly virtual sessions. Most clients with reservations report feeling much more at ease after beginning sessions. Most say it's similar to in-person therapy after the initial adjustment period. Overall, online trauma therapy can be a viable option for those seeking treatment. With the convenience of virtual sessions and the ability to customize treatment plans, individuals are able to access the help they need in a way that best fits their lifestyle.

Additionally, evidence has supported the effectiveness of EMDR therapy, which is often incorporated into online trauma therapy. It is important to note, however, that no two individuals are alike, and the effectiveness of any treatment depends on a variety of factors.  By working collaboratively with their therapist, individuals can find an approach that works best for them.

Tried therapy before and did not get the outcome you were expecting?

EMDR therapy may be the treatment needed to help you heal. Contact us and let us know how we can help and match you with a therapist, assist you in scheduling an appointment with Jennifer L. Hillier or schedule your appointment directly online with the therapist of your choice by searching our professional profiles online. We prefer the following Mental Health Match, TherapyDen, or Inclusive Therapist.

Referral for individuals looking for online trauma therapy:

Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Jennifer L. Hillier M.A. LPC, Licensed in the state of Texas, Telehealth licensed to practice in Florida and Vermont. To learn more visit the website here.

Resources:

To learn more about how EMDR works and how it can help you (coming soon).

Source Citations: Citation Source:

McGowan, I. W., Fisher, N., Havens, J., & Proudlock, S. (2021). An evaluation of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy delivered remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry, 21, 560. Open access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03571-x

Janine V. Olthuis, Lori Wozney, Gordon J.G. Asmundson, Heidi Cramm, Patricia Lingley-Pottie, Patrick J. McGrath, Distance-delivered interventions for PTSD: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Volume 44, 2016, Pages 9-26, ISSN 0887-6185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.010.

Spence J, Titov N, Johnston L, et al. Internet-delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (iEMDR): an open trial [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000Research 2013, 2:79 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.2-79.v1)"