EMDR Therapy Online

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured psychotherapy that helps the brain process distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. Psychologist Francine Shapiro developed it in the late 1980s, and it has been studied in dozens of randomized controlled trials since then.

In EMDR you briefly focus on a troubling memory while also paying attention to bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, alternating taps, or tones. You don’t need to describe every detail of what happened. Over the course of treatment, many people find the memory feels more distant, less vivid, and less upsetting, and that the beliefs attached to it (for example, “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”) start to shift.

Leading guideline bodies recognize EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD (2023) recommends EMDR as one of three first-line trauma-focused psychotherapies, along with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE).
• The American Psychological Association (APA) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of PTSD includes EMDR among its recommended psychotherapies.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends EMDR for adults with PTSD.

Can EMDR Be Done Online?

Yes. EMDR adapts well to telehealth. Instead of following a clinician’s hand in an office, you might:

• Follow a moving dot across your screen
• Use self-tapping, such as alternately tapping your knees or the “butterfly hug”
• Listen to alternating tones through headphones

Research on telehealth EMDR is newer than research on in-office EMDR. Even so, published studies and clinical experience show it can be safe and effective when your clinician is trained in remote delivery and you have a private, comfortable space. Many of our clients find that doing this work at home helps them feel more grounded. Before processing begins, your clinician will set up a safety plan and decide with you what to do if the connection drops.

Learn more about how our teletherapy sessions work.

The 8 Phases of EMDR Treatment

EMDR follows a standard eight-phase protocol, so you’ll always know where you are in treatment.

1. History and treatment planning. Your clinician learns about your history, current symptoms, and goals, and together you identify which memories to target.
2. Preparation. You learn how EMDR works and practice grounding and calming skills you can use during and between sessions.
3. Assessment. You identify a target memory, the image that goes with it, the negative belief it carries, and the positive belief you’d like to hold instead.
4. Desensitization. You hold the memory in mind during sets of bilateral stimulation and notice whatever comes up, until the distress decreases.
5. Installation. The positive belief (for example, “I survived, and I’m safe now”) is strengthened.
6. Body scan. You check for any remaining physical tension linked to the memory, and your clinician helps you process it.
7. Closure. Each session ends with you feeling settled, using the skills from preparation if needed.
8. Reevaluation. At the next session, you and your clinician review progress and decide what to work on next.

What Does EMDR Help With?

EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, and our clinicians also use it for related concerns:

• Single-incident trauma, such as car accidents, assaults, or medical emergencies
• Repeated or childhood trauma, often after a period of skill-building first
• Work-related trauma for first responders, healthcare workers, and other high-stress professions
• Disturbing memories that drive anxiety, panic, or depression
• Grief complicated by traumatic loss

If you’re not sure whether EMDR is right for you, your first appointment is a chance to talk it through. Read more about our approach to trauma and PTSD therapy and our broader trauma-focused treatment options.

EMDR vs. Other Trauma Therapies

EMDR isn’t the only effective option. Our clinicians are also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and we help you choose the approach that fits you best.

	EMDR	Cognitive Processing Therapy	Prolonged Exposure
Main focus	Reprocessing memories with bilateral stimulation	Changing “stuck” beliefs about the trauma	Gradually facing memories and avoided situations
Talking in detail about the trauma	Limited	Some, often through writing	Yes, repeatedly
Homework	Light	Worksheets between sessions	Daily recordings and real-life practice
Typical length	About 6–12 sessions for a single trauma; longer for complex trauma	About 12 sessions	About 8–15 sessions

Research shows these treatments work about equally well for many people. The best choice often comes down to your preferences and goals, and to how much detail you’re comfortable sharing.

Insurance Coverage for Online EMDR

EMDR is billed as standard outpatient psychotherapy. That means plans covering outpatient mental health care usually cover EMDR, including by telehealth, subject to your copay, coinsurance, and deductible.

We’re in-network with many plans, including:

• Aetna
• Optum and UnitedHealthcare
• Oscar, through the UnitedHealthcare network
• Anthem and Carelon, through Headway
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Ambetter

We do not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.

Coverage depends on your specific plan and the state you’re in during sessions. We’re happy to help you check your benefits before you start.

Where We Offer Online EMDR

Our clinicians are licensed across 20 states and see clients by secure video wherever they hold a license. We also have in-person offices throughout the US. Find your state, among others:

• California
• Texas
• Florida
• New York

You need to be physically located in a state where your clinician is licensed at the time of each session.

How to Get Started

1. Reach out. Contact us.
2. Verify insurance. We’ll confirm your coverage and expected cost.
3. Meet your clinician. Your first session focuses on your history and goals, so nobody asks you to dive into a traumatic memory on day one.
4. Begin treatment. Together you’ll build a plan, starting with preparation and coping skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EMDR covered by insurance? In most cases, yes. EMDR is billed as standard psychotherapy, so plans that cover outpatient mental health usually cover it, including by telehealth. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your copay, coinsurance, and deductible. We’re in-network with Aetna, Optum/UnitedHealthcare, Anthem and Carelon (through Headway), Blue Cross Blue Shield, and others. We do not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.

Why isn’t EMDR always covered by insurance? When EMDR isn’t covered, it’s usually because the provider is out of network, the plan doesn’t cover outpatient mental health, or the treatment is offered as an “intensive” with long sessions billed in a way the plan doesn’t recognize. Seeing an in-network clinician for regular sessions avoids most of these problems.

Does online EMDR work as well as in-person EMDR? Research on telehealth EMDR is still growing, but current studies and clinical experience suggest it can be as effective as in-person treatment for many people. What matters most is a trained clinician, a private space, and a reliable connection.

How many EMDR sessions will I need? It varies. A single, recent trauma may improve in roughly 6 to 12 sessions. Repeated or childhood trauma usually takes longer, including time for preparation. Your clinician will review progress with you regularly.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail? No. EMDR asks you to hold the memory in mind, but you don’t have to describe it at length. Many people choose EMDR for exactly this reason.

Is EMDR better than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Neither is better for everyone. Studies comparing EMDR with trauma-focused CBT, including Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure, generally find similar results. We’ll help you choose based on your symptoms, history, and preferences.

Can EMDR make me feel worse before I feel better? Some people feel tired or emotional after early processing sessions, or notice more vivid dreams. That’s usually temporary. Your clinician will teach you calming skills first and pace treatment so you stay within what you can manage.

Can teens do EMDR online? Some of our clinicians work with teens. Contact us and we’ll let you know about availability in your state.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.