How EMDR works virtually
What I have laid out here is an overview of what online EMDR could look like, if just as a way to familiarize this strange new phenomenon.
EMDR ONLINE: WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
We meet online. You’re in a comfortable, safe space for yourself. This could be your bedroom, or your office. You made sure to be in a space where it feels private. I am in my office, and we can see each other in our own familiar spaces. You can be wearing pajamas, if you want, or whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
We have a conversation. This doesn’t mean I’m going to ask you to pour out your life story to me just yet–you need to make sure you can trust me, and that’s okay. I’ll get to know you the best way I can, and I’ll tell you about my journey to get here, if you’re interested.
Then, at some point, you start feeling more comfortable with me. If you don’t, that’s okay too, and I’ll make sure to help you find someone who can be that therapist for you. If you do, though, then we start building skills together that encourage coping and help keep you safe when your thoughts begin to spiral out of control.
Once we both feel comfortable with this toolkit, we begin the treatment planning and eye movement. This looks almost the same as it does in person, the only difference being that I will use a website and link you to it so that you can see what I see. Like in real life, there are multiple options for the action of processing, and we will talk through all of them to see what works best for you.
At the end of each session, we will decompress and move back into a safe space so that you can feel comfortable continuing your week as you’d planned. I’ll let you know to take note of any processing that happens during the week, and we will talk about it when we meet again.
We repeat this process until our treatment goals have been met. This often includes a more universal sense of safety, newfound meaning in your life and your relationships, and a new perspective on the world around you.
All in all, it really doesn’t feel all that different. I am an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR clinician, and I have worked with many different clients in many different settings, including virtually and in-person, and I have seen staggering progress from both. If you are navigating this for the first time, however, it makes perfect sense to feel anxiety. Anxiety is okay. Discomfort is part of the process. I welcome it, and would love to consult with you about what could make you feel safe during our time together, virtually or not. Please reach out if you’re interested in learning more about EMDR, me, or The Mending Space.
With love,
Cameron Cready-Pyle, LCSW
