EMDR Therapy: It’s Not About the Tools (Or the Buzzers)
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 7
If you’ve heard of EMDR therapy, chances are you’ve seen pictures or videos of therapists using light bars, handheld buzzers, or beeping headphones. You might’ve thought:
“Do I need all that gear for EMDR to work?”“What if I’m doing this over Zoom?”
Great questions. And the short answer?
👉 Nope — the tools are optional.👉 And yes — EMDR works beautifully through telehealth.
Let’s break it all down — including what EMDR actually is (and isn’t), the role of those gadgets, and why your healing doesn’t depend on fancy tech.
🚫 First Things First: Bilateral StimulatioN Is Not EMDR
This is a common myth — and it’s totally understandable. A lot of the visible parts of EMDR (like eye movements or tapping) are what people hear about when EMDR is discussed or demonstrated.
But let’s clear it up: Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is not EMDR.
BLS is a mechanism used during several parts of EMDR therapy. It might involve:
Eye movements
Tapping (like the Butterfly Hug 🦋)
Alternating sounds or tactile input
But EMDR is a comprehensive, 8-phase therapy model rooted in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) framework. It’s designed to help the brain reprocess distressing memories, thoughts, emotions, and sensations — and integrate them in a way that’s no longer activating or overwhelming.
Think of it this way:
EMDR is the recipe. BLS is just one ingredient.
So no — EMDR isn’t “just tapping,” “buzzies,” or light bars. It’s a full, evidence-based therapeutic approach. BLS supports the process — but it’s not the whole thing.
🧠 So What Is Bilateral Stimulation Actually Doing?
Let’s talk about what’s really happening under the hood when we use bilateral stimulation (BLS) — because it’s not just eye movement or tapping for the sake of it.
BLS creates something called dual attention.
That means:
👉 One part of your brain is focusing on a distressing memory, thought, or sensation
👉 Another part is tuned into the present — following movement, sound, or sensation in real time
This combination allows you to stay grounded in the here-and-now while also accessing stuck or overwhelming material from the past. It’s like your brain gets to reprocess those memories without becoming completely flooded by them.
In EMDR, this dual attention helps:
Desensitize the emotional charge of a memory
Link in new information — with all the insights, perspective, knowledge, and experience you have now that you didn’t have access to then
Support integration — so the memory no longer feels as raw, triggering, or intrusive
So yes, BLS is important — but it’s still just one part of the broader EMDR approach, not the therapy itself.
👀 A Little History: EMDR Started Without Any Tools
When Dr. Francine Shapiro developed EMDR in the late 1980s, she used just her fingers to guide clients’ eyes back and forth. That was it.
No gadgets. No buzzers. Just a client, a therapist, and the incredible processing power of the human brain when a person receives the care and support they need to heal.
Over time, therapists began using tools to make sessions more sustainable and accessible — especially when clients benefit from different types of bilateral stimulation to process.
🤔 So Why Do Some Therapists Use Gadgets?
Tools like light bars, buzzers, or auditory tones can be helpful — but they’re not essential.
Here’s why some therapists use them:
Therapist arm fatigue is real (seriously — try waving your hand back and forth all day 😅)
Clients may have accessibility needs or respond better to different types of BLS at different times in therapy
Some clients find tools soothing, especially when practicing calming techniques between sessions
But EMDR therapy still works without them. You don’t need any gear to heal.
💻 What About EMDR Over Telehealth?
Yes — EMDR works online. And no, you don’t need special software or equipment for it to be effective.
Your therapist will guide you through a telehealth-friendly version of bilateral stimulation, which might include:
Eye movements guided by your therapist on-screen
Self-tapping techniques like the Butterfly Hug
Auditory cues or visual targets shared via screen
Using your own tools at home (some clients choose to buy their own buzzers or headphones)
New tech platforms designed for remote EMDR, with built-in BLS options for eye movement, tapping, or tones
We adjust the method to what’s effective for you. You and your therapist will decide together what form of BLS works best — and that might change over time. That’s okay! EMDR is flexible, just like healing is.
🧠 In Summary:
EMDR is a full 8-phase therapy approach, not just eye movements or tapping
BLS is an important tool within EMDR — but not the therapy itself
Tools like buzzers and light bars can help, but aren’t necessary
Telehealth EMDR is totally valid, effective, and adaptable
You and your therapist will figure out what works best for you — and your needs may shift over time
💬 Still Have Questions?
That’s totally normal. EMDR can seem complex from the outside, but once you’re in it, it’s a deeply intuitive, effective process. If you're curious about how it might work for you, feel free to reach out.
I’m happy to walk you through what to expect — tech or no tech.
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