Does Virtual EMDR Actually Work? What the Research Says
If you've been curious about EMDR therapy but the idea of doing it over a video call gives you pause, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions we hear: "Can you really do EMDR through a screen?" The doubt makes sense. EMDR has a reputation for being an intense, hands-on process, and it's hard to imagine that kind of deep trauma work translating to a laptop camera and a pair of headphones.
The good news is that you don't have to take our word for it. There is now a meaningful and growing body of peer-reviewed research on virtual EMDR therapy - and the findings are consistently encouraging.
What Is EMDR, and Why Does It Work?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy originally developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It is widely recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and Health Canada as an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma-related conditions.
EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories that have become "stuck", stored in a fragmented, dysregulated way that keeps triggering symptoms in the present. Through a series of guided bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but also taps or tones) while a client holds a disturbing memory in mind, the nervous system can begin to integrate that memory more adaptively, reducing its emotional charge.
The critical ingredients are the therapeutic relationship, the structured protocol, and the bilateral stimulation, not the physical location where therapy takes place.
What the Research Says About Virtual EMDR
Early Foundations: Telehealth EMDR Is Feasible and Effective
One of the most frequently cited studies in this area is a 2019 case series by Lenferink et al., published in EMDR Practice and Research. The researchers examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of therapist-guided, internet-delivered EMDR for PTSD following bereavement. Participants received structured EMDR sessions via videoconferencing. The results showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, with participants reporting the format as acceptable and the therapeutic process as intact. The authors concluded that online EMDR showed promise as an accessible treatment option for those who cannot attend in person.
A Randomized Controlled Trial: Online EMDR for PTSD
Perhaps the strongest evidence to date comes from a randomized controlled trial by Lenferink and colleagues (2021), published in Behaviour Research and Therapy. This study directly compared internet-delivered EMDR with a waitlist control group in adults with PTSD following loss and grief. Participants in the online EMDR group showed significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptom severity compared to the waitlist group. Importantly, treatment gains were maintained at the three-month follow-up, suggesting that outcomes from virtual delivery are not only immediate but durable.
The French Research: Teletherapy EMDR Across Clinical Settings
Researchers in France, including Tarquinio and colleagues, published work examining EMDR delivered via videoconferencing in clinical contexts, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person care became suddenly unavailable. Their work, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021), found that patients treated with remote EMDR demonstrated significant reductions in trauma symptoms, with clinician-rated and self-reported outcomes both improving meaningfully. The authors noted that the shift to telehealth EMDR did not appear to compromise therapeutic alliance or treatment outcomes, and they called for broader adoption of remote EMDR delivery.
Systematic Reviews: The Evidence Is Converging
A 2021 systematic review examining telehealth delivery of trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR, found that remote formats were generally comparable in effectiveness to in-person delivery across a range of trauma presentations. Reviewers noted that client satisfaction with telehealth EMDR was consistently high and that dropout rates were similar to or lower than those seen in face-to-face settings - a finding that speaks to how manageable clients find the format.
The takeaway across this research: virtual EMDR therapy works. It isn't a watered-down substitute. For many people, it is simply a different, and equally effective, way to access the same healing.
The Real Benefits of Virtual EMDR
Beyond the research, there are practical reasons why online EMDR therapy makes sense for many people seeking care.
Access from anywhere in Canada. Geography should not determine who gets to heal. If you live in a rural or remote community, if you have limited transportation, or if you're located outside a major urban centre, virtual sessions make high-quality trauma therapy available to you, regardless of where you are.
Healing in your own space. Many clients report that being in their own home actually supports the therapeutic process. There's a grounding quality to familiar surroundings. You don't have to navigate traffic, find parking, or sit in a waiting room before an emotionally demanding session.
More scheduling flexibility. Without commute time factored in, clients often find it easier to book sessions during lunch breaks or around family commitments, making consistent attendance more realistic.
Privacy and discretion. For some people, walking into a counselling office carries a stigma they'd rather avoid. Virtual sessions are completely private. No one in your workplace or community needs to know you're accessing support.
Continuity of care. If you travel for work, move cities, or simply have an unpredictable schedule, virtual EMDR means your care doesn't have to start over when your circumstances change.
What a Virtual EMDR Session Looks Like at Strength in Heart Counselling
At Strength in Heart Counselling, our virtual sessions are delivered through Canadian healthcare-approved, HIPAA-compliant video platforms, the same standard of privacy and security you would expect in an in-person clinical setting.
Your EMDR therapist will guide you through the full protocol, just as they would in the office. Bilateral stimulation in a virtual setting is adapted in a few ways: your therapist may use a moving object on screen to guide eye movements, use auditory tones or music delivered through your headphones, or guide you through tactile bilateral tapping that you do yourself (such as alternately tapping your own knees or shoulders). These adaptations have been validated in the research and are well-established in telehealth EMDR practice.
Michelle Montreuil, Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) & EMDR Therapist
Sessions typically run 50 to 90 minutes, and your therapist will check in throughout to ensure you feel safe, grounded, and supported. The pacing is always led by you. Our approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, meaning we follow your readiness, not a rigid timeline.
Our team includes therapists like Michelle Montreuil, who brings extensive training in EMDR and a warm, body-based approach to each session.
Is Virtual EMDR Right for You?
Virtual EMDR is a strong fit for many people, but it's worth thinking through a few considerations.
It tends to work well for people who:
Have a stable internet connection and a private, quiet space for sessions
Are comfortable with video technology (or are willing to get comfortable with it)
Live outside of our in-person locations in Victoria BC and the Cowichan Valley, or simply prefer the convenience of virtual care
Have previously engaged in some therapy and have basic distress tolerance skills in place
A few things to discuss with your therapist:
If you are in active crisis, experiencing very high levels of dissociation, or have complex needs that require significant stabilization before trauma processing begins, your therapist may recommend starting with more frequent check-ins where possible.
This is something we assess together during your free intake consultation, so you never have to figure it out alone.
Ready to Find Out If Virtual EMDR Is Right for You?
Healing from trauma is possible, and it doesn't require a commute.
At Strength in Heart Counselling, we offer virtual EMDR therapy to clients across Canada, with licensed and registered counsellors who specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD and more.
Your first step is a free 20-minute intake consultation - a no-pressure conversation where we get to know your needs and match you with the right therapist for where you are right now.
