Is online EMDR as effective as in-person EMDR?

Early research suggests the results are largely similar for many people. The best study we've seen, of veterans' VA records, found similar completion and improvement rates, with somewhat larger PTSD gains in person. Bigger, randomized studies are still needed.

Can I do EMDR from anywhere?

Your therapist has to be licensed in the state where you are during the session. Loma's therapists are licensed in Texas, so we work with people in Texas, from the big metros out to rural West Texas.

Will it feel strange doing EMDR at home?

The first session or two can. Your therapist spends the early sessions helping you feel steady and teaching you ways to calm yourself before any memory work starts, and that matters even more when you're at home afterward.

What if something comes up and I'm alone after the session?

Your therapist will close each session by making sure you feel settled before you hang up, and will help you plan what to do if something stirs up later. In an emergency, call or text 988.

Does online EMDR therapy work?

For many people it does, though the research is still early. In a review of 279 veterans' VA records, people who did EMDR by video finished treatment and improved at similar rates to people who came in person, with somewhat larger PTSD gains in person. All of Loma's sessions are by video, with EMDR-trained therapists licensed in Texas.

What the research says so far

EMDR itself is well studied. The World Health Organization and the VA/DoD both recommend it for PTSD. Research on EMDR by video is newer and there is much less of it, so nobody can yet say it works exactly as well as sitting in the same room.

The clearest evidence we've found is a 2025 review of VA records for 279 veterans. It wasn't a randomized trial, and it only looked at veterans, so it can't settle the question for everyone. It does suggest that for many people, video is a reasonable way to do EMDR, especially when the alternative is a long drive or a long waitlist.

In a review of 279 veterans' VA records, telehealth and in-person EMDR had similar completion rates and similar rates of clinically significant improvement. PTSD gains were somewhat larger in person.
Fairbanks et al., Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2025

How bilateral stimulation works over video

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, a back-and-forth rhythm that you follow while you hold a memory in mind. Over video, your therapist can use any of these:

Eye movements: You follow a dot or light moving side to side across your screen.
Tones in headphones: A sound alternates between your left and right ear.
Tapping: You tap your own knees or shoulders, left then right, while your therapist guides the pace.
The butterfly hug: You cross your arms over your chest and tap your shoulders in turn.

Loma's video platform has bilateral stimulation built in, so you don't need a separate app or any equipment beyond headphones.

What you'll need

A private room where you won't be overheard or interrupted for the whole session.
A laptop or tablet with a camera, ideally propped up so your therapist can see your face.
Headphones, which help with privacy and are needed for tone-based stimulation.
A steady internet connection. Ask your therapist in the first session what to do if the call drops.

Does insurance cover online EMDR?

Most plans cover telehealth therapy the same way they cover an office visit, and EMDR is billed with the same psychotherapy codes either way. Loma is in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Cigna, Curative, Optum/UnitedHealthcare and Sana Benefits, and we check your coverage before your first session.

Is EMDR covered by insurance? · What EMDR costs in Texas

When video isn't the right place to start

Loma is not a crisis service. If you're in immediate danger or thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. Your therapist will also talk with you early on about whether EMDR by video fits what you're dealing with, and will tell you if they think you need a different kind of care.

Questions about online EMDR

Is online EMDR as effective as in-person EMDR?: Early research suggests the results are largely similar for many people. The best study we've seen, of veterans' VA records, found similar completion and improvement rates, with somewhat larger PTSD gains in person. Bigger, randomized studies are still needed.
Can I do EMDR from anywhere?: Your therapist has to be licensed in the state where you are during the session. Loma's therapists are licensed in Texas, so we work with people in Texas, from the big metros out to rural West Texas.
Will it feel strange doing EMDR at home?: The first session or two can. Your therapist spends the early sessions helping you feel steady and teaching you ways to calm yourself before any memory work starts, and that matters even more when you're at home afterward.
What if something comes up and I'm alone after the session?: Your therapist will close each session by making sure you feel settled before you hang up, and will help you plan what to do if something stirs up later. In an emergency, call or text 988.

Try EMDR by video

Send us your insurance details and we'll check your coverage and match you with an EMDR-trained therapist licensed in Texas.

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