Bilateral Stimulation
For EMDR
About EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., in the late 1980s for the treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Shapiro, 1989). EMDR is recognized as a recommended or first-line treatment for PTSD by the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2017), the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013), and the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense (VA/DoD, 2023), and it is the framework supported by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA, 2024).
EMDR operates within the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which proposes that unprocessed traumatic memories are stored in maladaptive networks that drive current symptoms (Shapiro, 2018). The standard EMDR protocol moves clients through eight phases — history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation — with bilateral stimulation (BLS), also called dual attention stimulus (DAS), introduced during Phase 4 to facilitate adaptive memory reconsolidation (Shapiro, 2018; EMDRIA, 2024).
Bilateral stimulation may be delivered visually (eye movements tracking a moving target), auditorily (alternating left-right tones), or tactilely (alternating tappers or buzzers). While the precise neurobiological mechanism is still an active area of research, current theories point to working memory taxation (van den Hout & Engelhard, 2012), activation of the orienting response, and enhanced interhemispheric communication (Stickgold, 2002) as likely contributors to the treatment effect. Beyond PTSD, EMDR is increasingly applied to complex trauma, anxiety disorders, specific phobias, grief, performance blocks, and depressive presentations with trauma-related etiology (Valiente-Gómez et al., 2017).
At ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare, our licensed clinicians integrate EMDR with assessment-informed, neurobiologically grounded care for adolescents and adults. Whether you are a clinician exploring referral options or a client weighing whether EMDR is right for you, learn more about our EMDR and trauma therapy services or schedule a consultation.
About the ScienceWorks Bilateral Stimulation Tool
The ScienceWorks Bilateral Stimulation Tool is a free, browser-based utility built for EMDR-trained clinicians who need a reliable, distraction-free stimulus during Phase 4 desensitization and resource installation (Shapiro, 2018) - in-office or over telehealth via screen share on Zoom, Doxy.me, Google Meet, SimplePractice, or any modern video platform.
Designed with direct input from practicing clinicians, the tool prioritizes the details that matter during live reprocessing. A wide, variable speed range (0.2x–6.0x) lets you match client tolerance in fine increments. Adjustable dot size, color, and arc accommodate visual sensitivities and clinical preferences. A spacebar start/pause shortcut allows you to respond to client cues without breaking eye contact or reaching for the mouse. Optional left-right tones (defaulting to 220 Hz / 330 Hz, fully configurable) provide auditory BLS when visual tracking is not appropriate, and an edge-pulse glow with adjustable intensity and duration supports paired visual-auditory cueing — modalities consistent with the three principal BLS channels described in the EMDR literature (Shapiro, 2018). A true fullscreen mode removes browser chrome for a clean stimulus field during sessions, and a light/dark theme toggle accommodates different lighting environments.
Unlike paid subscription platforms, there is no account, no client login, no session cap, and no data collection. Nothing about a client’s session is transmitted or stored — the tool runs entirely in the browser on your device.
Scope of use. This tool is intended for use by EMDR-trained clinicians as an adjunct to a full EMDR protocol (EMDRIA, 2024). It is not a substitute for clinician-directed treatment and should not be used for self-guided trauma processing. All clinical framing on this page has been reviewed by Kiesa Kelly, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist at ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare.
For clinician-to-clinician referrals, consultation about EMDR-informed care, or our broader psychological assessment and therapy services, please contact our team.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline
EMDR International Association. (2024). About EMDR therapy. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199–223. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.2490020207
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Eye-Movement-Desensitization-and-Reprocessing-EMDR-Therapy/Francine-Shapiro/9781462532766
Stickgold, R. (2002). EMDR: A putative neurobiological mechanism of action. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.1129
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd/
Valiente-Gómez, A., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Treen, D., Cedrón, C., Colom, F., Pérez, V., & Amann, B. L. (2017). EMDR beyond PTSD: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1668. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01668
van den Hout, M. A., & Engelhard, I. M. (2012). How does EMDR work? Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 3(5), 724–738. https://doi.org/10.5127/jep.028212
World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241505406