BilateralStimulation.io Review: Why I Use It for Virtual EMDR
I've been doing virtual EMDR since I first got trained, so figuring out bilateral stimulation online has always just been part of how I practice.
I started out using a different platform. It was fine. It did what I needed it to do.
Then I found BilateralStimulation.io, and I was honestly surprised by how simple it was. There wasn't a huge learning curve, my clients could figure it out, and it was easier to use while also giving me way more options.
I switched and never really looked back.
Since my newest Club07Clear YouTube video is a full review of BilateralStimulation.io, I wanted to share more about why I've stuck with it for virtual EMDR and why I finally decided to upgrade to the paid version after years of using it for free.
I Used the Free Version for Years
I used the free version for a couple of years before I ever paid for it—and long before I had an affiliate link.
And honestly, the free version is really good.
If you only do virtual EMDR occasionally, you may not need anything more than that.
This year, though, my practice has shifted to almost entirely EMDR, and most of my clients are virtual. I've also done more advanced EMDR training, including EMDR 2.0, which has changed the way I think about working memory and how much I want to be able to play around with different variables during processing.
So this year I decided to upgrade to the paid version, and I absolutely don't regret it.
The Paid Features I Actually Use
One of the simplest things I love is being able to save presets.
If I find a combination of settings I like, I can save it and pull it back up rather than recreating everything the next time. When you're doing virtual EMDR regularly, those little things matter.
Shuffle Mode is another feature I've really enjoyed since doing more training in EMDR 2.0.
You can change things like the color of the ball, the size, and the speed. Shuffle Mode can introduce those changes while the client is tracking the stimulus, which gives me another way to increase working-memory demands when it makes sense to do so.
I like having options. I don't want to automatically use the exact same speed, same ball, same everything with every client just because that's what I've always done. I want to be able to adjust what we're doing based on the client, what we're targeting, and what's actually happening during processing.
BilateralStimulation.io makes it really easy to do that.
The New YouTube Feature
BilateralStimulation.io recently added the ability to use YouTube videos within the platform while still using the visual bilateral stimulation.
I really like this for resourcing, especially for clients with aphantasia or clients who have a hard time visualizing. We ask clients to imagine a calm or peaceful place in EMDR, but some people simply can't create an image in their mind.
With this feature, you can choose a calming video with your client—a beach, forest, fireplace, whatever works for them—and use an actual visual instead. You can slow down the ball and use bilateral stimulation to reinforce the resource.
I don't see myself using this with every client, but it's a really thoughtful addition and gives us another option for adapting EMDR to the person we're actually working with.
The Story Behind BilateralStimulation.io
I've also gotten to meet Yanick, the creator of BilateralStimulation.io, and hear the story of how the platform started.
Yanick experienced EMDR himself, and when COVID happened, he saw the problem therapists were suddenly facing: how do we continue doing EMDR when everything has moved online?
So he created something to help solve that problem.
He's also just an awesome guy. I already loved and used the product before meeting him, but getting to know the person behind it has made me feel even better about recommending the company.
They also continue to add new features and improve the platform, which I really appreciate as someone who uses it regularly.
Why It Works for the Way I Practice EMDR
My approach to EMDR is very relational and attachment-informed.
EMDR isn't something I do to you. It's something we do together in a connected, attuned relationship, grounded in autonomy.
That's just as true virtually as it is when we're sitting in the same room.
I need to be able to pay attention to my client. I want to notice changes in affect, body language, processing, and connection. I don't want half of my attention going toward figuring out how to make the technology cooperate.
That's a big reason I've continued using BilateralStimulation.io. It gives me a lot of options without making the technology itself complicated.
I set up what I need, and then I can focus on doing EMDR.
Free or Paid BilateralStimulation.io?
If you're an EMDR therapist who does most of your work in person and only occasionally needs a virtual bilateral stimulation tool, I would start with the free version. It's great. I used it for years.
If most of your sessions are virtual, you use EMDR regularly, and you want more flexibility with bilateral stimulation and working-memory taxation, I think the paid version is worth it.
I paid for it myself before I had an affiliate relationship with the company, and I've been really happy with the decision to upgrade.
Watch My BilateralStimulation.io Review
This is actually my second Club07Clear YouTube video this month.
My first video shares my top five tips for doing virtual EMDR in a relational and attachment-informed way.
In my newest video, I take you into BilateralStimulation.io and show you the platform and some of the features I've talked about here.
[EMBED: BilateralStimulation.io Review]
If you do EMDR virtually, the two videos work really well together: one focuses on how I approach virtual EMDR clinically, and the other shows you one of the tools I use to provide it.
[LINK: My Top 5 Tips for Virtual EMDR]
You can absolutely start with the free version.
If you decide you want the paid features, I have a Club07Clear affiliate link that gives you 50% off your first three months:
I used BilateralStimulation.io for years before becoming an affiliate and paid for the upgraded version myself. I would be recommending it either way.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a paid BilateralStimulation.io subscription through my Club07Clear link, you'll receive 50% off your first three months and I receive a $25 commission. All opinions and experiences shared here are my own.
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