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Bilateral Stimulation Used in studied protocols

Follow a moving target

Visual bilateral stimulation for clinician-led sessions.

This is a reference tool, not a replacement for EMDR therapy. EMDR must be delivered by a trained clinician. If you are using these tools outside of therapy and become distressed, stop, ground yourself, and contact a mental health professional.

Before you start

  • Photosensitive epilepsy warning: this tool uses sustained horizontal motion.
  • Not recommended for home use without clinician supervision.

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Settings

Preset

Motion

Keeps the left-right alternation without sustained motion.

Appearance

Sound

Headphones needed for left-right separation.

Settings saved on this device
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This tool uses motion by design. The settings panel can switch it to a side-to-side fade instead.

Clinical sources

Clinical sources

Visual Bilateral Stimulation

What the evidence supports

Research on a complete therapy does not establish that an isolated activity or this website produces the same outcomes. EMDR includes assessment, preparation, memory work and follow-up with a trained clinician. Its mechanisms are still being studied.

These pages compile published sources. An independent clinical review of this site and a trial of its tools are not documented here. Labels describe the technique’s use context; they are not an efficacy certification.

VA: EMDR evidence and limitations · NICE: recommendations by age and context

How to use this activity and clinical context

What this is

A horizontal-moving visual stimulus for eye-movement bilateral stimulation during Phase 4 desensitization or Phase 5 installation. Dot moves edge to edge at a configurable speed.

When to use it

  • Phase 4 Desensitization: Between check-ins, while the client tracks the dot with their eyes.
  • Phase 5 Installation: To strengthen the positive cognition.

Clinical notes

Shapiro’s published guidance describes speed as “as fast as the client can comfortably track” rather than a fixed Hz value. The 1.0 Hz default (one full left-right cycle per second) is a reasonable middle estimate from EMDR training materials; adjust freely per client tolerance and response. Sets of ~24 passes are a commonly taught starting point; shorter or longer sets are appropriate depending on the session. Faster movement is generally used for desensitization, slower for installation. Use fullscreen mode to remove visual distractions and give the client clean tracking.

Parameter defaults

  • Speed: 1.0 Hz (one full left-right cycle per second)
  • Set length: 24 passes
  • Path: horizontal (infinity, arc, diagonal, and wave paths are also available)
  • Easing: cosine (eases in/out at each edge; linear and smootherstep are also available)
  • Target shape: circle (ring, soft glow, star, and butterfly shapes are also available), 48 px, with adjustable glow and trail length
  • Color: warm white target on a black background, plus five built-in palettes (default, high contrast, low-stimulation, warm, cool)
  • Crossfade: off — when enabled, the target cross-fades between the two extremes instead of translating, for reduced-motion use

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