West Vancouver EMDR Therapy Online
Trauma Treatment From Your Safe Space
Getting to a therapist's office feels impossible some days. Maybe you're dealing with agoraphobia or panic attacks that make leaving home terrifying. Maybe you've got young kids and can't find childcare. Maybe you work weird hours, live up the Sea-to-Sky, or just the idea of sitting in a waiting room where someone might recognize you makes you want to cancel. West Vancouver EMDR therapy online lets you process trauma from wherever you feel safest - your couch, your bedroom, even your parked car if that's your only private space.
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Online EMDR works just as effectively as in-person sessions. Creekside Counselling has helped clients throughout West Vancouver and beyond heal from PTSD, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, accidents, and grief without them ever having to leave home. The bilateral stimulation that makes EMDR work adapts perfectly to video sessions.
Benefits of Online EMDR Therapy
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The biggest benefit is you are in your own safe environment during trauma processing. When difficult emotions come up during EMDR, you're already home. No driving while upset, no composing yourself to walk past the receptionist, no worrying about crying in public. You finish the session and you're already in your safe space.
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Online EMDR therapy is more accessible for people dealing with mobility issues, chronic pain, or disabilities that make getting to an office difficult. You don't have to navigate stairs, find parking, or sit in an uncomfortable waiting room chair. Your own couch works just fine.
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For trauma survivors - especially sexual abuse survivors - the added layer of privacy and control with online sessions can make therapy feel safer. You choose where to sit, what's in your background, and you can end the video call if you need to. That sense of control matters when trauma took your control away.
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Parents with young kids love online EMDR because you can schedule sessions during naptime or after bedtime without arranging childcare. Single parents dealing with trauma don't have to choose between healing and being available for their kids.
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The flexibility is huge. Living in Whistler or Squamish but want to work with a West Vancouver EMDR therapist? No problem. Shift worker who needs evening or early morning appointments? Online sessions make scheduling way easier. Stuck at home with a broken leg, sick kid, or during bad weather? Your therapy doesn't have to get cancelled.
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For people who dissociate easily during trauma work, being in a familiar environment actually helps you stay grounded and present during processing. You've got your comfort items, your pets, your familiar surroundings - all things that help you stay connected when difficult memories come up.
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Online therapy also works better for folks with social anxiety who find in-person appointments stressful even before the actual therapy starts. The anxiety about being in a new place with a stranger doesn't pile on top of the anxiety about addressing your trauma.
Creekside Counselling's Online EMDR Process
First session happens on a secure video platform - no downloading sketchy apps or creating accounts on weird websites. We use simple, HIPAA-compliant video that works on your phone, tablet, or computer. You just click a link and we're connected.
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Before starting EMDR processing, we make sure your setup works. You need decent internet (doesn't have to be perfect), a private space where you won't be interrupted, and a device with a camera. Headphones help with the audio bilateral stimulation but aren't required. We test everything in the first session so you're comfortable with the technology before diving into trauma work.
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Online EMDR uses different types of bilateral stimulation since I can't actually wave my fingers in front of your face through a screen. Most commonly we use:
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A moving ball or light on your screen that you follow with your eyes
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Alternating audio tones in headphones (left ear, right ear, back and forth)
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Self-administered tapping where you tap your own shoulders or knees in an alternating pattern
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Music or sounds that alternate between left and right
All of these create the same bilateral brain stimulation that makes EMDR work. Research shows online EMDR is just as effective as in-person - your brain doesn't care if the bilateral stimulation comes from my fingers or a dot on a screen.
The actual therapy process is identical to in-person EMDR. We identify traumatic memories, target negative beliefs, process using bilateral stimulation in short sets, and install positive beliefs once the trauma is resolved. Same evidence-based protocol, just delivered through video instead of across a desk.
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Safety planning is extra important for online work. Before processing trauma, we talk about what you'll do if you get overwhelmed - who can you call, where can you go in your house to ground yourself, what coping skills work for you. We also establish a signal for "I need to stop right now" in case you lose audio or need to pause quickly.
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Between sessions, you can email or message if stuff comes up. Online therapy doesn't mean you're alone between appointments. We stay connected and adjust our approach based on how processing is going for you at home.
Pricing Information
Online EMDR therapy sessions are $165 per 50-minute session, same as in-person. Insurance coverage is the same too - we provide receipts you can submit to your extended health benefits. Most BC plans cover online counselling the same as in-person now, especially after COVID made virtual therapy mainstream.
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Session frequency depends on what you're dealing with. Most clients start with weekly EMDR sessions, sometimes twice weekly during active processing if that's helpful. As things improve, we space out to biweekly or monthly check-ins.
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Time commitment varies by trauma complexity. Single traumatic incident might resolve in 8-12 online EMDR sessions. Complex PTSD or childhood trauma takes longer - 20-40 sessions or more. We go at your pace, not some arbitrary timeline.
Areas We Serve
We're based in West Vancouver but online EMDR therapy means location doesn't limit who we can help. We work with clients throughout BC including West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Lions Bay, Bowen Island, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, and anywhere else in the province.
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Lots of our online clients are North Shore residents who just prefer the convenience of virtual sessions - folks in Horseshoe Bay, Dundarave, Ambleside, Caulfeild, British Properties, Eagle Harbour, Cypress Village. You live five minutes from our office but still prefer meeting online? That's totally fine.
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We also help BC residents who moved away from West Vancouver but want to continue working with us. As long as you're physically in BC during sessions (licensing requirement), we can work together online regardless of where you relocated to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online EMDR Therapy
Does online EMDR actually work as well as in-person?
Yes. Multiple studies show online EMDR is just as effective as in-person for treating PTSD and trauma. The bilateral stimulation your brain needs happens whether you're following my fingers in an office or a dot on your screen at home. Your brain processes trauma the same way regardless of session format.
What technology do I need for online EMDR?
Just a device with a camera and microphone - laptop, tablet, or smartphone all work. Decent internet connection (doesn't need to be perfect). A private space where you won't be interrupted. Headphones are helpful but not required. That's it. We don't use complicated software or apps.
What if my internet cuts out during trauma processing?
We have backup plans. You've got my phone number to call if video drops. We can switch to phone-only if needed to finish grounding you. We also don't process the most intense trauma memories until we're confident your connection is stable enough. Safety first, always.
Is online therapy as private and confidential as in-person?
Yes. We use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video platforms. Nothing gets recorded or stored. Standard therapy confidentiality rules apply - what we discuss stays between us except in rare situations (child abuse, imminent danger to self/others). Make sure you're in a private space where family members or roommates won't overhear.
Can I do EMDR from my car or is that weird?
Not weird at all. Lots of clients do sessions from parked cars because it's their only private space - parents with kids at home, people with roommates, folks who need to do therapy during lunch break. As long as you're parked safely and won't be interrupted, your car works fine for online EMDR.
What happens if I get really upset during online processing?
Same thing that would happen in-office - we stop processing, use grounding techniques to bring you back to the present, and make sure you're okay before ending the session. We never leave you hanging. Some therapists worry about this with online work but good trauma therapists know how to stabilize clients remotely just fine.
How do you do the eye movement part online?
I share my screen and you follow a moving ball, dot, or light bar back and forth across the screen. Works exactly like following my fingers would in person. Some clients prefer audio tones in headphones (alternating left-right) or self-tapping instead. All create the bilateral stimulation needed for EMDR processing.
Will my insurance cover online EMDR sessions?
Most extended health plans in BC now cover virtual therapy the same as in-person, especially since COVID normalized online healthcare. Check your specific plan, but registered clinical counsellor services are usually covered regardless of session format. We provide detailed receipts for submission either way.
You don't have to leave your house to heal from trauma. West Vancouver EMDR therapy online brings effective trauma treatment to wherever you feel safest. Ready to start processing what's been stuck? Book your online consultation today.