Beginner Guide to EMDR Tappers—Bilateral Stimulation Protocols
While the EMDR Tappers app was initially designed as a tool for therapists and clients during distance EMDR sessions, it is also a wonderful application for people that want to use the power of bilateral stimulation to improve their performance, emotional state, or mental well-being. I am excited by the response of individuals who have found out about the app through search engines and are wondering what the best way is to use the EMDR Tappers app. While you should seek the care of an EMDR professional to process traumatic or distressing events, here are some tips on how to use the app to increase your sense of calm or peace. If you feel any discomfort or distress while using the app, please find an EMDR trained therapist and seek guidance before continuing use of the app.
Phone and/or watch settings: In order to ensure that the iPhone and/or Apple Watch does not go into sleep mode during an EMDR Tappers session, change your Auto-Lock timing under Display & Brightness on your iPhone and your Wake Screen settings on your Apple Watch to extend how long the displays will stay active. After you finish your session, you can change the setting back to your preferred Auto-Lock timing.
How to hold the phone: Hold the device(s) away from your face, so that your eyes will move from side to side as you follow the sphere or other animation that is alternating bilaterally (side to side) on the app. Notice the distance that best allows you to most comfortably move your eyes from side to side. Following the animations should not make you uncomfortable, but it should cause eye movement.
More on animations: You can change the color of the animations, and while these can be changed according to preference, notice if the green or blue animations have a more calming effect for you. I have also made a series of YouTube videos if you would like to watch the animations on a computer screen or T.V. and simply use the app for vibration.
How to use the audio: The EMDR Tappers app is most useful with headphones that are capable of stereo (2 channel) sound. Most headphones fit this description.
Time between taps and Number of passes: The time between taps varies based on the purpose. If you are using the tappers to build a calm or peaceful place, then generally the time between taps will be slower, from 1.1 to 1.7 seconds. It is generally recommended by the experts to limit the number of passes (a complete set from left to right) to 5 or 6, then take a deep breath, and notice how you feel. Do you feel a sense of peace and calm? If so, then you can repeat the exercise. If you extend the number of passes, i.e., 10-20 passes, when installing a calm place, remember to stayed tuned in to how you are feeling. If you begin to feel distressed, then stop, take a deep breath, and limit the number of passes to 5 or 6 when you repeat the exercise. Sometimes, the increased number of passes or more rapid pacing from side to side (bilateral alternating stimulation) will automatically take you into processing an unresolved memory or negative belief about yourself.
When working with a EMDR trained therapist, you can increase the pace of the bilateral alternating movement (time between taps) to .7 to 1.0 seconds. The therapist can guide you on the number of passes when processing the traumatic or distressing memory based on your ability to stay in the memory without becoming overwhelmed. I have seen the international trainers recommend from 25 to 80 passes. It is important to stop, take a deep breath, and take a moment to reflect on your experience, whether an emotion you are experiencing, a thought coming to mind, or an image or memory that comes up.
Sessions frequency: How many sessions per day/week? If you are using the EMDR tappers to build your capacity to go into a more calm and peaceful state, then it is generally recommended to spend 5 to 10 minutes envisioning a real or imagined peaceful place 3 times per day spaced out over the day. As you repeat these exercises daily, you are training your nervous system to shift to a calm state. Notice if you are able to stay in this calm place for longer periods of time or perhaps even shift to a calm state when you are feeling agitated or nervous.
If you are working with a therapist on negative cognitions or distressing experiences, usually once or twice a week with the therapist will be the most your body and mind can integrate and process each week. Ask you therapist if he/she recommends more frequent processing.
These are general protocols, and you should experiment to find what is best for you. Once you find the protocol that is best for you, you can use the folder icon to save that protocol within the app.
