The Ultimate Guide to EMDR Buzzers, Pulsers, and Tappers

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy relies on stimulating both sides of the brain in an alternating fashion. This research-based therapy technique initially used visual stimulation but currently, EMDR is also assisted by tools that also use physical stimuli and go by various names. The vibration tools that create physical stimuli on alternating sides of the body using vibration, taps, or shaking are called buzzers, pulsers, and tappers.

Initially, the different names likely reflected the different approaches to physical stimuli. Buzzers provided heavy vibrations for a longer period than tappers and pulsers that provided shorter, lighter physical stimuli. Those differences no longer exist because most variations of EMDR vibration devices allow the user to vary the intensity and duration of physical stimuli. Even mobile applications that allow your phone to act as EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers allow the user to adjust those settings. This blog usually refers to these EMDR vibration devices simply as tappers, but for clarity, this blog post will use all three names (buzzers, pulsers, and tappers) to emphasize their synonymous nature. While significant research has been conducted to understand the efficacy of EMDR buzzers, pulsers and tappers, below is an explanation of what to expect when working with these devices.

What is the purpose of EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers?

Regardless of the name, EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers all function similarly—they all create bilateral stimulation. EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers use two vibration devices that a user holds in their hands or strap onto their wrists. These devices create physical stimuli periodically and the timing is used to create stimuli on alternating sides of the body. The time between the vibrations is usually between 1.5 to 3 seconds. A single “pass” of EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers is when the device vibrates once on the right side and once on the left.

For example, a user holds the two tappers. At the beginning of an EMDR session, the device in their left hand vibrates, and two seconds later, the one in their right hand vibrates. That series is one single pass, and two seconds later, another pass occurs. The therapist determines the number of passes and the tempo of the passes based on need.

When did EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers come into use?

EMDR became a codified therapy technique in the 1990s, but the idea of using devices to create alternating bilateral stimulations is ancient. Early practitioners of mediation encouraged people participating in mediation to hold bells in both hands and ring them alternatingly during certain meditative practices. Similarly, within Taoist philosophies, practitioners used small balls that had bells or other metal noise-makers to create both physical and audio stimuli.

Now, most EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers use electronics to create vibrations and measure the timing of the vibrations.

What other equipment is used with EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers?

Physical stimuli are usually used in combination with visual and audio stimuli. A client will typically synchronize the vibrations in the left and right hands with eye movement from side to side to match the vibrations. Additionally, sounds directed to that same side help synchronize the physical, audio, and visual stimulation. Research has shown that by alternately stimulating both sides of the brain, trauma and other negative emotions yet unprocessed or disintegrated are more easily addressed and healed.

How much do EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers cost?

Typically, EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers can cost anywhere from $50 to $500. Wired tappers are typically slightly cheaper costing between $150 and $300 for a set. Wireless tappers tend to be slightly larger than wired tappers because of the complex circuitry required in the device itself. Wireless tappers are also slightly more expensive ranging from $250 to $500 for a set. However, EMDR Tappers recently released a set of wireless tappers that retails for $200, which may indicate that prices could come down for wireless tappers as EMDR and other bilateral stimulation exercises become mainstream.

EMDR Tappers’ latest set of minimalist wireless tappers.

More complex systems that replicate all three forms of stimuli are traditionally more expensive whereas simple systems that just provide physical stimuli are more affordable. Traditionally, therapists are the principal consumers of these devices and the cost was less of a concern given that it would be used by many clients. Currently, with many people looking to have personal EMDR vibration devices to use during telemental health sessions, the cost of EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers has become a more important factor. For this reason, smartphone apps that can replicate all of the functions of EMDR vibration devices have become more popular.

Can digital tools like smartphones replace EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers?

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged many practitioners to find other solutions to offer physical stimuli without the need for costly buzzers, pulsers, and tappers. In part, this was in response to the need to provide telemental health counseling. Because each patient does not have a set of buzzers, pulsers, and tappers, a smartphone capable of most of the functions of buzzers, pulsers, and tappers seemed like a good solution. Even for in-person counseling, the pandemic created hesitancy among patients to share physical devices.

Image of a pair of tappers in a therapist’s office.

While the pandemic spurred the initial innovation for the smartphone to replace EMDR, many counselors recognized the benefits of using a mobile app as a replacement for EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers. The mobile apps that can perform the same functions as EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers are significantly more affordable than their standalone counterparts. These mobile apps also allowed clients to have continuity in their bilateral stimulation whether the counseling was in person or virtual. The ubiquity of smartphones also created the possibility of the client to continue bilateral stimulation sessions under the direction of the therapist at home.

In conclusion, smartphones are beginning to replace standalone EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers. Just as professionals predominantly use standalone cameras, voice recorders, or GPS devices, professional counselors will likely be the predominant user for standalone EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers. For most individual consumers, smartphones will replace the function of EMDR buzzers, pulsers, and tappers.