Clinical Guide: Implementing Remote Bilateral Stimulation

For mental health professionals, transitioning EMDR and bilateral stimulation (BLS) to a telehealth environment presents unique technical challenges—primarily related to visual lag and audio synchronization. Bilateral Focus is designed to solve these issues by providing a client-side, browser-based interface.

Open Clinical Interface

Solving the "Screen Share" Problem

Professional bilateral stimulation tools provide clinicians with customizable rhythmic cues for EMDR and trauma-informed care. These tools allow for precise control over speed, modality, and duration, ensuring a stable therapeutic environment for both in-person and remote sessions.

Attempting to use a digital light bar via screen-sharing (Zoom, Google Meet, or Doxy.me) often results in "stuttering" or dropped frames. This breaks the smooth pursuit of the eyes required for effective reprocessing.

Best Practices for Remote Sessions:

Independent Client Windows: Instruct the client to open BilateralFocus.com in a separate browser window rather than viewing your shared screen. This ensures the animation runs at their device's native refresh rate.
Audio Calibration: Have the client test their headphones with the "Start" button before the session begins to ensure they can hear the bilateral pips clearly.
Control Delegation: While the therapist guides the speed and duration, allowing the client to adjust the Tone Frequency or Visual Sharpness can increase their sense of agency and safety during "taxation" of the working memory.

Technical Compatibility

Bilateral Focus uses standard Web Audio and Canvas APIs, making it compatible with all modern desktop and mobile browsers. No software installation or "plugin" is required for the client, minimizing technical friction at the start of a session.

Recommended Protocol

1. Ensure the client has a stable internet connection and a comfortable environment.
2. Direct the client to the homepage and have them set the Alternation Rate to your clinical recommendation.
3. Use your standard video platform for the cognitive and emotional processing while the client maintains the visual/auditory anchor locally.

For a full neurobiological breakdown, see our core guide on Brain Mechanisms.