Clinical Guide: Implementing Remote Bilateral Stimulation

Solving the "Screen Share" Problem

Attempting to use a digital light bar via screen-sharing (Zoom, Google Meet, or Doxy.me) often results in "stuttering" or dropped frames, and video platforms may suppress the alternating tones as background noise. This breaks the smooth pursuit of the eyes required for effective reprocessing. The fix is simple: have the client open Bilateral Focus on their own device, so the animation and audio are rendered locally and never pass through the video call.

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.

Send Clients a Pre-Configured Session Link

Rather than talking a client through slider adjustments, dial in the exact alternation rate, tone frequency, and transition settings on the main tool, then press Copy Session Link. The copied URL (for example bilateralfocus.com/?rate=1.2&freq=440) opens the tool with those settings already applied on the client's device. Settings are also remembered automatically between visits on each device, so a returning client picks up where they left off.

Embed the Tool on Your Practice Website

You can embed a compact version of Bilateral Focus directly on your own website — useful for a client resources page or for between-session grounding practice. Copy this snippet into your site's HTML:

<iframe
  src="https://bilateralfocus.com/embed?rate=1&freq=300"
  width="100%" height="480"
  style="border: 0; border-radius: 12px;"
  title="Bilateral stimulation tool"
  allow="autoplay"></iframe>

The optional rate (0.2–3 Hz) and freq (100–1000 Hz) parameters set the starting speed and tone. The embedded tool is free to use on any website.

Recommended Protocol

1. Ensure the client has a stable internet connection and a comfortable environment.
2. Send the client a pre-configured session link, or direct them 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.

How Bilateral Focus Compares to Paid Clinical Platforms

Bilateral Focus is a free, self-administered tool. Subscription platforms built for EMDR practices, such as Bilateral Base and bilateralstimulation.io, offer things this site does not, and it is worth being clear about which is which so you can pick the right tool for your practice.

When a paid platform is the better choice: if you need to change the speed or stop the set from your own screen without the client touching anything, or if you use hardware tappers, a subscription tool is built for that and Bilateral Focus is not.

When Bilateral Focus is enough: for self-use between sessions, for resourcing and grounding exercises, or for remote sessions where you are comfortable guiding the client verbally and sending them a pre-configured link. Because nothing is stored and no account exists, there is no client data to secure and no agreement to sign. See the privacy page for details.