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Frequently Asked Questions.

We've anticipated a few questions that you may have about ActiveEMDR and the Bilateral / Dual Attention Stimulation web tools. If your question isn't answered below, please contact us and we will get back to you.

When was this FAQ last updated?

It was last updated on March 10th, 2021.

What is ActiveEMDR?

ActiveEMDR is a free set of tools to help therapists perform bilateral stimulation with their remote EMDR clients. It was originally created in 2013 as a Windows Application meant to be used with in-office clients. However, due to the COVID pandemic in early 2020, it was reimagined as a Web App and released to the public so that therapists could perform virtual EMDR while complying with social distancing recommendations. Read more here.

Do you have any videos showing how to use these tools?

Yes! We have a YouTube Channel that we are slowly filling with content. You can also see the latest videos right in the therapist dashboard.

What happened to all of the questions and answers that were previously on this page?

Questions and answers that directly relate to the operation of our tools are now contained in a new App FAQ. From the therapist dashboard, you will find it in the left menu.

What video conferencing providers does ActiveEMDR support?

Doxy.me (free, professional, and clinic) is embedded right into the tools. Zoom, Google Meet, Any Meeting, VSee Clinic, and Simple Practice have connectors so that we can manage and send you and your client to the right place.

There is also a Generic Connector that should work with any video conferencing provider that offers a web browser based video conferencing option.

Do I have to start a session and wait for my client?

No. As long as you and your client are using the same "Session Password", the client can join first and wait for you, or vice versa.

Will this work if my client is in my office with me?

Yes! If your client is with you in-person and using the same computer, simply start a session as a therapist.

If I'm resizing my windows or using a phone, won't it affect what my client is seeing?

You are not sharing your screen with your client. They are seeing their own unique instance of the tool. The commands you use are sent to the client and run on their device. You can resize windows or move them around without having an affect on your client.

The only caveat is that minimizing the BLS window or expanding another browser window or application that covers the BLS window may affect play back on your side. It will not affect the playback for your client. The technical reason for this is that most browsers pause a website when it is minimized or completely hidden from view. There is nothing we can do to get around this.

If I am not sharing my screen, how do I know exactly what the client is seeing?

To get a feel, we suggest you be the client and therapist at the same time by using two different browser windows or even better, different computers.

Will any browser work?

Most modern browsers will work. It has been tested on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft's Edge Browser. It will not work properly on Opera or Internet Explorer.

Javascript must be enabled and browser cookies must be allowed in order for our tools to work.

Can my client control the tool on their end?

No. Your client won't even see the controls.

I don't get it!

Check out our YouTube Channel to see if the videos help. If not, please contact us and we can have an email or phone conversation.

How reliable is this tool and access to the tool?

It is currently being used by hundreds of therapists and their clients every day. We urge you to give it a try and if it isn't exactly what you are looking for, let us know so that we can make it so!

The website and app themselves are deployed on multiple servers throughout the world and if one goes down, the others are ready to take the load. The infrastructure can easily support thousands of clients and therapists at one time.

I found an issue or problem. What do I do?

Please contact me and let me know as many details as possible. There are quite a number of therapists using this with their clients, I promise it does work for most. With that said, there may be edge cases that need attention. I'm happy to work with everyone to get it going.

Are you HIPAA compliant?

We never send, receive, or even see Protected Health Information. There is never a risk of PHI accidentally being transmitted through our tool or website. Nothing is saved and we never ask for any personal information. Your video communication is handled by a third party. We urge you to visit their website to understand their security standards.

How secure are the ActiveEMDR Sessions?

The more complicated you make your Session Password, the more unlikely that someone else will guess it. Since we do send links to your video sessions, we strongly suggest that you make sure your video conference settings only allow one participant at at time! The worst case scenario is that someone intercepts a video link and joins the video conferencing session. For that reason, it is in your best interest to double check security on your providers website by either password protecting your video sessions or simply confirming each conference attendee as they try to join.

Are you going to charge money?

There are no plans to charge for these tools. Right now, the costs are within reason and we will continue to cover those.

What makes you an EMDR expert?

Maybe it is time for an introduction. My name is Rick May, I'm a designer/developer living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my wife and two children. As far as my EMDR expertise. Well honestly, if it weren't for my wife, I may not have known that it even existed.

My wife, Dr. Tara May is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant. She has influenced the tools direction since it began its life as a Windows application in 2013. She has been using it successfully with her in-office clients ever since. Tara also serves as my idea checker. She makes sure everything is in line with EMDR standards, protocols, and best practices.

When the COVID-19 health crisis came along, and other available options not meeting needs, we decided it was time for that original application to evolve. Now a web based app, it can be used equally well in-person or in a telehealth environment. Given the situation, why not make it available to anyone and everyone who needs it?