EMDR Light Bar (Online & Free)
A browser-based virtual light bar for EMDR practice. The light sweeps left to right at your chosen tempo — follow it with your eyes the same way you would track a clinical Neurotek bar.
Keyboard: Space to start or pause, ← → for speed, F for fullscreen, G to stop and ground.
See
If you have photosensitive epilepsy, choose None and use sound or tapping instead.
Hear
Feel: vibration, tappers and controllers
Game controller
This browser doesn’t support game controllers. Try Chrome or Edge.
Two Android phones can be left and right tappers: start a remote session below and open the tapper links on each phone.
Guided exercises: calm place and container
Two standard EMDR preparation exercises, step by step, with short, slow sets where they help. In a remote session, your client's screen follows each step.
Presets
Saved in this browser only. Therapists: avoid client names; use initials or a description.
Remote session (for therapists)
Run EMDR over telehealth: send your client a link, and this screen controls theirs. Start, stop, speed, visuals, sound and set length all follow you. The client can always press Stop and ground, which stops both screens and tells you. Only settings travel between screens; nothing is stored.
Your progress (private)
Complete a set and rate how distressing things feel, and your sessions appear here, so you can see change over time.
Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else.
Install as an app
Put EMDR Studio on your home screen. It opens full screen and works offline once you have used it.
In Chrome or Edge, use the install icon in the address bar, or the menu’s Install option.
How to use the EMDR light bar
- Sit upright at a comfortable distance from your screen (roughly 18–24 inches).
- Adjust speed to a tempo your eyes can comfortably follow — usually 50–80 BPM.
- Tap Start and track the moving light from one end of the bar to the other.
- Run a set of 20–30 sweeps, pause, and notice any sensations or thoughts.
- For deeper reprocessing of trauma memories, work with a licensed EMDR therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EMDR light bar?
An EMDR light bar is a row of LEDs that illuminates sequentially from left to right (and back), giving the client a visual target to track with their eyes. Clinicians use it as a hands-free alternative to finger-tracking during EMDR therapy's bilateral stimulation phases.
Is this online EMDR light bar safe to use at home?
This tool replicates the visual experience of a clinical light bar for grounding, calming, and reprocessing practice. EMDR for active trauma should always be done with a licensed EMDR-trained therapist. If reprocessing triggers distress, stop the tool, breathe, and contact your provider.
What speed should I set the light bar to?
Most EMDR protocols use 50–80 BPM (one light shift per beat). Start slower while you get used to the motion and increase speed once tracking feels comfortable. The default of 60 BPM is a safe starting point.
How many lights should I use?
Clinical light bars typically have 8–16 LEDs. More dots provide smoother apparent motion; fewer dots create more pronounced left/right shifts. Adjust to whatever feels most comfortable to track.
Can I use this with headphones for bilateral audio?
This tool is visual only. For combined visual + auditory stimulation, open our EMDR Sounds tool or Bilateral Music tool in another tab — many clients find dual-modality stimulation more effective.
Does this work on mobile?
Yes. Use fullscreen mode and rotate your device to landscape for the widest light-bar span.
Explore Other EMDR & Bilateral Stimulation Tools
All free, no sign-up, browser-based.