What Is Bilateral Stimulation in EMDR—and How It Helps with Anxiety, Trauma, and Emotional Healing
- Tiffany Lowther
- May 27
- 5 min read
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is a core component of the EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) process, and it plays a crucial role in how EMDR helps heal trauma. Below is an explanation of what BLS does, how it contributes to the healing process, and why working with an EMDR-certified therapist is essential for optimal results:
What is Bilateral Stimulation (BLS)?
Bilateral stimulation involves alternating stimuli, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds, that engage both sides of the brain. In the most common form of BLS, the client follows the therapist’s hand with their eyes as it moves back and forth. Other methods of BLS include auditory tones that alternate from ear to ear or tactile stimulation, like tapping on the left and right sides of the body, a light bar your eyes follow or gentle buzzing in one hand to the other.
How Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) Affects the Brain:
Engagement of Both Hemispheres: Bilateral stimulation activates both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The left hemisphere is often associated with logical, analytical thinking, while the right hemisphere processes emotions, images, and body sensations. BLS encourages the brain to integrate these different forms of processing, which helps create a more cohesive understanding of traumatic experiences.
Facilitation of Memory Processing: The brain has a natural ability to process and store memories, but trauma can disrupt this process. In the case of traumatic events, the memory often becomes "stuck" or inadequately processed. The left side of the brain can struggle to make sense of the emotional and sensory aspects of the experience (which are stored in the right hemisphere). BLS facilitates the processing of these stuck memories by encouraging the two sides of the brain to work together, helping to integrate the emotional and cognitive components of the trauma.
Activation of the Information Processing System: BLS is thought to mimic the brain's natural processing mechanism during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, when the brain processes memories and emotions. During REM sleep, the brain uses eye movements to integrate new information with existing memories and emotions. By using BLS in EMDR, the therapist taps into this natural healing mechanism, allowing the brain to process the traumatic memory in a way that leads to healing.
How Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) Helps Heal Trauma:
Reduces Emotional Charge: BLS helps reduce the intensity of the emotional charge tied to traumatic memories. By processing the memory with bilateral stimulation, the brain is able to desensitize the distressing emotions associated with the trauma. Over time, this reduces the emotional pain and distress linked to the memory. The goal is to just have the memory without the strong emotions attached to it.
Reprocessing Memories: BLS allows for the reprocessing of the traumatic memory. Instead of staying "stuck" in a heightened state of distress, the memory is processed in a more adaptive way. This helps to integrate the memory into the broader context of the person's life, allowing them to remember the event without feeling overwhelmed or immobilized by it. Reprocessing also helps the bring in adaptive, useful knowledge that you might not have had when you went through that experience.
Shift in Cognitive Beliefs: Through EMDR, BLS helps shift negative beliefs about oneself that may have formed as a result of the trauma (e.g., "I’m unsafe" or "I’m powerless"). By processing the memory, the person can replace these negative beliefs with more positive, adaptive ones (e.g., "I am safe", "I am learning to feel capable" or "I am strong"), which helps the individual regain a sense of control and self-worth.
Physical and Emotional Regulation: Trauma often causes dysregulation of the nervous system, which can result in physical symptoms such as tension, anxiety, or hypervigilance. BLS helps regulate the nervous system by promoting a state of calm and processing the trauma in a way that reduces these physical symptoms. It aids in restoring balance and emotional resilience.
The Overall Healing Process:
Integration of the Trauma: As BLS helps process the trauma, the brain integrates the memory into the larger narrative of the person’s life. This reduces the feeling of being "stuck" in the past and allows the person to move forward with a more balanced emotional state.
Resilience and Empowerment: By reducing the emotional intensity of the trauma and reprogramming negative beliefs, the person becomes more resilient. The memory no longer holds the same power over them, and they regain a sense of control, which is empowering.
Why See an EMDR-Certified Therapist?
It’s crucial to see an EMDR-certified therapist for several important reasons:
Proper Training and Expertise: EMDR is a specialized therapeutic technique that requires extensive training. A certified therapist has completed rigorous education in the method and understands its complexities, ensuring that they can guide you safely through the process.
Safe and Structured Process: An EMDR-certified therapist provides a safe and structured environment for the trauma healing process. They ensure that you are emotionally ready for the work, guide you in processing memories at a manageable pace, and use grounding techniques when necessary to avoid overwhelm.
Tailored to Your Needs: Certified EMDR therapists have the expertise to tailor the therapy to your specific trauma, ensuring that the process addresses the complexity of your experience. They also adjust the protocol as needed to best fit your needs and pace.
Emotional and Physical Safety: An EMDR-certified therapist is skilled at managing emotional and physical responses during trauma processing. They can help you stay regulated and offer interventions to prevent re-traumatization.
Comprehensive Understanding of Trauma: These therapists have an in-depth understanding of trauma’s emotional, cognitive, and physical effects, side effects and they can support your healing from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more in a holistic manner. It's important for therapist working with trauma to screen and understand complex trauma and dissociation.
Confidence and Effectiveness: Working with a certified therapist enhances your confidence in the process. Their experience and proficiency in using EMDR effectively increase the likelihood of healing and emotional resilience.
In summary, bilateral stimulation is a key element in EMDR that facilitates the reprocessing of traumatic memories by engaging both sides of the brain. It helps reduce emotional charge, integrate memories, and regulate the nervous system. Seeing an EMDR-certified therapist ensures that this powerful process is done safely, effectively, and tailored to your needs, optimizing your healing journey.
Next Steps:
Tiffany Lowther, LMHC, PMH-C provides compassionate, trauma-informed counseling in Orlando, Winter Park and throughout Central Florida. Certified in EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health, with specialties in EMDR therapy, perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mental health, life transitions, trauma, ptsd and anxiety treatment. Tiffany offers both in-person and HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions.
👉 Ready to take the next step? Schedule a session or free 15-minute consultation today.
Lowther Counseling Services, www.LowtherCS.com
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