Visual Bilateral Stimulation
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.
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.