When people first reach out for therapy, they’re often carrying the weight of trauma, anxiety, or long-standing patterns that just won’t budge. They’ve tried talk therapy, journaling, maybe even meditation—but something still feels stuck.
This is where deeper methods like EMDR and hypnosis come in. Both approaches go beyond surface-level coping. They help access the deeper layers of the brain and body where emotional pain, limiting beliefs, and trauma responses live. And yes—they work well online. Let me walk you through how I use these approaches, how they differ, and how to know which one might be right for you.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy originally developed for PTSD, but its use has expanded to issues like anxiety, grief, phobias, panic attacks, and deep-seated shame.
In an EMDR session, we identify a distressing memory or negative belief that continues to affect your emotions, relationships, or body. Then we use bilateral stimulation—like eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds—to help your brain reprocess that experience. You don’t relive the trauma; instead, you revisit it in a safe and supported way so that it can finally settle and integrate.
Yes, EMDR works online. I use screen-sharing tools, video-based eye movement, or even gentle tapping techniques guided remotely. Clients are often surprised by how effective and powerful this feels—even from the comfort of their own home.
What About Hypnosis?
Hypnosis has a long history, but the style I use is called Ericksonian hypnosis, or conversational hypnotherapy. It’s not about clucking like a chicken or losing control—it’s about entering a natural, focused state of inner awareness.
In this relaxed trance state, your unconscious mind becomes more open to helpful suggestions and healing images. Hypnosis allows us to shift patterns that are automatic: anxiety responses, body symptoms, old self-images, even deep emotional wounds. It's powerful in working with panic attacks, low self-worth, psychosomatic illness, depression, eating disorders, and trauma.
Online hypnosis can actually feel more relaxing. You’re in your own space, with your own blanket, in a familiar room. That safety makes it easier to go inward and trust the process.
EMDR vs. Hypnosis: What’s the Difference?
| Aspect | EMDR | Hypnosis |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Reprocessing emotional memory | Suggestion, imagery, inner transformation |
| State of mind | Fully alert and present | Relaxed, inward-focused trance |
| Method | Bilateral stimulation (eye movement, tapping) | Guided imagery, metaphors, indirect suggestions |
| Structure | Highly structured protocol | Flexible and creative dialogue |
| Best for | Trauma, PTSD, panic, phobias, grief, shame | Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, body-based symptoms, trauma |
| Online adaptability | Eye movement apps, screen-based cues | Headphones, quiet space, guided voice |
So which one is right for you? It depends on how your mind responds best. Some clients start with EMDR and later try hypnosis, or vice versa. Others combine both in the course of therapy. The most important thing is that we tailor the method to what your system needs.
“Can This Really Work for Me?”
This is the question I hear most. And my answer is: healing is possible when you have the right tools and support.
You don’t need to be in a crisis to benefit. Many of my clients are high-functioning, thoughtful people who feel “stuck” or weighed down by patterns they can’t explain. EMDR and hypnosis are not last resorts—they’re doors into deeper relief, insight, and growth.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck
Our minds and bodies hold on to survival strategies long after we’ve outgrown them. Whether it’s a trauma response, chronic self-doubt, or unexplained anxiety—these are not personality flaws. They are treatable. EMDR and hypnosis are gentle yet powerful ways to help you feel more free, more grounded, and more you. And yes, even through a screen—transformation is possible.
If you're curious about exploring either approach, I’d be honored to talk with you about how we can work together—virtually and at your pace.
Written by Alice Bertoldo and Fung Tsoi Lam Christel