EMDR Bilateral Stimulation Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which bilateral stimulation (BLS) modality is typically recommended when a client has a visual processing disorder that makes eye movements uncomfortable?
- Continue with eye movements at a slower pace
- Switch to auditory or tactile BLS (Correct answer)
- Terminate the session immediately
- Use only cognitive interweaves
Correct answer: Switch to auditory or tactile BLS
When eye movements are contraindicated due to visual processing difficulties, auditory tones or tactile tapping are appropriate alternative BLS modalities.
Question 2: In EMDR, what is the typical recommended direction for hand movements during eye movement BLS?
- Circular motions
- Diagonal movements
- Horizontal back-and-forth (Correct answer)
- Vertical up-and-down
Correct answer: Horizontal back-and-forth
Horizontal back-and-forth movements are the standard direction for eye movement BLS, as this pattern was originally used in Shapiro's research.
Question 3: A client reports that auditory BLS tones feel too intense during processing. What is the MOST appropriate therapist response?
- Increase the volume to push through resistance
- Adjust the volume or switch to a different BLS modality (Correct answer)
- Stop EMDR and return to talk therapy only
- Add more cognitive interweaves to compensate
Correct answer: Adjust the volume or switch to a different BLS modality
Adjusting the volume or switching modalities maintains therapeutic momentum while respecting the client's window of tolerance.
Question 4: Tactile bilateral stimulation using handheld tappers is MOST similar in mechanism to which other tactile BLS method?
- Auditory alternating tones
- Therapist-administered alternating knee taps (Correct answer)
- EMDR light bar
- Bilateral eye movements
Correct answer: Therapist-administered alternating knee taps
Both handheld tappers and alternating knee taps deliver tactile stimulation alternately to the left and right sides of the body.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a recognized form of bilateral stimulation used in EMDR?
- Alternating auditory tones via headphones
- Butterfly hug self-tapping
- Alternating visual light stimulation
- Bilateral olfactory stimulation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Bilateral olfactory stimulation
Bilateral olfactory (smell) stimulation is not a recognized or validated form of BLS in standard EMDR practice.
Question 6: When a therapist uses the butterfly hug during EMDR, the client crosses their arms over their chest and alternately taps which body part?
- Temples
- Knees
- Shoulders or upper arms (Correct answer)
- Thighs
Correct answer: Shoulders or upper arms
In the butterfly hug, clients cross their arms and alternately tap their own shoulders or upper arms to create self-administered tactile BLS.
Question 7: Research on BLS modality equivalence in EMDR suggests that different forms of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, tones) produce:
- Significantly different outcomes favoring eye movements
- Comparable therapeutic outcomes across modalities (Correct answer)
- Outcomes only effective with eye movements as originally designed
- No measurable difference from non-BLS trauma therapy
Correct answer: Comparable therapeutic outcomes across modalities
Research generally supports that different BLS modalities produce comparable outcomes, supporting clinician flexibility in modality selection.
EMDR Bilateral Stimulation Methods 2
Which bilateral stimulation (BLS) modality is typically recommended when a client has a visual processing disorder that makes eye movements uncomfortable?