A Pre-Session Checklist for Remote EMDR

A little preparation goes a long way in remote EMDR. When you're not in the same room, small technical or logistical hiccups can interrupt processing at exactly the wrong moment. This checklist walks through what to sort out before the week, on the day, and in the first few minutes of the session so you can focus on the work instead of the setup.

Treat this as a starting point and adapt it to your own practice and training. Nothing here overrides your EMDR protocol or your clinical judgment; it’s simply the practical scaffolding that keeps a remote session running smoothly.

Before the week: groundwork

The most important preparation happens well before the client logs on. Getting these in place early gives you time to fix anything that isn’t ready.

• Confirm informed consent for the remote format. Make sure your client understands how a remote session works, what happens if the technology fails, and what the plan is in an emergency. If you haven’t covered this yet, our guide on screening and informed consent for online EMDR walks through what to include.
• Do a short tech test together. A five-minute call earlier in the week to check the video platform, the audio, and the session link saves you from troubleshooting during a real session. It also lets a nervous client get comfortable with the format.
• Record an emergency contact and local resources. Note where your client will physically be during the session, an emergency contact, and the crisis or emergency numbers local to them (not to you). Requirements here vary by region and licensing board, so follow your own.
• Confirm the client has a private, uninterrupted space. Ask them to think ahead about where they’ll sit and who else might be home.

Day of the session: your setup and theirs

On the day, run through both ends of the connection: yours and your client’s.

Your side:

• Quiet, private room where you won’t be overheard or interrupted.
• Camera at roughly eye level so you can look at your client naturally.
• Lighting facing you, not behind you, so your face is clearly visible.
• Wired internet if you can, or a strong Wi-Fi signal if not.
• Headphones on. For bilateral audio to work as intended, both of you need headphones.
• A second screen or window for your controls, so managing CloudEMDR doesn’t cover the video.
• Your phone nearby as a backup channel in case the call drops.

Your client’s side (remind them in advance):

• A private space where they can speak freely and won’t be disturbed.
• Headphones, which matter both for privacy and for bilateral sound.
• A device positioned so the screen is a comfortable distance away and steady.
• A way to reach you if the connection fails, agreed on ahead of time.

For a fuller walkthrough of hardware and positioning, see our guide on tech setup for teletherapy.

In CloudEMDR: dial it in before they arrive

Have CloudEMDR ready before the client joins, not while they wait.

• Dial in the dot settings. Set the speed, size, movement pattern, and background you plan to use so you’re not adjusting them cold. If you’re refining these for a particular client, our notes on dot speed settings may help.
• Test the bilateral sound. Play it through your own headphones so you know the volume and panning are right before the client relies on it.
• Have the session link ready. If you’re using Pro Remote Sessions, start the session and copy the client link so it’s ready to paste the moment you need it. The step-by-step is in our guide on how to set up a remote session.
• Decide how the client will keep seeing you. With a Remote Session the client sees only the dot, so agree how they’ll keep the video window visible. There’s a short FAQ on keeping the video call on top.

The first few minutes: settle before you start

The opening minutes set the tone. Don’t rush from “hello” straight into processing.

• Check the tech together. Confirm they can see the dot clearly and hear the sound in both ears. Fix any audio or video issues now rather than mid-set. If something’s off, our troubleshooting guide covers the common fixes.
• Do a grounding check-in. A brief orienting or grounding exercise helps your client arrive and lets you gauge where they are. Our overview of grounding techniques for remote EMDR collects practical options.
• Explain what they’ll see. Tell the client the screen will show a moving dot and nothing else, that you’ll be watching and listening the whole time, and how to signal you if they need to stop.
• Reconfirm the safety plan. A quick reminder of what happens if the call drops or they need to pause keeps everyone calm if it actually happens.

A quick printable summary

If you want the short version to keep by your desk:

1. Consent for the remote format confirmed.
2. Tech test done earlier in the week.
3. Emergency contact and local resources on file.
4. Both ends: private space, headphones, camera at eye level.
5. CloudEMDR dot and sound dialed in and tested.
6. Session link ready to send.
7. Backup channel agreed.
8. First minutes: tech check, grounding, explain the dot, reconfirm safety plan.

Run through it once and most of what can go wrong in a remote session is already handled before you begin.