8 sessions in, big YES
I’m about to finish my eighth session with this app, and I’d highly recommend it. I’ve done EMDR in person with a psychologist before, and while it’s always helpful having someone there to guide you, reflect with you, and help you dig a little deeper, I was honestly surprised by how similar this experience felt.
If you don’t currently have access to therapy, health insurance, or affordable healthcare, this can be an amazing tool. I don’t have access to either anymore, and this app has been a lifeline for me. I’ve been using it to help work through CPTSD, and I don’t think I would have made the progress I have without it.
One of the biggest things for me is that my CPTSD had reached a point where it was affecting my ability to work. For the first time in about a year, I finally feel confident that I can get back to working and supporting myself again. That’s a huge deal for me.
It’s not a replacement for a great therapist, but it’s an excellent alternative and support tool when that’s not available. I’m grateful I found it.
If you don’t currently have access to therapy, health insurance, or affordable healthcare, this can be an amazing tool. I don’t have access to either anymore, and this app has been a lifeline for me. I’ve been using it to help work through CPTSD, and I don’t think I would have made the progress I have without it.
One of the biggest things for me is that my CPTSD had reached a point where it was affecting my ability to work. For the first time in about a year, I finally feel confident that I can get back to working and supporting myself again. That’s a huge deal for me.
It’s not a replacement for a great therapist, but it’s an excellent alternative and support tool when that’s not available. I’m grateful I found it.
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Very helpful
Been using for a few weeks now and can see a definite improvement in my overall mood and mental state. Thanks so much!
Response from developer
Thank you for your kind review. We’re so pleased to hear that you’ve noticed a positive improvement in your mood and overall wellbeing. Wishing you continued healing and progress on your journey. ❤️
Healed me a lot
This app has seriously helped me a lot and they care about your wellbeing lm grateful that this app exists.
Incredible
I used this for anticipatory grief for a pet and it was amazing. The first session was so hard but after a few sessions it happened and I was able to stay mentally and physically present throughout, and continue to be there for my loved one. I was sad, but. 6/10 instead of a 10/10 and able to still feel full of love and calm.
I will say you need the ability to visualize or feel what it is- like most of the app is just timers and a noise ping ponging back and forth, the rest takes place in your head and is up to you. You will also need someplace very quiet and calm where you can be alone and safe and uninterrupted. Be prepared for possible side effects after like dreams or exhaustion afterwards.
This app also lists big T traumas, but generally speaking, self EMDR is only appropriate for small t traumas. Please be careful with yourself if you tread into deeper waters.
I will say you need the ability to visualize or feel what it is- like most of the app is just timers and a noise ping ponging back and forth, the rest takes place in your head and is up to you. You will also need someplace very quiet and calm where you can be alone and safe and uninterrupted. Be prepared for possible side effects after like dreams or exhaustion afterwards.
This app also lists big T traumas, but generally speaking, self EMDR is only appropriate for small t traumas. Please be careful with yourself if you tread into deeper waters.
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Response from developer
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We’re truly glad to hear the app was able to help you through such a difficult and emotional time, and that it helped you stay more present and connected with your loved one during anticipatory grief. We also really appreciate you taking the time to share thoughtful insights and important reminders for others using EMDR. Creating a safe, calm environment and approaching deeper trauma carefully is very important, especially in self guided work. Thank you again for your kind words and support. We’re constantly working on improving Heal EMDR, so if you ever have suggestions, feedback, or ideas, feel free to reach out anytime at info@healemdr.com.
Major Differences Within 3 Sessions
Now don’t get me wrong. I didn’t think an app would be able to help with therapy. I really didn’t. But I decided to try it anyways because I was curious and had been having a lot of flashbacks, avoidance, and dissociation. The first two sessions were ok. I did some work there, but it was all half hearted. Late at night. And during extremely difficult times. But recently, my business started doing well and I met a girl(s) and I felt the need to improve my life even more so than before. I really want to stop avoiding the good in life. Last night. I dedicated some time and went through with the work for the plan option for emdr. When I tell you I reprocessed my horrible memories, not all of them, but quite a few. And installed new beliefs which made me feel amazing. Better than I’ve felt since I was 2(I have a really good memory). I didn’t know I was that bad off. Obviously I’m still struggling. This isn’t a cure all. And I’m still seeing a dedicated therapist. I don’t suggest doing this alone. You have to be ready. And you need resources. I have c-ptsd and schizoaffective depression. I’ve been in therapy and on meds for a solid while now. It took a lot of work to get to where I’m at now. I just decided I’m ready and went through with it. I want to stop avoiding the love of my life. And remember the good times too.
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Response from developer
Thank you so much for sharing this. It truly means a lot to hear that Heal EMDR has supported you through such meaningful progress. We’re really glad you gave the app a chance, and we appreciate you highlighting the importance of being ready and having support around you. EMDR can bring up deep emotions, so it’s important to approach it with care. Wishing you continued healing, strength, and many more good memories ahead.
Effective! Very near the in office experience.
Having done and been extremely helped by in-office EMDR, this app is very comparable. I consistently feel better after sessions, able to grow into taking actions that are healthy. EMDR itself is wonderful, and this app makes EMDR more accessible in terms of schedule, cost, and personalization.
Response from developer
Thank you very much for your feedback. We developed Heal EMDR to offer an experience that feels close to in office therapy, while making this type of support more accessible for people who may not be able to afford regular in office sessions or who simply want the flexibility to continue their healing from the comfort of home. We’re really glad to hear the app has felt comparable and helpful for you.
Life Changing
This app has been a God send to me. Some of my childhood trauma was so horrific that I couldn’t allow anyone else to hear the details and then also be traumatized and have to carry it too. Once you hear it, you can’t unring that bell. For the first time, because I was reliving the memory to AI, I was able to get all the foul out. I felt a heavy weight I’d carried for five decades just lift off and vanish. It was damn hard but there are options for deep breathing exercises and guided grounding in a safe mental place as long as I needed until my heart wasn’t being crushed and my throat opened up, my eyes stopped burning and I was breathing normally again, instead of holding my breath against the agony of the memory. After choosing some thoughts I felt went with that trauma concerning me, I started the EMDR processing. You get to choose which sound you hear in your headphones. This wasn’t my first time but this time, I needed to process twice, the hurt was so deep. Then I moved onto the second half where you replace negative beliefs with positive ones. I was exhausted when I was done and slept hard all night. Now when that trauma blindsides me with that intrusive memory, I no longer feel ripped open and gutted. I remember it but it’s a sadness that happened long ago. It has lost the power to haunt me.
I had been looking desperately for a trauma informed therapist who could take me on for the EMDR therapy but there just are not enough providers. I am in therapy and discuss the EMDR with my VA Team. So, God Bless the people who made this available to the public and keep the cost at doable price. Thank you!
I had been looking desperately for a trauma informed therapist who could take me on for the EMDR therapy but there just are not enough providers. I am in therapy and discuss the EMDR with my VA Team. So, God Bless the people who made this available to the public and keep the cost at doable price. Thank you!
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A Practical Tool During Trauma and Grief
Heal EMDR: Self-Guided Therapy — Review
I’m not affiliated with this app and I’m not being paid to write this. I’m sharing this because it has genuinely helped me.
Heal EMDR: Self-Guided Therapy is an EMDR-based app that uses bilateral audio stimulation — sound that alternates from left to right through your headphones — while you focus on a specific memory, belief, or emotional trigger. The concept is simple, but the experience can be meaningful.
I first used Heal during an intense period of grief after my mother passed. I was stuck in fight-or-flight mode — hypervigilant, easily overstimulated, unable to tolerate noise. It didn’t “cure” grief — and that’s important to say — but it helped me regulate. It helped my nervous system come down from constant alarm so I could function again.
I write about trauma, regulation, and recovery on my blog Life Is a Storm at lifeisastorm.com. I recently published an entry titled “The Split — Protective Detachment.” In that piece, I describe a dissociative episode and the tools I used to return closer to baseline, including vagus nerve exercises and EMDR. Heal was one of those tools.
The structure will vary depending on the program you choose inside the app. In the therapy I selected, it was organized in two phases:
First, I focused on the negative memory or belief while the bilateral audio played.
Then, I followed with a second phase reinforcing the positive opposite — safety, strength, stability, confidence — while the audio continued.
That was my experience with that specific session.
Overall, it feels like processing something that was stuck. Almost like emotional metabolism.
I’ve used it multiple times now, including recently during a dissociative episode. Each time, it has helped bring me closer to baseline.
I even encouraged my father to try it during his own grief process. After finishing a session, he described feeling “confident.” That word surprised both of us.
This is not a replacement for therapy. But as a tool — especially between counseling sessions — it’s been extremely valuable for me.
For anyone navigating trauma, grief, or overwhelming stress, it may be worth exploring as part of a broader support system.
I’m not affiliated with this app and I’m not being paid to write this. I’m sharing this because it has genuinely helped me.
Heal EMDR: Self-Guided Therapy is an EMDR-based app that uses bilateral audio stimulation — sound that alternates from left to right through your headphones — while you focus on a specific memory, belief, or emotional trigger. The concept is simple, but the experience can be meaningful.
I first used Heal during an intense period of grief after my mother passed. I was stuck in fight-or-flight mode — hypervigilant, easily overstimulated, unable to tolerate noise. It didn’t “cure” grief — and that’s important to say — but it helped me regulate. It helped my nervous system come down from constant alarm so I could function again.
I write about trauma, regulation, and recovery on my blog Life Is a Storm at lifeisastorm.com. I recently published an entry titled “The Split — Protective Detachment.” In that piece, I describe a dissociative episode and the tools I used to return closer to baseline, including vagus nerve exercises and EMDR. Heal was one of those tools.
The structure will vary depending on the program you choose inside the app. In the therapy I selected, it was organized in two phases:
First, I focused on the negative memory or belief while the bilateral audio played.
Then, I followed with a second phase reinforcing the positive opposite — safety, strength, stability, confidence — while the audio continued.
That was my experience with that specific session.
Overall, it feels like processing something that was stuck. Almost like emotional metabolism.
I’ve used it multiple times now, including recently during a dissociative episode. Each time, it has helped bring me closer to baseline.
I even encouraged my father to try it during his own grief process. After finishing a session, he described feeling “confident.” That word surprised both of us.
This is not a replacement for therapy. But as a tool — especially between counseling sessions — it’s been extremely valuable for me.
For anyone navigating trauma, grief, or overwhelming stress, it may be worth exploring as part of a broader support system.
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Transformative
This app enabled me to take control of my own healing around negative beliefs that stemmed from childhood traumas. I needed to take my time and was able to work at a pace and in a format that worked really well for me. My experience was profound and the cost was way less than a therapist and I could do it anywhere and anytime. Have recommended it to others with similar success as well.
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Response from developer
Thank you so much for this. That is exactly why we built Heal EMDR in the first place. Your words truly mean a lot and genuinely motivate us to keep improving and making healing more accessible for everyone.
Such a helpful tool for healing!
This app has been a wonderful aide in my healing through PTSD. I have had EMDR several times from therapists and have found it the most impactful form of therapy but having finished my last sessions with a therapist I found this app and have been using it for some time. It’s been so helpful to have it as a ‘top up’ and particularly useful to have it available at any time I need it, unlike a therapist. The guided nature of the sessions make it very clear and easy to use. Also I had reason to contact their customer service and they couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this app. I wouldn’t be without it.
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Unnerving AI videos
The intro videos are AI and really unnerving. If people are coming to get help and therapy then having a blonde woman who has a mouth that doesn’t match her words is too uncanny valley for me. Either just use the audio and no AI person, or hire and pay a real person to talk. It’s completely turned me off
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Response from developer
Thank you for sharing your perspective. The intro videos are designed to explain how EMDR works and help users get started. We continue refining the app to support different ways people engage with the content and to make the experience as comfortable and approachable as possible. Your feedback is noted and helps guide future improvements. If you have any additional feedback, you are always welcome to reach out at info@healemdr.com.
Great app
I really like this app. I think $20 a month is a little too expensive for an app that’s entirely automated but it works well for what it does. I wish they would give an alternative to using bilateral audio. I prefer to use Dharma Dr. bluetooth tappers during my EMDR sessions so it’d be great if there was an option to turn off the bilateral audio so I can use the tappers instead and still hear the therapist.
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Response from developer
Thank you very much for your feedback. The subscription helps cover various infrastructure and development costs, and we are exploring tiered pricing based on how much the app is used. As for your suggestion about the tappers, it is a brilliant idea and we are looking into partnering with hardware providers so users can get the devices directly. If you have any other feedback, we are just an email away at info@healemdr.com
Unimpressed
I am an EMDR trainer and I was interested to see how well this app worked so I tried out on one of my own distressing memories. The AI function kept getting stuck and I was repeatedly asked to restart the session. Even on auto mode it did not replicate real EMDR and my trauma memory remained unprocessed. It confirms my belief that there is no substitute for a real-life EMDR accredited therapist.
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Excellent App
This is an excellent introduction to EDMR. It’s easy to navigate and very effective. I have completed 7 sessions now taking a break every second day as that just seems to be the right recipe for me. It’s totally normal to feel a little bit vulnerable after the session. This is why I allow myself a break the next day to let it all settle.
So far I have already noticed that I’m sleeping way more deeper, and don’t wake up with that feeling of dread I have woken up with for the last few years because of my ptsd. I am still healing and this is not a one size fits all but it certainly has huge potential to help you feel more human again. For those reasons I can’t recommend it more than enough.
PS: I also spoke with Steve Ashley the creator of the app and he is very passionate about this app and wants feedback so if he reaches out to you be sure to give him your honest feedback.
So far I have already noticed that I’m sleeping way more deeper, and don’t wake up with that feeling of dread I have woken up with for the last few years because of my ptsd. I am still healing and this is not a one size fits all but it certainly has huge potential to help you feel more human again. For those reasons I can’t recommend it more than enough.
PS: I also spoke with Steve Ashley the creator of the app and he is very passionate about this app and wants feedback so if he reaches out to you be sure to give him your honest feedback.
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Response from developer
Thank you so much Ross. Your review truly means a lot. I’m really glad to hear that the sessions are helping you sleep better and feel lighter. Healing is a journey, and it’s inspiring to see the progress you’ve made. I truly appreciate your thoughtful words and your openness to share your experience as it helps others more than you might think. 🤗
Requires a subscription
Requires a subscription
Best EMDR alternative to in person
I find it very hard to find an EMDR therapist, but I know it works. This is the first time I’ve tried it on an app through sound and I love it. It’s incredibly accessible, affordable and helpful. I noticed immediate results. And the customer service is amazing. Thank you!
PROFESSIONAL & AMAZING EMDR KNOWLEDGE
I was genuinely surprised by how knowledgeable and well-structured the content in this EMDR self-guided therapy app is. It’s incredibly easy to use, and the step-by-step journey is thoughtfully designed to support you every step of the way. The therapies truly feel like a balm for the mind—calming, grounding, and effective. I didn’t expect to find such high-quality guidance in an app, but this one exceeded all expectations. Definitely worth subscribing if you're looking for a meaningful and supportive therapeutic tool. Highly recommend!
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Grateful I found this app
I’m incredibly grateful I came across this app and discovered EMDR. I noticed a significant improvement in my situation after just a few sessions and have been recommending it to friends who are going through tough times. As a scientist, I started diving into podcasts and research on EMDR, and I’m genuinely intrigued by the technique and its effectiveness. Highly recommend this app!
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Helped me loads with my trauma
This app made a huge difference in my life as i finally managed to get past my traumas. I feel like I’m finally starting to live in the moment
Significant trauma/grief improvement
When I started using the app, I found that the emotional response to things that triggered PTSD were less intense. I also found that I was living in the moment more and not as overwhelmed by the past. After trauma that involved intense grief with life-changing consequences, it’s great to find an effective therapy that doesn’t involve talking etc and which I feel in control of. Support is excellent - you are not on your own - and I would highly recommend trying it.
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