Comparison

EMDR Therapy vs self EMDR

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

EMDR Therapy

This app simulates EMDR therapy using advanced digital techniques. It guides users through bilateral stimulation with visual, auditory, and vibration cues to help process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. Recommended by mental health professionals, it aims to aid recovery from trauma, depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

Highlights
  • Simulates EMDR therapy techniques
  • Bilateral stimulation (visual, auditory, vibration)
  • Guided processing of distressing memories
  • Aids recovery from trauma and anxiety
  • Customizable settings for user preference
Features
Read full description

This application uses many advanced digital technics and simulates EMDR therapy. EMDR is a technique recommended by psychotherapists and Psychologists. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched psychotherapy method proven to be effective and help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences which are including depression, PTSD, panic disorders, anxiety. The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the World Health Organization among many other national and international organizations recognize and recommend EMDR therapy as an effective treatment. First, put on your headphones, think of a traumatic and disturbing event. Follow the ball in the EMDR tool, focus on the transition of sounds in your left and right ears, and feel the vibrations. Thus, the effect of traumatic disturbing events that will provide the data flow between the right and left brain as in REM sleep will decrease. Focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. While you bring the details of that memory to mind, This tool will guide you through a series of side-to-side eye movements, auditory (with direction), and vibrations. As you learn to process the memory and related feelings it brings up, you’ll gradually be able to reframe that memory in a more positive light. Use three types of BLS: visual, auditory (with direction), and vibrations and modify your settings to suit your preferences. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In EMDR, the person being treated recalls distressing experiences whilst doing bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movement or physical stimulation, such as tapping either side of the body. According to the theory behind the approach, traumatic and painful memories can cause post-traumatic stress when you don’t process them completely. Then, when sights, sounds, words, or smells trigger those unprocessed memories, you re-experience them. The 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) practice guideline states that EMDR "is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of unprocessed memories. The treatment involves standardized procedures that include focusing simultaneously on spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations and bilateral stimulation that is most commonly in the form of repeated eye movements. This re-experiencing leads to the emotional distress and other symptoms recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR aims to reduce symptoms of trauma by changing how your memories are stored in your brain. In a nutshell, an EMDR therapist does this by leading you through a series of bilateral (side-to-side) eye movements as you recall traumatic or triggering experiences in small segments, until those memories no longer cause distress.

About

self EMDR

This application provides auditory and visual stimulation to aid in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. It is designed to create effects that support the therapeutic process. Users should consult a healthcare professional before use.

Highlights
  • Auditory stimulation effects
  • Visual stimulation effects
  • Supports EMDR therapy process
  • Consultation advisories
  • Health warning resources
Features
Read full description

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. (Ref. *1) It is a therapeutic method that uses bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movement, sound, or tapping. Self EMDR provides a simple, self-paced visual and audio stimulation tool. You control the movement, speed, appearance, and sound yourself. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This app is not a replacement for professional therapy. Please consult a doctor or therapist before using EMDR-style stimulation, especially if you have trauma symptoms, epilepsy, dissociation, severe anxiety, or other medical or psychological concerns. This app offers a function that creates auditory and visual effects for stimulation. Under certain circumstances, this stimulation may be contraindicated for you. (Ref. *2) Please consultat your doctor/therapist and read our health warning on https://selfemdr.app/intro.html before use. (Ref. *3) In addition, here are some sources you might want to consider: *1 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_Movement_Desensitization_and_Reprocessing/ *2 https://oxfordre.com/socialwork/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-908 *3 https://www.castlecraig.co.uk/therapy/dangers-of-emdr/ 4. https://emdrhealing.com/safe-place-for-your-emdr-session-here-are-some-script-examples/ 5. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ 6. https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ 7. https://www.therapie.de/psyche/info/therapie/emdr/anwendungsgebiete/

Screenshots

EMDR Therapy3 screens
self EMDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EMDR Therapy at Free against self EMDR's $2.99. EMDR Therapy also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). self EMDR's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

EMDR Therapy is free to download; self EMDR costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EMDR Therapy holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMDR Therapy has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of EMDR Therapy's written reviews are positive against 75% of self EMDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMDR Therapy ships an update every 4 days, self EMDR every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
EMDR Therapy versus self EMDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMDR Therapyself EMDR
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.4 (12 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAhmet Emre KilincChristian Ahrweiler

Customer experience

EMDR Therapy

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%

self EMDR

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

EMDR Therapy

No in-app purchases

None

self EMDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EMDR Therapy free?
EMDR Therapy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is self EMDR free?
self EMDR costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EMDR Therapy or self EMDR?
EMDR Therapy is rated higher. EMDR Therapy averages 4.4 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while self EMDR averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do EMDR Therapy or self EMDR have ads?
EMDR Therapy shows ads; self EMDR does not.
Which is updated more often, EMDR Therapy or self EMDR?
EMDR Therapy ships an update every 4 days, and self EMDR every 3 weeks. Most recently, EMDR Therapy was updated on August 12, 2026 and self EMDR on September 17, 2026.

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