And We’re Live!

Three years ago at an EMDR training event, the question was asked: “Could a video game adaptation of EMDR exist? And what would that even look like?”

I had just developed a spreadsheet to keep track of the different protocols and auto-populate fields based on the client’s previous answers to questions—a more elegant solution than flipping through the manual. This was met with a positive response and led to further conversations around the use of technology to make our lives easier as clinicians. This was what initially sparked the idea for this project.

Then came the question: “Can I actually pull this off?” I remember the day I wrote the first lines of code for this project—nothing more than a page of JavaScript to make a target element disappear when I click on it and reappear on the other side of the screen. After two years of designing and developing iteration after iteration of this project, it is finally ready for its initial public release. We’re live!

VirtualBls.net is a video game adaptation of EMDR created by a licensed therapist for licensed therapists to use with any client who might benefit from an alternative to tappers or hand-waving. In my practice, it has been a particular hit with the under-18 crowd, but I’ve seen adults enjoy using it as well!

My hope is that this will benefit other clinicians and their clients in the same way that it has for me and the clients that I work with every week.

— Josh