From Hospital Rounds to Your Living Room: Why Teletherapy Works Best for EMDR

I'm going to be direct with you: I only offer EMDR therapy through teletherapy. Not because it's convenient for me, but because after years of practicing medicine and completing EMDRIA-approved EMDR training, I've seen firsthand that it's simply better for my patients.

Let me explain why.

The Reality of Multiple Practices

My days aren't typical. I split my time between pediatric clinics in Cansaulim and Vasco, handle outpatient consultations at Daffodils Hospital, and stay on call for pediatric emergencies. I understand what it means to juggle multiple responsibilities, to optimize every hour, and to make choices that genuinely serve patients rather than just follow convention.

When I decided to specialize in trauma therapy, I could have offered in-person EMDR sessions at any of my clinic locations. Instead, I made a deliberate choice to keep EMDR strictly online. Not out of laziness or because "everyone's doing telemedicine now." I did it because the evidence—both research and my clinical experience—shows it works better.

Why Your Living Room Beats My Office

Here's what I've observed consistently: patients doing EMDR from home are more grounded, more present, and heal more effectively. Let me break this down.

When you're processing trauma, your nervous system needs safety above everything else. Not performative safety, not professional safety, but deep, cellular safety. You know where that exists? In your own space, surrounded by your own things, with your support system just a room away.

After an intense EMDR session, you need to rest. In my office, you'd have to pull yourself together, walk past the waiting room, drive through Goa traffic, and only then collapse into your own bed. From home? You can literally lie down on your bed within seconds. You can hold your pet. You can have your partner bring you tea. You can use your favorite grounding objects without having to pack them in a bag.

The Practical Advantages Nobody Talks About

I work with cancer patients who physically cannot make the trip to a clinic. I work with professionals who can't afford to block three hours for a one-hour session because of travel. I work with people managing chronic pain, mobility issues, or anxiety so severe that leaving home feels impossible some days.

Teletherapy removes all those barriers. It's more affordable because you're not spending money on petrol or auto fares. It's more accessible because geography doesn't matter—whether you're in South Goa, Mumbai, or calling in from abroad because you need someone who understands Indian family dynamics and cultural context.

For NRIs and Indians living abroad, teletherapy means you can work with a therapist from home who truly gets your background, without the limitations of time zones making it impossible. For working professionals juggling demanding careers, it means you can attend therapy during a lunch break without your colleagues knowing. For those in rural areas with limited mental health access, it means specialized trauma care is finally within reach.

But Does It Actually Work?

I know what you're thinking. "This sounds good in theory, but is online EMDR as effective as in-person?"

The research is clear: teletherapy EMDR produces comparable outcomes to in-person sessions. But here's what the studies don't capture—in my clinical experience, many patients actually do better online. They're more relaxed from the start because they're not in an unfamiliar clinical space. They have immediate access to their coping resources. They don't have the "performance anxiety" that sometimes comes with sitting across from a therapist in an office.

I've seen patients who were hesitant about teletherapy transform completely once they experienced it. The intimacy of being in your own space while doing deep trauma work creates a different quality of healing. You're not performing recovery for me—you're actually living it, in real time, in the space where your life happens.

Why I Keep My Pediatric Practice In-Person

You might wonder—if teletherapy is so effective, why do I still maintain in-person pediatric clinics in Cansaulim and Vasco, plus my work at Daffodils?

Because different medical needs require different approaches. A sick child needs a physical examination. A pediatric emergency requires hands-on intervention. But trauma therapy? Trauma therapy thrives in safety, comfort, and the ability to integrate healing into your actual life immediately.

I'm not suggesting teletherapy works for everything in medicine. I'm telling you that for EMDR specifically, it's not just "as good as" in-person—it's better.

The Choice That Serves You Best

Between rushing between Cansaulim, Vasco, and Daffodils for pediatric care, I've learned to be ruthlessly efficient with my time and energy. But efficiency means nothing if it doesn't serve patient outcomes.

Keeping EMDR exclusively online allows me to offer more appointment flexibility across time zones, reduces your costs, eliminates travel barriers, and most importantly—creates the therapeutic conditions where healing happens fastest and deepest. It means a working professional in Mumbai can schedule an evening session without traffic stress. It means someone managing chronic illness can access trauma therapy without physical strain. It means you get specialized care without compromising your daily life.

Who This Works Best For

Maybe you're dealing with childhood trauma. Maybe you're a working professional struggling with burnout and anxiety. Maybe you're managing chronic illness and need therapy that doesn't require physical travel. Maybe you're an NRI abroad who wants to work with someone who understands your cultural background without having to explain everything. Maybe you can't find EMDR therapists in your area, or the ones available don't have openings for months.

If you're still unsure whether EMDR teletherapy is the right fit for your situation, I offer 15-minute consultation calls for ₹400. We can discuss your specific needs, address any concerns about online therapy, and determine if this approach makes sense for you.

Because here's the truth: therapy only works when you actually show up for it. And teletherapy removes every logistical reason that might prevent you from showing up consistently.

Your healing matters more than tradition.