The stimulation duration of an intervention set with the EMDR device must meet specific specifications.
Thus, to answer the question correctly, it is necessary to distinguish two time periods:
- 1. the duration of an EMDR self-coaching session.
- 2. the duration of an intervention with the EMDR goggles REMSTIM 3000, also called stimulation set.
The duration of an EMDR self-application with all its 6. steps you can of course vary as you like, to suit your own session topics. This duration is very individual.
But the question is certainly aimed at the duration of an intervention, a visual stimulation set with the REMSTIM 3000.
Unlike EMDR treatment by a therapist or coach, where the practitioner can adjust the duration of stimulation to the perceptible responses of the coachee/patient, the duration of a stimulation set of REMSTIM 3000 EMDR goggles is fixed at 30 seconds. After the start, the light pulses run for 30 seconds and cannot be stopped. The time interval can also not be extended or shortened.
Through numerous tests and observations during the development of the EMDR goggles and through current feedback from our users (customers), we see ourselves confirmed that it was the right decision to set the time interval of a stimulation set to 30 seconds without change. There are several reasons for this:
Reasons for a fixed application time of 30 seconds
- 30 seconds is a stimulation period found pleasant by numerous users
- The stimulation should end automatically so that the user periodically asks themselves, "What now?" as part of the 4th step of EMDR self-coaching. What has changed internally? Observe your emotion(s), your body feeling. Now that you think of your theme from the beginning, are there any associations?"
- It is possible to start another stimulation set immediately after the end of the previous set with a single "click" without removing the glasses; thus, to be visually stimulated for another half minute and so on.
- Do I want to work through the stressful issue on my own in an EMDR self-coaching session without professional help from a coach or therapist?
- After 3 - 4 stimulation sets, a short break is recommended to relax the muscles of the eyes.
- Users who want to stop or cancel the stimulation within the 30 seconds can close their eyes or put the EMDR device down.
- If the stimulation duration were offered as a further parameter for individual setting, an upper and lower limit would still have to be defined. This is because a stimulation set of the EMDR device REMSTIM 3000 must always end automatically for safety reasons, as there are also users who fall asleep during a stimulation (the darkening of the eyes through the EMDR goggles may invite this!). Unconscious stimulation through the closed eyelids should be avoided. Of course, such a possibility was considered at that time when developing the software for the REMSTIM 3000 EMDR device. After several tests, the decision was made in favor of the above 30 seconds.
- Making the time interval variable would also make operation more complicated. The REMSTIM 3000 EMDR goggles are extremely easy to use and the important two parameters (deflection, speed) can be adjusted to your own preferences with ease. Read more about this in the operating instructions.
