EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and it is a therapeutic method for reprocessing thoughts that might be intrusive or distressing for any reason. It has been expanded beyond the original form to include the option of many types of bilateral stimulation, not just eye movements. Bilateral stimulation might take the form of light tapping on one shoulder and then the other, or small devices that can be held in both hands that will produce a light buzzing sensation to one hand and then the other, or any number of other subtle sensations on alternating sides of the body. The purpose of this is to prompt a type of processing that involves crossing over the hippocampus area of the brain many times during the session, which helps with reintegration of thoughts and memories. Then, while this is going on, the person will briefly reflect on a thought that has caused distress. There are methods to make sure the process is done in a safe way, such as grounding techniques and choosing of resources within the self or immediate environment that one associates with the type of healing one seeks from the session.
Many practitioners recommend only doing EMDR with a licensed professional, but some are open to adaptations for individual use. Here’s a video for self-guided EMDR with verbal prompts.