Our recommended choice for alternating vibrations.
Nintendo's Joy-Cons are ideal accessories for alternating vibrations and controlling your stimulations, thanks to their ergonomic design, high-quality vibration, and affordable price. They are easily available both new and second-hand, making them a more sustainable choice compared to traditional EMDR hardware. Additionally, since they come in various colors, they cater to your personal preferences.
We recommend Joy-Cons for our EMDR app due to their reliability and ease of use. When purchasing a set, remember to buy a Joy-Con charger separately.
Step 1: Activate Pairing Mode
Locate the Sync button on the rail of each Joy-Con. This small, black, round button is next to the player indicator lights and is circled in red in the illustration.
Press and hold the Sync button until the lights begin to flash sequentially. This indicates that the Joy-Con is in pairing mode.
Step 2: Connect With Your Joy-Cons
Go to your device's Bluetooth settings. When your Joy-Cons are in pairing mode, they will appear at the bottom of the Bluetooth devices list. Tap on each Joy-Con to connect.
Once you are connected, return to the EMDR app. Enable Vibrations in the control panel, and start a session. The EMDR app will now alternate vibrations between both Joy-Cons.
Step 3: Separating Your Joy-Cons
Depending on your device, you may need to 'separate' the Joy-Cons, so that they can vibrate separately. To separate the Joy-Cons, press and hold the Home and Screenshot buttons on the Joy-Cons (marked below) simultaneously, for 4 seconds.
Tip: you can easily reconnect your Joy-Cons later. Press and hold one or two of the face buttons - e.g. A and B, or Down and Right.
The EMDR Connect web page supports Nintendo Joy-Cons for alternating vibrations, just like the regular EMDR app. Here's how to set them up.
Users of the EMDR Connect webpage can use their Joy-Cons by following these three simple steps. First, enable pairing mode on the Joy-Cons as described above. Then, open the Bluetooth settings on the device (pictured: Windows) to pair the Joy-Cons. A button to activate the Joy-Cons will now appear on the EMDR Connect webpage. As the room host, don’t forget to enable vibrations in your EMDR app.
Most computers are supported, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Note that you need a supported browser, namely Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, for Joy-Con support. If an unsupported browser is used, the EMDR Connect webpage provides guidance for downloading a supported browser.