EMDR in Grand Rapids: Who It Helps and Who Should Try Something Else First
Maybe a friend swears EMDR changed everything for them. Maybe you heard about it on a podcast, or your current therapist mentioned it. Either way, you’re wondering whether EMDR therapy in Grand Rapids could finally help with the memory, the reactions, or the heaviness that talking alone hasn’t touched.
EMDR can be a powerful treatment. It also isn’t the right first step for everyone. This guide covers what EMDR is, who tends to benefit, who may need something else first, and how to decide what fits you.
What EMDR Actually Is
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. During reprocessing, you briefly focus on a distressing memory while following a back-and-forth stimulus, such as side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. According to the American Psychological Association, the goal is to change how the memory is stored, so it feels less vivid and less emotionally charged.
A few things surprise most people:
You don’t have to describe the trauma in detail. The VA’s National Center for PTSD notes that you will think about the memory during sessions, but you won’t be asked to talk through the details.
There’s no homework. The VA also notes that EMDR doesn’t require practice assignments between sessions.
You stay in control. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) explains that clients can stop the therapist at any point.
EMDR follows eight phases: history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. The first two phases are about getting ready, which includes building coping skills before any memory work begins. EMDRIA notes that some clients need quite a bit of time in those early phases before they feel ready to move on.
How long does it take? Cleveland Clinic says a single disturbing memory usually takes three to six sessions, while more complex or long-term trauma may take eight to 12 sessions, sometimes more.
What the Research Says
EMDR’s strongest support comes from research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA calls it one of the most effective types of treatment for PTSD, and the 2023 VA/DoD PTSD guideline recommends it alongside Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE).
The American Psychological Association’s updated 2025 PTSD guideline also views EMDR as effective, placing it in a second tier of suggested treatments behind CPT, PE, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. In other words, EMDR is a well-supported option, and it’s one of several.
What about other concerns? According to Harvard Health Publishing, EMDR may also help with challenges such as anxiety, depression, and addiction, and research in those areas continues to grow.
Who EMDR Tends to Help
EMDR is often a strong fit if you:
Live with trauma symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, feeling constantly on guard, or going numb
Have a specific memory that still feels “live,” even years later, with the same pit in your stomach every time it comes up
Understand your past but still react to it. You’ve made progress in talk therapy, yet your body hasn’t gotten the message.
Would rather not describe every detail out loud
Carry a painful event that may not feel like “trauma.” Harvard Health notes that EMDR can help people move past a pivotal negative event that is still disrupting daily life, even if it might not qualify as trauma. That can include a loss, a medical scare, or a betrayal. If loss is part of your story, our grief therapy may also help.
Kids and teens can benefit, too. At Mariposa, EMDR can be adapted with playful approaches for younger clients.
Who Should Try Something Else First
“Something else first” rarely means “never.” Usually it means more preparation, a different starting point, or a different treatment that fits better right now.
You’re in Crisis or Not Safe Right Now
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, living somewhere you’re being hurt, or in the middle of a crisis, safety comes before memory work. As we explain in our post on trauma therapy vs. general counseling, processing trauma too quickly without a stable platform can destabilize rather than help. If you’re in danger now, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or call 911.
You Often Lose Time or Feel Detached From Yourself
Spacing out, losing chunks of time, or feeling unreal can be signs of dissociation. That doesn’t automatically rule out EMDR, but it does call for careful screening and a slower, adapted approach. EMDRIA notes that people with a very traumatized background or certain diagnoses may need a longer preparation period, and clinical literature shared by EMDRIA recommends cautious, adapted use of EMDR with dissociative disorders. Be open with your therapist about these experiences.
Substances Are Your Main Way of Coping
You don’t necessarily have to wait. The VA notes that treating PTSD and substance use at the same time works to treat both conditions. Still, if alcohol or drugs are how you get through hard feelings, your therapist may want to build other coping tools first or pair trauma work with therapy for addiction.
What You’re Facing Isn’t Tied to Specific Memories
EMDR works by targeting specific memories. If you’re mainly struggling with a current relationship conflict, a life transition, or stress that doesn’t trace back to particular events, individual therapy or couples counseling may be a better starting point.
There May Be a Medical Piece
Cleveland Clinic notes that EMDR is unlikely to help with conditions caused by an inherited condition, an injury, or a physical effect on the brain. If your symptoms started after a head injury or another medical event, check in with your doctor too.
A Different Trauma Treatment Fits Better
Some people do better with another evidence-based approach, like CPT or PE. For children and teens, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a structured option that partners caregivers with the therapist. A good therapist will walk through your options with you rather than steering everyone toward the same method.
What EMDR Therapy in Grand Rapids Looks Like at Mariposa Counseling
At Mariposa Counseling, EMDR is provided by Amber Jarve, LMSW, who has completed 40 hours of EMDR Basic Training and also holds a TF-CBT endorsement. Amber works with children ages 5 and up, teens, and adults, with a focus on trauma, complex trauma, sexual abuse recovery, and anxiety.
Like all of our trauma therapy, EMDR starts with building safety, trust, and coping skills before any reprocessing. Your therapist moves at a pace that feels safe, and you share only as much as you choose. Learn more on our EMDR therapy page.
Here’s what else to know:
Location: Our office is in the Cooper’s Landing building at 1345 Monroe Ave NW, Suite 323, Grand Rapids, MI 49505. We also offer virtual therapy across Michigan. If you’re considering EMDR by video, ask about it when you schedule. Our post on whether telehealth works for trauma explains how EMDR can adapt to video.
Session length: Typical appointments are scheduled for one hour.
Insurance: We accept many forms of Medicaid, Priority Health, BCBS, Blue Care Network, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Cofinity. Self-pay rates range from $125 to $175 per session depending on licensure, and a sliding scale is available. See our FAQ page for details.
Questions to Ask Before You Start
Bring these to your first appointment:
Is EMDR a good fit for what I’m dealing with, or would you suggest something else first?
What will we work on before we start reprocessing?
What should I do if I feel stirred up between sessions?
How will we know it’s working?
That third question matters. Cleveland Clinic notes that the most common negative effects of EMDR are negative thoughts or feelings between sessions, so it helps to have a plan.
Ready to Find Out if EMDR Is Right for You?
You don’t need to know which therapy you want before you reach out. Whether EMDR therapy in Grand Rapids is the right next step or something else would serve you better first, we’ll help you sort it out.
Call or text our office manager, Emily Chivis, at 616-284-1329, email echivis@mariposacounselingllc.com, or contact us online to schedule.
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