A lot of people put off calling a trauma therapist because of one picture in their head: sitting across from a stranger and telling the worst thing that ever happened to them, start to finish, in the first hour. If that picture is what's stopping you, here's the honest answer. That's not how it starts.
Trauma and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) are a core part of my work. That covers combat trauma, sexual trauma, medical and birth trauma, and abuse. I work with adults 18 and up, including veterans, first responders, medical professionals and abuse survivors. Here's what the first few sessions with me actually look like.
Do I have to talk about what happened right away?
No. You decide what we talk about and when.
Your first appointment is a 90-minute intake. It's history taking and information gathering, so I understand your circumstances, your symptoms and your day to day before we plan any of the work. We'll talk about what brought you in and what you want to be different. You don't have to tell me every detail of anything you're not ready to share.
Why safety and pacing come first
Before we go anywhere near a hard memory, we build your toolkit. These are ways to calm your body and steady your emotions when something difficult comes up. You practice them in session first, so you know they work for you before you ever need them for anything hard.
This part matters. It gives us time to build trust, and it lets me see that you have skills you can lean on before we start working on anything painful. We move forward when you're ready, not on a schedule.
The two main tools: EMDR and CPT
The two treatments I use most for trauma are EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I'm trained in EMDR. It's an eight-phase treatment, and it takes us at least about four sessions of history, preparation and choosing a specific memory to work on before we reach the part people picture. That part uses bilateral stimulation, which just means something that alternates left and right: your eyes following my fingers or a light, small tappers that buzz in each hand, or tones in each ear. You're awake and in control the whole time, you don't have to narrate the memory in detail, and you can stop whenever you need to. Every session ends with the calming skills from preparation, so you leave settled, not stirred up. I wrote a full walkthrough in What an EMDR Session Is Actually Like, and there's more on my EMDR page.
Cognitive Processing Therapy, or CPT, is a structured, evidence-based treatment for PTSD, and I'm trained in it. You can read more on my Cognitive Processing Therapy page.
How do I know which one fits?
You don't have to figure that out before you call. Neither treatment is the right fit for every person or every situation, and part of my job is helping you sort out which one makes sense for you. We work that out together once I understand what you're dealing with and what you want to be different.
You can find more about how I work with trauma on my Trauma and PTSD page.
How often will we meet?
Most people meet with me weekly or every other week. Sessions are 55 to 60 minutes. The intake is $200 and sessions after that are $145. I'm a private-pay practice, and at the end of each month you get a superbill, a detailed receipt you can send in for out-of-network reimbursement. Many plans pay part of it back. A sliding fee scale is available on request. I wrote more about scheduling and cost in How Often Will I Need to Come In?
Where are sessions?
My office is in Wooster, a short drive from Orrville, and visits are by appointment. If getting to the office is hard some weeks, telehealth works too, and you can mix the two.
Every new client starts with a free 15-minute phone call. You tell me what's going on, ask me anything, and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit. Book a free 15-minute consult or call (330) 439-2157. Sessions are available in my Wooster office or by telehealth for clients located in Ohio.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Jess Orr, MSW, LISW-S, CCTP, is a trauma and perinatal therapist at Revival Therapy & Consulting in Wooster, Ohio.