Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about therapy with us.
Answers to questions clients most often have before reaching out, organized by topic. If you don't see your question here, the intake call is a good place to ask it.
The right question to ask is not whether your question is too small to ask. It's whether asking it would help you take the next step.
Starting therapy
Starting therapy and the first sessions
Do I need to know what's wrong before I call?
No. Most of the people who reach out to us are not sure what to ask for. They know something is off, and that is enough. The intake call helps us sort out what kind of work might fit. You do not need a diagnosis or a particular reason to call.
What does the intake call cover?
The intake call is usually 15 to 20 minutes. We'll ask what brought you in, talk through what kind of help you're looking for, walk through scheduling and insurance basics, and answer your questions. You don't need to share more than feels comfortable. The goal of the intake is for you to leave with a clear sense of next steps. Our What to Expect page goes deeper.
Will I have to talk about traumatic experiences in the first session?
No. The first session is for getting to know each other and figuring out where to begin. Most clients are surprised by how much of it is regular conversation. Trauma processing happens later, when you and your therapist agree the foundation is in place.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what you are working on. Some clients see meaningful change in 8 to 12 sessions of focused EMDR work on a specific issue. Others do longer-term work that unfolds over a year or more. Your therapist will give you a clearer sense of pacing as the picture comes into focus, usually within the first few sessions.
What if the therapist I'm matched with isn't a fit?
Fit matters more than almost anything in therapy. If after a session or two it doesn't feel right, you can ask to be matched with a different clinician on our team. We would much rather help you find the right person than have you stay in a therapy that doesn't fit.
How long are sessions?
Standard sessions are 50 minutes. Some EMDR sessions are scheduled longer (75 or 90 minutes) when that fits the work. Your therapist will discuss session length with you when relevant.
How do I know if what I'm experiencing is trauma?
Many people who carry trauma don't recognize it as trauma. They notice the symptoms and assume the symptoms are simply who they are. Trauma symptoms can show up across emotional, body, cognitive, behavioral, and relational dimensions. Our trauma symptoms guide walks through what to look for. The intake call is also a low-pressure place to talk through what you're experiencing.
EMDR and modalities
EMDR therapy and other modalities we use
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy originally developed for PTSD. It helps the brain process and resolve disturbing memories using bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) while you hold a memory in mind. It does not require you to narrate the memory in detail, which many clients find less retraumatizing than traditional talk therapy for trauma.
Is EMDR effective for things other than PTSD?
Yes. EMDR has been used effectively for anxiety, depression, phobias, panic, grief, and other conditions where past experiences are part of the picture. Many of these conditions have roots in earlier experiences, and EMDR is designed to help process those experiences so they stop driving present-day reactions.
Do you offer EMDR intensives?
Yes. EMDR intensives are extended sessions (typically 2x3-hour or 3x2-hour formats) that condense weeks of regular EMDR into a focused window. Intensives can be a fit for clients with a specific issue to work through, those traveling from outside the area, or those who want to make rapid progress on a discrete piece of trauma.
What other modalities do you offer?
In addition to EMDR, our practice offers art therapy, Alpha-Stim (an FDA-cleared electromedical treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and pain), somatic and attachment-based work, and medication management. Most clients work primarily with one or two modalities; some integrate several.
Do I have to do EMDR if I come to your practice?
No. EMDR is one of the modalities we specialize in, but it is not required. Our clinicians draw from a range of evidence-based approaches and adapt the work to what fits you. If EMDR comes up later as something that might help, your therapist will explain why and you can decide together whether to incorporate it.
How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
There's no perfect way to know in advance. EMDR tends to fit well when there are identifiable past experiences shaping current symptoms, when you'd rather not narrate trauma in detail, or when other therapy has hit a ceiling. It may not be the right starting place for active crisis, untreated substance use, or anxiety with no historical anchor. Our "Is EMDR right for me?" guide walks through where it fits and where another approach may fit better. The intake call is also a low-pressure place to talk it through.
Insurance and fees
Insurance, fees, and self-pay
What insurance do you accept?
We are in-network with CareFirst BCBS in Maryland. For all other insurance, we are out-of-network. Our insurance page covers the specifics, including out-of-network billing, third-party payers (CAC, Change the Conversation, DSS), and self-pay rates.
What if I'm out-of-network?
Many out-of-network plans cover a meaningful portion of session fees through reimbursement. We provide superbills (receipts with the codes insurance needs) you submit to your insurance company. The amount reimbursed depends on your specific plan's out-of-network mental-health benefits. Calling your insurance and asking about out-of-network outpatient mental health coverage is the most reliable way to estimate your costs in advance.
Do you offer sliding-scale or reduced fees?
We have a limited number of reduced-fee slots and prioritize them based on need. If cost is a barrier, mention it on the intake call and we will see what is available. We will not pretend a slot is open if it isn't, but we will always be honest about what we can and can't accommodate.
Do you provide a Good Faith Estimate?
Yes. Under the No Surprises Act, self-pay clients are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges. We provide this in writing before care begins, as required by federal law. Our insurance page goes into more detail.
Telehealth
Telehealth therapy
Do you offer telehealth across all of Maryland?
Yes. Our clinicians are licensed in Maryland and can see Maryland residents anywhere in the state via secure video. Our telehealth page covers what to expect and how to set up for a session.
Does EMDR work over video?
Yes. EMDR adapts well to telehealth using on-screen visual stimulation, audio bilateral stimulation, or guided self-tapping. Clinicians who do EMDR via video are trained in the adaptations. Many clients find video-based EMDR easier to maintain because there is no commute and they can do the work from a familiar setting.
Can I switch between in-person and telehealth?
Yes, depending on your therapist's availability. Many clients alternate based on what works for a given week. The intake team can help you find a clinician who offers both formats.
Children and families
Working with children, teens, and families
Can my child see a therapist on their own?
In Maryland, as of October 2021, minors age 12 and older can consent to outpatient mental health treatment without parental permission, with a provider determination of maturity and capacity to consent. Minors under 16 still cannot consent to prescription medications, which require parental consent. We generally encourage caregiver involvement when it is appropriate, and your therapist will explain how confidentiality works at the first appointment.
Can EMDR be used with young children?
Yes. EMDR can be adapted for children as young as two using developmentally appropriate techniques. With younger children this often looks more like play with bilateral elements integrated in. With older children and teens, EMDR can be more recognizable but still adapted to their stage. Our children & teens page goes deeper.
Do you work with adoptive and foster families?
Yes. Our team includes clinicians who specialize in adoption, foster care, and the attachment work that often comes with both. We also work with adoptive and foster parents directly, and with siblings as part of family-systems work when that fits.
Can multiple family members see therapists at your practice?
Yes. If multiple family members would benefit from therapy, we generally schedule each person with a different clinician on our team. This protects the integrity of each person's work and keeps therapy from becoming a place where one clinician hears everyone's side of every dynamic. We coordinate across clinicians when it is useful, with appropriate consent.
If you are in crisis right now
We are an outpatient practice and not a crisis service. If you or someone you love is in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room. Help is available right now.
Don't see your question?
The intake call is a good place to ask anything we haven't covered. There is no commitment to start care from a consultation, and we will do our best to give you a clear answer either way.
If a form doesn't feel right, you can also email us at info@traumaspecialistsofmd.com. We're here either way.
Learn More
About Our Practice
Our story, what trauma-informed care actually means, and what makes our practice different.
What to Expect
A walkthrough of the first call, the first session, and what working with us looks like over time.
How We Help
Browse our services by what you're experiencing, who you are, or the treatment approach you're curious about.