What to Expect
A walkthrough of what happens when you reach out.
From the first call through your first session and the work that follows. Most people who reach out have been thinking about it for a long time. Here is what actually happens once you do.
Step 01
Before you call
You do not need a clear reason, a diagnosis, or a particular plan to reach out. Most of the people who call us have been thinking about it for a while. They know something is off, and that is enough.
There is no preparation required. You don't need to research what you have, decide which type of therapy to ask for, or think through what you'll say. The intake call is paced. We will help you sort through what is happening and what kind of work might fit.
If it helps to think about what to say, here are a few questions clients sometimes find useful as starting points:
- What is the thing in your life that prompted you to look for a therapist now?
- What have you tried before, and what worked or didn't?
- What do you want to be different in your life that isn't?
None of these are required. They are just orienting questions if it helps.
Step 02
The intake call
The intake call is usually 15 to 20 minutes. It is not a clinical interview, and it is not the first session. It is a conversation to help us match you with the right therapist on our team and to walk you through what working with us looks like.
A typical intake call covers:
- What brought you in. A short version is enough. You don't need to share details you're not ready to share.
- What you're hoping for. Whether you have a specific goal in mind or just want to feel different than you do now.
- Practical fit. Scheduling availability, in-person versus telehealth, insurance versus self-pay, and how soon you'd like to start.
- Questions you have. About our practice, our therapists, EMDR, fees, anything. We will answer what we can on the call and follow up on anything we need to.
The intake is not a commitment. If after the call you decide we are not the right practice, that is fine. If we think another practice might fit you better, we will tell you that too and try to point you somewhere helpful.
Step 03
Paperwork and insurance
Once we agree on a fit and a schedule, you'll receive a small set of intake documents to complete before the first session. These cover the basics: contact information, insurance, consent forms, and a brief background questionnaire that helps your therapist arrive informed.
On the insurance side, our practice is in-network with CareFirst BCBS in Maryland. For other insurance, we are out-of-network. Many out-of-network plans cover a meaningful portion of session fees, and we provide superbills you can submit for reimbursement. Our insurance page walks through the specifics, including out-of-network billing, third-party payers, and self-pay rates.
Paperwork is meant to streamline the first session, not stand in front of it. If anything is confusing or you have questions, our intake team is glad to help.
Step 04
Your first session
The first session is for getting to know each other. Most clients are surprised by how much of it is simply conversation. Your therapist will introduce themselves, talk through how they work, and ask you to share what brought you in at the level of detail that feels manageable.
What the first session is not: jumping into trauma processing. Trauma-focused work, including EMDR, requires a foundation of safety, regulation, and shared understanding before the active work begins. Building that foundation is part of what the early sessions are for. Pushing past it is exactly the kind of pacing failure trauma-informed care exists to avoid.
Most first sessions cover:
- Introductions. Your therapist will share a bit about how they work and the populations they specialize in.
- Your story, in your own words. Whatever you want to share. You hold the level of detail.
- A loose plan. A sense of what the next few sessions might focus on. This is not a fixed treatment plan; it shifts as the work unfolds.
- Logistics. Cadence, scheduling, how to reach the practice between sessions, what to do if you need to cancel.
- Your questions. Bring them. There are no wrong ones.
Sessions are 50 minutes unless we've specifically scheduled longer (some EMDR sessions are 75 or 90 minutes when that fits the work).
Step 05
How the work unfolds
The first few sessions usually cover history, presenting concerns, and the building of working trust between you and your therapist. The pace is yours. Some clients move into deeper work quickly. Others take their time, and that is fine.
Once the foundation is in place, the active work begins. What that looks like depends on the modality and what you're working on:
- EMDR therapy follows an eight-phase protocol, structured but flexible. You hold a memory in mind while your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation. You don't have to narrate the memory in detail. (Wondering whether EMDR fits what you're working on? See "Is EMDR right for me?")
- Art therapy uses creative process alongside conversation. No artistic skill required.
- Alpha-Stim is a structured 12-week program that can stand alone or run alongside therapy.
- Talk-based and somatic work happens in most therapy here regardless of which specific modalities are central. Your therapist will adapt as the work calls for it.
You will know what is happening and why at every step. If something is not working, you can say so. The work belongs to you.
Step 06
How long therapy takes
The most honest answer is that it depends on what you're working on and what is underneath it. Some patterns are well-served by short, focused EMDR work and resolve in 8 to 12 sessions. Others reflect longer histories that ask for longer treatment. Most courses of therapy fall somewhere in between.
Your therapist will share a sense of pacing and likely scope as the picture comes into focus, usually within the first few sessions. You and your therapist decide together when the work is complete. Some clients return for additional work later in their lives, and that is welcomed too.
Therapy is not meant to be a permanent fixture. The aim is to do the work, and then to leave with what you came for.
Frequently asked questions
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. Part of what the intake call is for is helping you sort out what kind of work might fit. You do not need a diagnosis, a name for what you're experiencing, or a particular reason. Wanting to talk to someone is reason enough.
Will I have to talk about traumatic experiences in the first session?
No. The first session is not where trauma processing happens. It's where you and your therapist start to get to know each other, talk through what brought you in, and figure out where to begin. Most clients are surprised by how much of the first session is just regular conversation. The actual trauma work happens later, when you and your therapist agree the foundation is in place.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what you're working on, what's underneath it, and what kind of work you and your therapist are doing. Some clients see significant change in 8-12 sessions of focused EMDR work on a specific issue. Others do longer-term work that unfolds over a year or more. Your therapist will talk through expected pacing with you as a clearer picture emerges, and you decide together when the work is complete.
What if I'm not sure I want to commit to weekly sessions?
Reaching out for a consultation is not a commitment to start care, and starting care is not a commitment to stay. Most clients meet weekly while active work is happening, but the cadence is something you and your therapist decide together. If weekly does not fit your schedule or your finances, say so on the intake call and we will see what's possible.
What does the intake call cover?
The intake call is usually 15-20 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 any questions you have. 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, not for us to take a full clinical history.
What if I show up and the therapist isn't a fit?
Fit matters more than almost anything in therapy, and not every fit works on the first try. 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.
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.
Ready when you are
A consultation is the most direct way to talk through what's going on and figure out whether we're the right fit. There is no commitment to start care from a consultation, and we are glad to help you find another practice if ours isn't the right one.
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.
How We Help
Browse our services by what you're experiencing, who you are, or the treatment approach you're curious about.
Insurance & Fees
What we accept, how out-of-network billing works, and what to expect for self-pay.