---
title: "Resources: Straight Answers Before You Book"
url: https://respondersherpa.com/resources
description: "Plain answers for first responders and healthcare workers about therapy: sobriety, confidentiality, cost, and what to expect. Brian Lewis, LCMHC, Utah."
lang: en
---

Resources

# Straight answers before you book.

Calling a therapist for the first time may bring up questions you don't want to ask out loud. Will anyone at work find out? Do I have to quit drinking first? What actually happens in a session? These articles answer those questions in plain language, so you can make a decision without guessing.

## Articles

- Do You Have to Be Sober to Start Therapy? → No. Here is why honesty about use matters more than a sober date, and what the first conversation covers.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/do-i-have-to-be-sober-to-start-therapy
- Will My Department Find Out I'm in Therapy? → How private practice, self-pay, and HIPAA keep your care yours, and what to ask any therapist.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/will-my-department-find-out
- EMDR vs. ART: How They Differ → A plain-language comparison of their eye movements, structure, imagery, and what sessions may feel like.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/emdr-vs-art
- What Your First Therapy Session Looks Like → From the free consultation and intake through goals, privacy, treatment choices, cadence, and fees.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/first-therapy-session
- Therapy Costs and Superbills → The session fee, self-pay process, superbills, possible out-of-network benefits, and Good Faith Estimates.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/paying-for-therapy
- Peer Support, EAP, or Private Therapy? → How peer support, employee assistance programs, and independent private therapy differ in purpose, privacy, and access.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/peer-support-eap-or-therapy
- When a Call Won't Let Go → Common reactions after a hard call, what may help in the first days, and when therapy may be worth considering.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/when-a-call-wont-let-go
- Therapy or Coaching: Which One Fits? → How licensed counseling, non-clinical coaching, and consulting differ, who each is for, and how to choose.: https://respondersherpa.com/resources/therapy-or-coaching

## How to use these articles

Each article takes one question and answers it as directly as possible. They are written for people who work in emergency services and healthcare, and for the people who love them. You can read them in any order. Start with whichever question is keeping you from picking up the phone.

They are general information, not therapy and not legal or medical advice. Your situation will have details an article can't cover. That is what the free consultation is for. If something here raises a new question, write it down and bring it to the call.

## Why these questions come first

For a lot of people in uniform or in scrubs, the hardest part of therapy is deciding to start. The job teaches you to handle things yourself and keep moving. Asking for help can feel like a risk to your reputation, your career, or your sense of who you are. Those worries deserve real answers, not reassurance.

So these articles stick to the facts: this is a private practice, not an EAP and not contracted with any department, agency, or hospital. Care is confidential under HIPAA and Utah law, and the limits are explained at intake. You don't need to be sober to start. Sessions are $150 for 50 minutes, self-pay, with a superbill on request.

## Where to go next

If you want to know whether your line of work is a fit, see who I work with (https://respondersherpa.com/who-i-help). If you want to know what I actually work on, see what I help with (https://respondersherpa.com/specialties), including PTSD and trauma therapy (https://respondersherpa.com/ptsd-trauma-therapy) and addiction counseling (https://respondersherpa.com/first-responder-addiction). To learn more about me, visit Meet Brian (https://respondersherpa.com/about).

More articles will be added over time, covering the questions that come up most before a first session.

## Questions are part of choosing care

You are allowed to ask how confidentiality works, what a session costs, what methods a therapist uses, and what happens if the practice is not the right level of care. Clear answers matter, especially when your work has taught you to think carefully about trust and consequences. A free consultation is not a commitment; it is a chance to gather enough information to make your own decision.

You can also ask how telehealth works around shifts, whether you need to talk about every detail, and how alcohol or drug use can be discussed when you are not ready to promise sobriety. These resources offer a starting point, but your questions do not need to fit an article. Bring the specific concern that has kept you from reaching out, and expect a direct answer about what this practice can provide.

## If you need help right now

These articles are not for emergencies. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available around the clock. You don't have to be suicidal to call. It is there for any moment that feels like too much.

## The free consult

When you are ready, the next step is a free 15-minute call. It is a chance to ask your questions directly, hear how I work, and decide whether it feels right. There is no pressure to book, and nothing you say on the call commits you to anything.

I see people in person in Midvale and by telehealth anywhere in Utah. Book a free consultation (https://respondersherpa.com/booking), call (801) 554-6372, or send a message (https://respondersherpa.com/contact) if you would rather start in writing.

Not sure where to start? Start with a free 15-minute call.

Book a free 15-minute call: https://respondersherpa.com/booking

If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.

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