GUIDES & RESOURCES
Guides for the questions that come before therapy.
Plain-language articles for the things people wonder about before they ever book a session.
How to use these guides
Most people have a lot of questions before they start therapy, and many of them feel too small or too awkward to ask out loud. What happens in the first session? Will this affect my clearance? What is the difference between EMDR and CPT? These guides are written to answer those questions in plain language, so you can walk into a consult already knowing the basics.
You do not need to read them in order, and you do not need to read any of them before reaching out. Start with whatever question is on your mind right now. Each guide links to related pages, so one answer can lead to the next. If a guide raises new questions, bring them to a free 15-minute consult through the contact page.
The guides are general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. They describe how therapy works and what the options are. What fits you is something worked out together, with a licensed clinician who knows your situation.
Starting Therapy
For the stretch between thinking about therapy and actually showing up.
- What to Expect
How the process works from first contact through ongoing sessions.
- Your First Session
The practical side of the first appointment: timing, video, paperwork and what gets covered.
- First Session Nerves
The fear before the first appointment, what you do not have to share, and what happens if you freeze.
- How to Choose a Trauma Therapist
Training, license checks and consult questions that help, even if you end up choosing someone else.
- How Long Trauma Therapy Takes
The factors that shape the length of treatment, and why nobody should promise a number.
Understanding Trauma Treatment
Plain explanations of the methods and ideas used in trauma-focused therapy.
- EMDR vs CPT
An honest comparison of two trauma therapies: how each works and what the sessions involve.
- The Eight Phases of EMDR
Each phase of EMDR in plain language, and why the early phases are not a delay.
- EMDR Over Video
How EMDR works by telehealth, from on-screen bilateral stimulation to setting up a private space.
- What Is a Stuck Point?
The core idea behind Cognitive Processing Therapy, with examples about safety, trust, power, control and intimacy.
- CPT Session by Session
The shape of the standard Cognitive Processing Therapy protocol from first impact statement to last.
- Driving After a Crash
Driving and passenger anxiety after an accident, and a gradual, planned return.
- What Trauma Does to Sleep
Why hyperarousal, nightmares and shift work wreck sleep, and why sleep often gets attention early.
- Hypervigilance After Service
Why trained threat detection stays on, and how therapy works with it.
- Anxiety or PTSD?
Where anxiety and trauma-linked symptoms overlap, what differs and why assessment matters.
Military and Service Life
Questions that come up specifically for service members, veterans and their families.
- Therapy and Security Clearance
What SF-86 Question 21 asks, its exemptions, and who to ask about your own situation.
- How to Use Military OneSource
What the program is, who is eligible and how to get started.
- Therapy During Drill, TDY and Travel
Keeping therapy going around drill, TDY, deployment and PCS moves.
- Peer Support vs Therapy
What peer support, debriefings, chaplains, EAP and therapy are each for.
Quick Answers
Short answers to the questions asked most often.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Rates, insurance, telehealth, scheduling and more in one place.
Looking for something more specific?
The guides cover general questions. For information about a particular concern or group, the specialties page lists every area of focus, from PTSD and trauma to responder roles and life after service. Costs are on the rates page, and coverage options are on the insurance and EAP page.
All sessions with Zandria Hooks, LCSW, are telehealth, for adults physically located in Texas, Maryland or Massachusetts at the time of each session.
Sessions are 50 minutes, by appointment, with evenings available. Private pay is $150 per session, and insurance and EAP options, including Military OneSource, are handled through Headway. When you are ready, the free consult is the simplest next step.
About these guides
Do I need to read these guides before booking?
No. They are here if they help. You can book a free 15-minute consult at any point and ask your questions directly.
Are the guides medical advice?
No. They are general information written to help you understand therapy and make decisions. They do not diagnose you or replace care from a licensed professional.
Will more guides be added?
Yes. New guides are added over time and listed here under the matching group.
In crisis or thinking about harming yourself? This site is not for emergencies. Call or text 988, or dial 911. Veterans: press 1 after calling 988.
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