You’ve seen things most people will never see. You’ve run toward situations others run away from, and you’ve done it shift after shift, year after year. But at some point, the weight of all that can start to show up in ways that are hard to ignore: trouble sleeping, pulling away from the people you love, feeling on edge when you’re finally off the clock. If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not weak. You’re human. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
That’s exactly why Responding First Counseling exists.
A Counselor Who Gets It from the Inside
Responding First Counseling was built on a simple belief: the best person to help a first responder heal is someone who’s lived the job. Gina Rivera Sokolich is a recently retired EMT who spent years in the field living the job, the culture, the call volume, and the toll it takes. That background is the foundation of everything the practice does.
When you walk through Gina’s door, you won’t need to explain what a tough shift feels like or defend why this career is hard. That part’s already understood.
What Responding First Counseling Treats
Traumatic experiences don’t always show up the way you’d expect. They can look like intrusive memories that surface at random, a habit of avoiding certain places or conversations, or emotional reactions that feel out of proportion to what’s happening in the moment. They can also look like exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, tension at home that you can’t quite explain, or a growing sense that you’re just going through the motions.
Responding First Counseling works with adults 18 and over on a range of concerns including stress, anxiety, PTSD, and on-the-job burnout. The practice specializes in first responders who are struggling as a result of career-related trauma and the lifestyle that comes with it. That includes the family members of responders, too. Spouses, partners, and kids often carry their own version of the weight. Gina works with responder families specifically to help them understand the culture and communicate through the hard parts.
Individual therapy sessions run one hour and are scheduled on a case-by-case basis depending on the client’s needs.
If you’re ready to talk to someone who truly understands the job, reach out to Responding First Counseling to schedule your first session.
Clinically Trained in Evidence-Based Approaches
Two of the most effective, research-backed therapies for trauma are EMDR and Brainspotting, and Responding First Counseling specializes in both.
EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured therapy that helps your brain process traumatic memories that got “stuck” before they could be filed away normally. It doesn’t require you to talk through every painful detail in the way traditional talk therapy might. Many people find it produces meaningful relief faster than they expected.
Brainspotting is a newer approach that works by identifying specific eye positions connected to areas in the brain where trauma is stored. It’s a gentle, body-informed method that works well for people who carry stress physically, which is common for first responders.
Both approaches are well-suited to the kinds of trauma that come with careers in public safety, and having a counselor trained in both means your care can be tailored to what actually works for you.
For the Whole First Responder Community
If you’re a firefighter, police officer, paramedic, dispatcher, or work in any other first responder role in the St. Louis area, Responding First Counseling was built with your experience in mind. And if you’re the spouse, parent, or child of someone in that world, there’s a place here for you, too.
Getting help isn’t something you do instead of being strong. It’s how you stay in the game, stay present for your family, and keep doing the work that matters to you. If you’re ready to take that first step, you can learn more about Responding First Counseling through the St. Louis Hero Network member directory and reach out to schedule a session.