Close-up of hands writing on a notepad surrounded by first responder patches, symbolizing support for emergency personnel.

Trauma Therapy for First Responders and Veterans in Maryland

Culturally Competent Therapy for Military and Emergency Service Professionals

As a first responder or veteran, you are trained to stay calm in crisis, push through pain, and put others first. But years of high-stress situations, responsibility, and trauma can take a serious toll. Whether you are still serving or have transitioned out, your mental health matters.

At Madison Elie Counseling, I provide specialized online therapy for first responders, military personnel, and veterans across Maryland. I come from a first responder family and have been working with this community since 2018. I understand the unique culture, language, and unspoken pressure of showing up for others when you feel like you are running on empty. This is a space where you do not have to explain your job or justify the weight you carry.

How Trauma Therapy Can Help

You may be excellent at staying focused in high-pressure moments, making quick decisions, staying calm during chaos, and holding everything together when others cannot. But when things finally slow down, that same focus can turn inward, bringing anxiety, restlessness, or emotional exhaustion to the surface.

You’ve spent years putting others first, managing emergencies, and staying composed in situations most people can’t imagine. But constantly being "on" takes a toll. Therapy is a space where you can finally take a breath and focus on what you need.

Through therapy, you can:

  • Step out of survival mode and feel more grounded in your day-to-day life

  • Make sense of what you’ve been through in a way that feels safe

  • Ease the weight of hypervigilance, emotional shutdown, or always feeling on edge

  • Sleep more restfully and stop replaying difficult memories or situations

  • Show up more fully with your family, friends, or partner without feeling detached

  • Reconnect with who you are beyond your uniform and role

You don’t have to keep pushing everything down or pretending it doesn’t affect you. Therapy gives you the time, space, and tools to feel like yourself again.

Common Challenges I See in Therapy

Many of my clients come to therapy dealing with:

  • Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts

  • Emotional numbness and difficulty connecting with loved ones

  • Guilt, shame, or self-blame tied to past events

  • Hypervigilance, irritability, or sleep disturbances

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, or chronic stress

  • Depression, emotional withdrawal, or loss of purpose

  • Struggles transitioning to civilian life or retirement

  • Grief, moral injury, or survivor’s guilt

Whether your experiences happened in the field, on duty, or long ago, the effects can show up in many parts of your life, your relationships, your sense of safety, or even your ability to rest.

Hands holding challenge coins with first responder patches in background, symbolizing trauma therapy for first responders and veterans
Bright and calming therapy office with natural light, cozy chair, and plant on the windowsill

I use trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies that support emotional regulation, reduce trauma symptoms, and help you feel more grounded in your day-to-day life.

Our work together is collaborative, direct, and grounded in trust. I bring warmth, humor, honesty, and cultural competence into every session so that you feel supported and truly understood. You won’t have to censor yourself here, this is a space where you can speak freely and be met with understanding, not judgment.

Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches I Use

Effective Trauma-Informed Therapy for First Responders and Veterans in Maryland

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and other distressing experiences. EMDR uses guided eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess painful memories so they no longer feel overwhelming. This approach can lead to meaningful and lasting relief from emotional pain without needing to talk in detail about the trauma.

  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a brief, evidence-based therapy that helps reduce symptoms of trauma, anxiety, grief, and other emotional challenges. ART uses eye movements and visualization techniques to help you reprocess distressing memories quickly and with less emotional pain. Most people experience noticeable relief in just a few sessions, without needing to talk in detail about the trauma.

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a structured, evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma. It helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts related to traumatic experiences, allowing you to gain a new understanding of what happened and reduce emotional distress. CPT is especially effective for those struggling with guilt, shame, or self-blame after trauma.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used approach that focuses on how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. By learning to identify and change negative thinking patterns, CBT helps you manage anxiety, depression, stress, and other emotional challenges in a practical, goal-oriented way.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based therapy that helps people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and cope with stress in healthier ways. DBT combines mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. It’s especially helpful for individuals dealing with trauma, mood disorders, or high emotional sensitivity.

Laptop on a cozy couch with natural light and a plant in the background, representing a calming online therapy environment

Is Online Therapy Right for You?

I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual therapy for first responders and veterans anywhere in Maryland. If you're managing an unpredictable schedule, shift work, or simply prefer to speak from the privacy of your home, telehealth offers a flexible, consistent option for support.

Get Started with Trauma-Informed Support

The first step is to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. This is a chance for us to get to know each other a little. I will ask a few questions about what is bringing you to therapy, and you will have time to ask anything you would like about how I work.

If it feels like a good match, we can schedule your first session. You will receive access to your secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal, where you can complete paperwork and share anything you would like me to know before we begin.

You’ve spent so much time showing up for others. Let this be the moment you show up for yourself.

📧 Email: madison@madisoneliecounseling.com
📞 Call: 443-300-8879