Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Rivera Sokolich.
Hi Gina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi and thank you for joining me here! I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner of Responding First Counseling in Ballwin, MO. My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by a lifetime of personal and professional experience—most significantly, my years as a First Responder in EMS. I witnessed trauma in its rawest form and carried my own emotional weight from those experiences. But what stayed with me most was the quiet suffering I saw in my co-workers. I understood the culture, the unspoken pressure to stay strong, and the impact of years spent responding to crisis. It became clear that my next chapter would be about supporting those who serve—and creating a space where First Responders could finally feel seen, understood, and supported.
As my practice grew, so did the scope of my work. I found myself increasingly drawn to clients carrying deep, unresolved trauma—particularly survivors of narcissistic abuse. Their wounds were often invisible but profoundly life-altering. In response, I created a support group specifically for survivors and pursued advanced trauma training.
Whether I’m working with someone navigating the weight of the badge or the aftermath of emotional abuse, my goal remains the same: to provide a safe, compassionate, and effective space where healing becomes possible and identity can be reclaimed.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting out wasn’t too bad, lots of learning and growing! I networked consistently, shared my voice on social media, and built a strong, thriving practice within just a few months. The momentum allowed me to leave my full-time job and fully invest in the work I loved. But the real test came two years later, when life brought me to my knees.
What began as one of the most painful chapters of my life—losing my longtime partner, my sweetheart, to cancer—eventually became one of the most meaningful. In the depths of grief, I found a different kind of strength. I recently published my book, Stepping Through Grief: Rediscovering Life After Loss, a deeply personal reflection written in the aftermath of that loss.
Though it was born from heartbreak, the book became a turning point—a bridge between the life I had and the life I’m building now. It reshaped not only my personal healing, but also deepened the work I do with others. Grief changed me, and in that change, I found clarity, purpose, and a new way forward.
As I wrote, I realized grief is far more expansive than the loss of a loved one. It includes the unraveling of identity after emotional abuse, the quiet devastation of losing a life you thought you’d have, and the profound disorientation many First Responders feel when stepping out of the uniform. These experiences all carry the weight of grief—and all deserve space, acknowledgment, and healing.
This book, and the conversations it has sparked, have helped me deepen my work with clients navigating loss in its many forms. It’s a reminder that while grief may change us, it can also lead us back to ourselves—stronger, wiser, and more connected than before.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In the kind of work I do, I quickly realized that traditional talk therapy wasn’t enough. My clients needed more—and so did I. I wanted to help them reach the core of their pain, not just talk around it. That’s what led me to pursue advanced training in trauma healing. I became a Certified Brainspotting Consultant and trained in EMDR, two powerful, brain-based modalities that allow clients to access and process trauma in a deeper, more embodied way.
I offer both Brainspotting and EMDR in intensive sessions that are intentionally structured for deep, focused work. These approaches are a natural fit with my therapeutic style—direct, grounded, and collaborative. They allow us to move beyond surface-level symptoms and into the heart of what’s keeping someone stuck, helping them find relief, clarity, and a renewed sense of self.
Clients often say they feel safe to speak freely in our work together—that they don’t have to filter or hold back. They know they’ll be met with support, honesty, and a steady presence willing to walk with them into the hard places and back out again.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For anyone just beginning their career: be curious. Try everything, talk to everyone, and immerse yourself in the experience. Live like you have nothing to lose—because in these early stages, you truly don’t. This is where growth happens, where confidence begins to take shape. Say yes often. Follow what excites you. Let yourself be a student of both success and failure.
Looking back, the moments I made the most progress were the ones when I stepped aside and stopped letting fear or perfectionism lead. Confidence, for me, has never been about knowing it all—it’s been about moving forward anyway. It shows up in the willingness to trust the process, to stay open, and to keep showing up.
Pricing:
- $175 / 50 minute session
- $225 / 90 minute session
- $275 / 2 hours
- $425 – 3 hours
- $575 – 4 hours
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Respondingfirst.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/respondingfirstcounselingstl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552204876614
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-rivera-sokolich-ma-lpc-ctp-author-6869aa107/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/respondingfirstcounseling
