Tandi Orluk and Set Free Counseling: Healing Trauma and Championing Mental Health

In the heart of the Saratoga Region, Tandi Orluk, a licensed clinical social worker, has built a beacon of hope through her private practice, Set Free Counseling. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Orluk’s journey in mental health has been marked by compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to helping individuals overcome trauma. Her practice, rooted in evidence-based techniques like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), serves clients across New York and Kentucky, offering virtual therapy that transcends geographic boundaries. Through Set Free Counseling, Orluk is not only addressing individual struggles but also shining a light on why mental health matters in today’s world. 

The Genesis of Set Free Counseling 

Orluk’s path to founding Set Free Counseling was neither linear nor easy. A native of Kentucky, she graduated from the University of Kentucky and earned her master’s degree from the University of Louisville in 2007. Her early career in community mental health exposed her to a wide spectrum of mental health challenges, from severe bipolar disorder to dissociative identity disorder. These experiences, which she describes as a “baptism by fire,” honed her clinical skills and deepened her empathy for those navigating complex mental health issues. 

After over a decade at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where she worked with homeless veterans, Orluk moved to New York to be closer to her husband’s family. Her time at the VA was transformative, both for her and the veterans she served. She walked the streets, visited shelters, and built trust with a population often skeptical of institutional help. Her efforts contributed to Lexington, Kentucky, achieving “Functional Zero” for veteran homelessness—a testament to her ability to foster community collaboration and drive systemic change. 

However, personal health challenges and a desire for greater autonomy led Orluk to leave the VA. In 2022, she took a leap of faith and launched Set Free Counseling. Starting a business from scratch in New York, with its labyrinthine regulations, was daunting. Orluk faced bureaucratic hurdles, including a year-long process to secure her clinical license reciprocity. Yet, her determination prevailed. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” she says of entrepreneurship, a sentiment that underscores her resilience in building a practice that reflects her lifelong dream of being a therapist. 

Why Mental Health Matters 

Mental health is the cornerstone of a fulfilling life, yet it remains stigmatized and underfunded in many communities. Orluk’s work underscores the urgency of addressing mental health, particularly in a world where stress, comparison, and trauma are pervasive. She points out that

nearly everyone carries some form of trauma—whether it’s a “big T” trauma, like a life-altering accident, or “little T” traumas, such as childhood inconsistencies that shape self-perception. These experiences, if unaddressed, can manifest as anxiety, low self-worth, or physical symptoms like a racing heart or tense muscles. 

Orluk’s perspective is grounded in neuroscience, which reveals how trauma can rewire the brain, trapping individuals in cycles of negative thinking and emotional distress. “Most mental health disorders are rooted in trauma,” she explains, noting that while some conditions have genetic components, many stem from lived experiences. This insight drives her mission to help clients process and release these burdens, enabling them to live with greater peace and purpose. 

The broader societal implications of mental health cannot be overstated. Orluk’s work with first responders, for instance, highlights the toll of unaddressed trauma in high-stress professions. Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics often face a “suck it up” culture that discourages vulnerability. By educating these groups and offering resources, Orluk is challenging outdated norms and advocating for systemic change. Her collaboration with a local fire department, facilitated through a business networking group, exemplifies how mental health support can strengthen community resilience. 

Treating Trauma with EMDR 

At the core of Set Free Counseling is Orluk’s expertise in EMDR, a therapy recognized by the World Health Organization as the gold standard for trauma treatment. EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, mimics the brain’s natural healing process 

during REM sleep. By engaging clients in bilateral stimulation—often through guided tapping on specific body points—EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity. 

Orluk’s passion for EMDR stems from its transformative power. She shares a personal anecdote about her lifelong fear of cats, which she traced back to a childhood memory of a burglary where police referred to the suspect as a “cat.” Through a brief EMDR session with her supervisor early in her career, Orluk uncovered this connection and overcame her phobia. “It was like a light bulb went off,” she recalls. This experience solidified her belief in EMDR’s ability to unlock hidden traumas and foster rapid healing. 

In her practice, Orluk tailors EMDR to each client’s needs, recognizing that not everyone is ready to dive into trauma processing immediately. She begins by building rapport and assessing clients’ emotional regulation skills. For some, she introduces coping mechanisms like the “butterfly tap,” a self-soothing technique that promotes calm. Others may start with attachment theory, exploring how childhood experiences shape adult behaviors. Orluk identifies four attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized—and helps clients understand how these patterns influence their self-perception and relationships.

The results are profound. Clients from diverse backgrounds—physicians, teachers, students—describe EMDR as “life-changing.” Orluk’s goal is not lifelong therapy but empowerment, enabling clients to move beyond triggers and embrace their inherent worth. “I want you out living your life,” she says, emphasizing joy and resilience over perpetual healing. 

A Vision for Healing 

Set Free Counseling is more than a practice; it’s a testament to Orluk’s belief that everyone deserves mental freedom. Operating virtually, she reaches clients across New York and Kentucky, offering a safe space to explore their stories. Her website, setfreecounselingllc.com, serves as a gateway for those seeking help, with a HIPAA-secure contact form for initial outreach. Orluk’s approach is collaborative, beginning with a phone call to understand clients’ needs and culminating in personalized treatment plans. 

Despite her aversion to social media—due to its potential to fuel comparison and negative self-talk—Orluk is deeply connected to her community. Through a local business group, she has forged partnerships that amplify her impact, from working with first responders to learning the business acumen needed to sustain her practice. These connections, sparked by a chance meeting with a hairdresser, underscore the power of community in both personal and professional growth. 

The Road Ahead 

As Orluk continues to grow Set Free Counseling, her vision remains clear: to help individuals rewrite their stories and reclaim their potential. Mental health matters because it shapes how we navigate life’s challenges, from personal relationships to societal contributions. By treating trauma with cutting-edge techniques like EMDR, Orluk is not only healing individuals but also fostering a ripple effect of resilience and hope. 

For those considering therapy, Orluk’s message is simple: reach out. Whether grappling with anxiety, past wounds, or a vague sense of unease, her practice offers a path to clarity and freedom. In a world that often feels overwhelming, Set Free Counseling stands as a reminder that healing is possible—and that mental health is a journey worth taking.