Therapist Testifies in Sarah Session Trial, Session Accused of Attempted Murder of Stepson

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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A licensed counselor testified Monday that a 9-year-old boy at the center of a high-profile attempted murder case used intentional vomiting to "control his world" in times of stress.

Sarah Session is charged with second-degree attempted murder, assault and criminal mistreatment of her stepson. Her parents, Gary and Paula Hardenburg, face charges of criminal mistreatment and tampering with evidence.

Todd Ricker, who treated the child by telehealth, provided a window, through testimony, into the months leading up to the arrests, detailing the boy's behavioral struggles and the family's home environment in south Deschutes County.

Ricker, a self-employed counselor with 34 years of experience, testified that his sessions with the child began on Oct. 20, 2023. Ricker, who specializes in child and family therapy, conducted the appointments exclusively through audio-visual telehealth.

During the initial intake, Session reported concerns regarding the boy's difficulty with transitions and oppositional behavior. She also noted a recurring issue with purging and vomiting, which she characterized as a trauma response to violence in the home.

As the weekly hour-long sessions progressed, Ricker was able to find techniques that positively benefited the boy's behaviors. While the behavior was initially treated with calming and breathing techniques, Ricker concluded the vomiting was used by the boy as a behavioral tool.

"It did not seem to be a trauma response," Ricker said. "It seemed to be a way to try and control his world with anything he could." Ricker noted that he had never seen a child of that age intentionally vomit in his over 30 years of practice.

The counselor initially observed a positive relationship between the child and his stepmother. During telehealth visits from their living room, Ricker said the boy appeared comfortable, often curling up close to Session on the couch. "It was a very sweet close attachment," Ricker said recalling meeting Session and her step-son. He noted that Session appeared to be a caring parent who was relieved to find a therapist for the boy.

However, Ricker later learned that Session was the boy's stepmother rather than his biological mother, which created a legal dilemma regarding her authority to sign medical paperwork.

During the final meeting on Jan. 31, 2024, Session reported that the boy's behavior had escalated and she had placed a blue tarp in his bedroom to protect the carpet from vomit. Ricker testified that he could see the tarp during the video call but could not determine how much of the room it covered. Upon viewing a photo of the room in court Tuesday, Ricker expressed concern about the environment. "There doesn't appear to be any toys or anything of comfort which is a concern," Ricker said. He added that while he advocated for natural consequences, keeping a child in such a sterile room for an extended period would be inappropriate.

Under cross-examination by the defense, Ricker stated that the boy struggled with honesty and had unusual eating habits, such as stuffing his cheeks with food "like a chipmunk." Ricker testified that from his perspective, the boy showed sincere remorse for the vomiting and had an overall sadness he wasn't doing better. The defense, however, questioned Ricker on if the boy told him he was vomiting intentionally. Ricker said that the vomiting was a technique for the boy to feel in control in times of stress or disarray. When questioned by prosecutors, Ricker said Session "may have suggested" the boy felt special when purging, rather than the boy asserting it himself.

Ricker testified that he is a mandated reporter and never saw signs of physical abuse or unexplained bruises during his video sessions. "I would be shocked if Sarah was abusing [the boy] because she conveyed a caring loving attitude toward [him]," Ricker said. He noted that Session often spent extra time with him discussing how to better support the child's health and behavior.

Prosecutors presented Ricker with information he was not aware of during his therapy sessions with the boy. The prosecution described alleged footage showing the boy confined to his room, restricted from water and being called a "disgusting, terrifying, psychotic creature" by Session.

Ricker testified that he never saw Session lash out or yell during their appointments. He also stated he was unaware that the boy was "covered in bruises" when he was eventually taken to a hospital on February 6, 2024.

The testimony follows previous court records confirming Session's background in education. Session was employed as a special education teacher at Ponderosa Elementary School within the Bend-La Pine Schools District during the 2020-21 school year. State records indicate she maintains an active teaching license.

Session, along with her parents Gary and Hardenburg, were arrested in Coos Bay on February 21, 2025 following the investigation into the alleged abuse.