General Counseling Resources


Some Resources Regarding Grieving

Preparing for the Death of a Terminally-Ill Loved One: What to Expect, and How to Help the Entire Family Move Forward

Symptoms of Major Depression and Complicated Grief

Guidelines for Helping Grieving Children

Coping With The Stigma of Grieving an Overdose Death

Grief & the Loss of a Pet

Grief At Work: A Guide For Employees and Managers

Therapist Recommendations for Adults

  • Ruth Herman Dunn (evidence-based practices for depression with solid training in suicide intervention/prevention)
    Sound Psychological Services
    Phone: (206) 937-1186
  • Laura Brown, Ph.D.
    (206) 633-2405 ext. 1
  • Cindy Erwin, Ph.D.
    (206) 526-2824
    4026 N.E. 55th St.
    Seattle, WA
  • Sandy Espiritu
    (206) 818-2425
    Freemont Area
  • Amanda Franklin, M.Ed.
    (206) 324-0721
    inquiry@amandafranklin.net
    Madrona
  • Lynn Garvey, LICSW
    (425) 451-3385
    (206) 932-2997
  • Depression, anxiety, grief, loss, post traumatic stress syndrome
  • chemical dependency (from use to recovery)
  • lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered.
  • Lane Gerber, Ph.D.
    (206) 522-5514
    Seattle, WA 98115
  • Janis Horike, Ph.D.
    (425)-452-0306
    Bellevue, WA
  • Donna James, MA
    (206) 282-2590
    Kirkland Area
  • Lynn Kratz, LICSW
    (206) 935-7407
  • Robin Moss, LICSW
    (206) 522-5448
    2113 N.E. 65th
    Seattle, WA
  • Glenn Paddock, Ph.D.
    (206) 619-7734
    (206) 352-4227
    Tacoma & Seattle Areas
    (Also sees teens and couples)
  • Rose Ann Scoville, Ph.D.
    (253) 859-2313
    Kent Area
  • Audrey Shiffman, LICSW
    (206) 937-0507
    Seattle, WA
  • Treina Aronson, LMHC (Located in Jefferson Square) West Seattle
    206-963-2946
    info@treinaaronson.com
    http://www.treinaaronson.com/
    Works with adults 18+ and couples
  • Specialties: Anxiety/Panic, Depression/Stress, Relationship Issues and Communication, Divorce/Life Transitions, Life Purpose/Self-Confidence, Chronic Caretaking/Self-Care
  • Roz Boyd, LMHC (Located in Jefferson Square) West Seattle
    206-261-6516
    rozboyd.com
    Works with adults and couples, Anxiety, life transitions, survivors of childhood sexual abuse
  • Amanda Franklin M. Ed
    206-854-6436
    (South Lake Union)
    Individuals, couples and families (nuclear, blended, divorcing, and unconventional), survivors of sexual abuse, young women 16-30, people of limited means who need to pay on a sliding scale.

Therapist Recommendations for Children and Families

 

  • Kathy Albrin, M.A.
    (425) 299-7753
    Edmonds Area
  • Janet Brodsky
    (206) 328-4130
    1817 Queen Anne Ave.
    Suite 406
    Seattle, Wa 98109
    (Also serves Olympia)
  • Joan Galston, DCSW
    (206) 328-1366
  • Jackie Kite, MSW
    (206) 523-3132
    jackiekite@seattlechildrens.org Area
    Sandpoint
  • Catherine Lundy
    (206) 439-1762
    16040 Christensen Rd.
    Suite 217
    Tukwila, WA

Low Cost Therapy Reources

  • Harborview Center for Traumatic Stress
    (206) 744 -1600
    401 Broadway
    Rm. 2075
    Seattle, WA
    Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Suicide Hotlines

1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433)
1-800-273-TALK
(1-800-273-8255)
Text Telephone:
1-800-799-4TTY
(1-800-799-4889)

Military Veterans

Suicide Hotline:
1-800-273-TALK
(Press 1)

Suicide Hotline
in Spanish:
1-800-273-TALK
(Press 2)

LGBT Youth
Suicide Hotline:
1-866-4-U-TREVOR

 

Suggestions for choosing a therapist

1. Ask yourself some questions:

  • Are you looking for group or individual therapy? Family therapy?
  • Are you looking for brief, solution oriented therapy or long term, in-depth work?
  • What issues do you want to work on; what do you want to accomplish?
  • What therapeutic modality (such as verbal therapy, art, movement, bodywork…) Do you want to work in?
  • Do you prefer a male or female therapist?
  • Are you available during the day or do you need evening/weekend sessions?
  • What locations are convenient?
  • What fee can you pay? Do you need a sliding scale?

 

2. Make a list of possible therapists and their phone numbers:

  • Talk to friends, family and others who may be able to refer you to a therapist. Additional sources for finding a therapist are advertisements, referral services, and local community information services.

 

3. Contact the therapist you choose to know more about. Let them know you are shopping around.

  • This step is handled differently by each therapist. Some will talk with you on the phone and you can get a sense of them and their work. Others prefer to talk with you briefly on the phone and then begin regular sessions. Still others offer one consultation session at no charge.

 

4. Whatever the therapist’s initial policy, you can help yourself get a good match. You have the right to ask questions. Some questions to ask are:

  • What is your training?
  • How long have you been in practice?
  • Do you have a Washington state registration or certification, a Washington State tax number, and the Seattle city business license?
  • How much do you charge? Do you have a sliding scale? What is your cancellation policy? When do you see clients? How soon could I get an appointment?
  • Where did you get professional consultation? What if I know your consultant(s) personally?
  • What issues do you work with? What do you specialize in?
  • What experience do you have with what I want to work on?
  • How would we work together on issues?

 

5. As you make your decision, trust your gut instinct!  No amount of training, paperwork or government regulation can ever substitute for your own personal sense of what is best for you.

  • Do any of these therapists seem right for you?
  • Do you feel safe with him or her?
  • Do you like him or her?
  • Is she or he comfortable with you and your issues?

6. Ongoing evaluation of your therapy process:

  • You can have an ongoing dialogue with your therapist about your progress.
  • You have a right to ask questions and to receive answers to them. You the client are always in charge of your process. You have the right to refuse what your therapist is offering you.
  • Sexual conduct and/or contact between therapist and client is never okay.
  • Outside relationships such as business, friendship and socializing with your therapist may create barriers to the therapeutic process.
  • Are you connecting with your therapist?
  • You might experience resistance to your work and that is common in the therapy process.
  • Are you feeling uncomfortable or unsafe? Some feelings of discomfort are to be expected in therapy, but feeling unsafe with your therapist is a major warning sign to you.

 

7. Handling crises:

  • Do you have time in your practice to see me more than once a week if there are times I need more support?
  • What about if a crisis occurs for me (or my family)?

This material on choosing a therapist was adapted from materials provided by:

Jay Schlechter, MA, Ph.D.

Myra Rosen, MC, CMHC.
Hazel Johnson, RMTP.
Dean Allan, RN, MA.
Gary Handwerker, LMT.