In life, you want to enjoy yourself the most you possibly can, but this can be a challenge, especially when you're coping with anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders. Who can help you? A counselor based in University Place, of course. 

University Place is known for being a nice little suburban community where various people come to try to enjoy their lives. If you live here, you've got it made, and you can be able to accomplish anything. However, you need to speak to a counselor first if you want to be the best person possible and achieve your goals. 

This is Amy Pruitt's avatar and link to their profile

Amy Pruitt

Offering therapy in WA
License: LMFT
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemDepression
20 years of experience

I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with nearly 20+ years of experience. My work has generally been in community mental health, in a variety of settings, including in home family services, community agency based work in nonprofit mental health clinics, and outpatient clinic supporting residential substance abuse treatment programs. I have experience treating clients in all life cycle stages, but generally work best with clients from 20 years to 95 years in age. My strongest areas of focus include trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, transitions, grief and loss issues, family of origin, parent coaching, relationship dynamics and communication. My therapeutic style is very conversational, and intentionally designed to feel more personal and engaging. Most of my clients say that they have "never been to a therapist" like me. I have a systemic orientation that focuses on strengths, and utilizes narrative therapy, with a heavy emphasis on contextual, CBT, EMDR, and some DBT. The general goal of therapy is to determine the goals you want to reach, identify the useful skills , resources and strengths in your life that already exist and utilize the three to achieve your goals. I will teach you skills, provide psycho education and insight, and engage you in treatment modality exercises throughout the therapy experience. Along the way you will discover how many of the answers you already had, and develop confidence in your self for the future.

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This is Leticeia Scott's avatar and link to their profile

Leticeia Scott

Offering therapy in WA
License: LPC,LMHC,Certified EMDR therapist
AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseCompassion fatigue
12 years of experience

"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good."- Maya Angelou I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over a decade of experience working in the mental health field. Clients that I have worked with present with a range of concerns including difficulty adjusting to life changes, substance abuse, career challenges, difficulty managing mood, anxiousness, anger management, relationship concerns, grief/loss, and history of trauma. My clients work with me to explore their concerns and to utilize therapeutic support toward making positive life changes, one step at a time. My counseling style is warm, direct, interactive and encouraging. Therapy is a small (but powerful) slice of a person's life, so the time is valuable and should always be productive as you work toward your identified goals. I believe that everyone can benefit from a healthy therapeutic relationship, where they are treated with respect, sensitivity and compassion, while also being challenged to push their personal barriers to change. My approach is client-centered and treatment planning will be tailored to your specific needs and adjusted as needed. I am ready to go with you on this journey to live a more fulfilling life, where your happiness and peace is at the core and your steps toward positive changes are deliberate and thoughtful. When you are ready to take that first step toward support, I am here to work with you and empower you. Let's do this work together!

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This is LaRae Lentz's avatar and link to their profile

LaRae Lentz

Offering therapy in WA
License: LMHC
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSleeping disordersDepression
7 years of experience

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State. I have worked for residential, inpatient and outpatient community mental health agencies since 2001 and have 20+ years of experience in the behavioral and mental health fields. I have been working as an independently licensed practitioner for the last 6 years. I believe that our quality of life is directly related to the quality of our relationships and our ability to maintain those relationships. These relationships include but are not limited to: our relationship with our self and our own inner world; our nuclear and blended family members; our close friends; the people that we work and interact with daily; our relationship with our Creator. The quality of these relationships over a lifetime influences how we cope with stress, frustration, sadness and joy. I use a variety of different therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral, dialectical, solutions focused and family systems to help clients identify problematic patterns of thinking, processing and behavior; to reflect on how their experiences thus far in life have shaped these patterns, and; challenge clients to discuss possible solutions or ways to experience the problem in new and more adaptive ways.

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Emily Meyers

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
15 years of experience

I am licensed in MO and WA with 15 years of professional work experience. I have a background in helping clients with stress and anxiety, parenting issues, motivation, goal-setting, self-esteem, and confidence. I also have experience working with depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Erica Martin

Offering therapy in WA
AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesDepression
24 years of experience

I am licensed in Oregon,Washington State and Texas with 23 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & sleeping disorders. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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This is Hatoun Altharwa's avatar and link to their profile

Hatoun Altharwa

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietyLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
7 years of experience

“When you make peace with the fact that the purpose of life is not happiness, but rather experience and growth, happiness comes as a natural byproduct. When you are not seeking it as the objective, it will find its way to you”. I believe in the importance of developing an honest and close relationship with my clients. You may find you have rarely had such an honest and authentic relationship before. As you learn to trust the therapist, you will begin your therapeutic journey and share your true feelings and thoughts. Meaningful contact between you and the therapist occurs leading to a thorough exploration of one’s self. The therapy room becomes a space in which old beliefs are challenged and new healthy ideas emerge. A safe space to explore and find true meaning and purpose in life and experiencing heightened self-awareness, self-understanding, self-respect, and self-motivation. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, families and adults with complex issues setting aside diagnostic labels and judgements and focusing on the client’s experience in its full richness and complexity.

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John Haugh

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsGriefDepressionCoping with life changes
15 years of experience

I am licensed clinical social worker/therapist in Washington State with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, coping with grief and loss, & depression. Everyone’s situation is unique to themselves and everyone has different coping mechanisms and support systems. Whether you’re dealing with a current or past, traumatic event, life change, relationship challenges, or something else. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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This is Jennifer Roach's avatar and link to their profile

Jennifer Roach

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression
11 years of experience

I am licensed in Idaho, Utah and Washington with over 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & trauma, ptsd, and abuse. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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This is Leah Chambers's avatar and link to their profile

Leah Chambers

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefDepression
6 years of experience

I am licensed in Oregon and Washington with 6 years of clinical work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, attachments, depression, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and coping with grief and loss. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support and empower you in that journey.

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This is Katie McIntyre's avatar and link to their profile

Katie McIntyre

Offering therapy in WA
Stress, AnxietySelf esteemDepression
10 years of experience

I am licensed in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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How to find counseling in University Place

Finding the best therapist close by in University Place can feel challenging, but know that once you narrow your search for a counselor serving your area, you can find a therapist in your city that is accepting new clients and fits your goals. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, marriage, family issues, or other emotional challenges, feel proud that you have begun your search to find the mental health care services that work best for you in order to begin your personal journey towards emotional healing.

Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist in University Place. Perhaps you're interested in narrowing your search for a psychotherapist that can offer psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, provide group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy. Each type of therapy can offer various benefits and address or treat different disorders. If you're still unsure or are new to counseling in University Place, feel free to contact the provider via email to find out which methods they practice.

It is also important to understand that mental health professionals in the United States are accredited to provide care, helping individuals and couples, with a variety of licenses. These include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinical psychologist or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, they are trained to treat individuals and couples counseling, and sometimes children, in any type of therapy. Find a therapist under any of these distinctions and know that the sessions they offer can provide a safe place to heal.

Mental health professionals working through their own in- person therapy practice in University Place or online may assist clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, or change in negative thinking patterns. They may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain. Verified providers can provide licensed marriage and couples therapy, tailor to individual needs, and create a therapeutic relationship as a National Certified Counselor.

There are all kinds of therapists working with clients today across the United States and in the greater University Place area in different types of therapy, including:

  • CBT
  • DBT
  • Substance use therapy
  • Couples therapy

When you're ready to start your search and find therapists, have in mind what type of therapy you'd like your provider to be most experienced with and choose an experienced provider with a practice located near you in the city of University Place, elsewhere in Pierce, or in the greater state of Washington.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some other commonly asked questions on therapy with a licensed counselor and BetterHelp serving the University Place area can be found below:

How does the cost of in-person counseling compare to the cost of BetterHelp with a licensed University Place therapist?

The average price of an in-person therapy session in the US is $100 to $200 per hour. These prices may be higher in University Place due to a higher cost of living. The price also depends on the type of provider you are looking for. See the following average prices for various mental health providers without insurance:

  • Counseling with a psychiatrist: $150-$500
  • Counseling with therapists: $100-300
  • Therapy with a psychologist: $100

While many psychologists in University Place may not take health insurance, some in the state of Washington may work on a sliding scale, meaning they'll factor in your income and charge what you can afford per session. With BetterHelp or clinicians throughout the state of Washington you can expect significantly more affordable options, with sessions ranging from $65 to $100 per week (billed every four weeks).

How is a licensed therapist on this online therapy platform verified?

Therapists in University Place, Washington working on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited as a doctor of psychology (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW / LICSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All of these psychology clinicians have a Masters Degree or a Doctorate Degree in their field of psychology sciences, and follow the APA Code of Ethics. They have been qualified and certified by their state's professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training and practice with a patient, and extensive experience in a healthcare clinic or treatment centers, in order to become a mental health provider. While their lived experience, expertise, careers, and background vary, they all possess at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience with adult and sometimes teen patients, and have the necessary therapist credentials to provide a safe space for long lasting emotional healing in therapy. 

Please note BetterHelp does not offer or provide care from psychiatrists to prescribe a drug as treatment, or perform psychological assessments.

How does working with a counselor in BetterHelp online therapy sessions work?

BetterHelp clinicians treat clients online across the United States (individuals and couples) through life transitions, inner child exploration, long term depression or anxiety, and more. An online mental health professional, including the therapists in University Place above, can work with young adults, children, adolescents, and adults virtually as an accredited licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). You do not have to commute to a an office as a psychotherapy client.

Through BetterHelp therapy, you can partake in video, phone, or live chat therapy sessions with your licensed therapist. You can work through various symptoms, use the in app journaling feature, and receive worksheets. You'll also find support groups or group therapy lead by a therapist in University Place helping individuals on topics including managing life transitions, symptoms affecting sexual health, behavioral health, coping skills for anxiety or depression, trauma, stress, marriage counseling, and more. 

What mental health issues can psychotherapy address?

BetterHelp's verified University Place therapists specialize and have clinical experience in a wide range of mental health issues and modalities, helping clients to feel better and improve their lives every day. See below for examples.

Specialties on BetterHelp include:

You may also be struggling with relationship problems that could be addressed in couples therapy or with a sex therapist. In that case, you may choose to work with one of BetterHelp's experienced cognitive-behavioral therapists or licensed marriage family therapists (LMFT) who work with clients in relationships. You can also try a University Place therapy provider through BetterHelp's sister platform, ReGain, which is dedicated to couples and spouses worldwide. 

How do I know if online counseling is right for my family?

One of the potentially rewarding aspects of working with a therapist is the validation and active listening they can provide. Your friends and loved ones may also be available to listen, but you may feel that they may lack the skills to provide objective guidance. Counselors are trained to respond to various concerns, symptoms, and mental health conditions.

A psychologist in your city can support you toward a healthier emotional state, regardless of your mental health, life concerns, or healing needs. While supporting individuals in developing healthier habits, another good benefit of therapy is having an understanding, safe space with a non-judgmental party who can support you through challenging experiences.

Many people have sensitive topics that they may feel ashamed to discuss with their friends or partner. A University Place therapist can help you confront these concerns and open up through unique methods of support. There are also many types of therapy, such as art therapy, where you may find you can express yourself through creativity instead of words.

With a lot of people in WA, providers may be booked out with clients. Through the list of profiles above and others within BetterHelp's team, you may be able to find a psychologist within 24 to 48 hours. If you're searching to find a a nearby psychotherapist close to 98467 or the surrounding zip codes, consider others available through the BetterHelp site. No matter if you are seeking help in your area or beyond, online therapy can be a great option.

How should I prepare for my first therapy session with a University Place counselor?

Before seeing your therapist, prep for your session by reading to understand the therapy process. You might write a list of questions you want to ask your psychotherapist, any emotional pain you may feel, and the ways in which you hope to improve. When you attend your session, let them know if you have any concerns about therapy or feel unsure about what to talk about. They may help guide you with open-ended therapeutic questions. The first session will often serve as an intake to get to know you as a person and learn why you're attending therapy.

Should I find a therapist or psychologist if I feel fine? 

Some simply don't feel the need to see a psychologist. However, some people may avoid attending therapy due to stigma or preconceived notions of what therapy entails. Although psychologists often support people with mental health conditions, you do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy. You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general feedback and advice. A University Place licensed clinical social worker may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Gaining a new perspective on yourself through various therapies might allow you to improve your self-esteem, work through relationships, and gain a better sense of your mental health goals. The success you may find through therapy can be dependent on your process.

People may also attend therapy for specific motives, such as bullying, an autism diagnosis, a desire to learn mindfulness meditation, personality concerns, trouble with office workers, specific phobias, and many other principles.

Is mental health care and therapy worth it? 

Therapy is effective and has the power to change individuals' lives. Each client is at a different stage of their emotional healing journey in life, as each human can be unique in their personality, expression, skills, and goals. A psychologist can target various symptoms, experiences, and personalities to help you feel your best and put you on the path to healing. Unlike advice from a friend, family, or non-professional, a mental health professional has an understanding of various disorders like ADHD and depression with many hours of experience in treating adults in their practice. For this reason, seeing an evidence based psychologist in University Place, Washington can be worth it. Over 41 million adults in the US attend therapy services each year, showing it's a popular option and is proven to be effective.

University Place has many clinicians who practice person or client-centered individual therapy in-person and through online therapy to assist clients in their healing journey. If you opt into online therapy, you might also be able to meet with providers all over the United States and change therapists easily at any time. Many people struggling with anxiety and depression, substance abuse, body image issues, and more find therapists that are a good fit for them, feel supported, and gain further insight into their lives through internet-based therapy.

Do therapists judge you in therapy sessions?

The boundaries between you and a therapist are in place to help you and them regarding ethical concerns. Mental health professionals are held by ethical standards through the American Psychological Association (APA) and are not allowed to judge or harm their clients. If you are concerned about sharing details about yourself, feel free to withhold personal information. Their job in the therapeutic relationship is to create a safe place, help you gain a deeper understanding of your mental health, and support you. You might consider changing counselors if you don't feel safe or respected.

Stay up to date with the leading online counseling platform

To stay up to date with BetterHelp's initiatives through their social channels, you can follow them on Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For mental health tips, check out the BetterHelp YouTube channel.

Take some time today to learn more about the team of therapists at BetterHelp to understand the services available to you clearly. If you are new to therapy or have any questions about the services and terms, please reach out through the contact page or send an email to contact@betterhelp.com.

If you’re ready to sign up for online therapy, consider signing up with a platform like BetterHelp and get matched within 24 to 48 hours.

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

A woman meets with a therapist online in her home city of University Place.

Below are some of the zip codes served by BetterHelp therapists in University Place:

98464, 98466, 98467

Popular cities near University Place, WA

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