FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
If you have not been around the mental health world before, there is a lot that could be confusing, so we gathered a few of the common questions we get and put them here for you. If you have any other questions, please just reach out and we will do what we can to answer them.
These FAQs were written and reviewed by the clinical team at Olympic Psychology Services, including licensed psychologists with doctoral degrees.
Olympic Psychology Services is based in Tacoma, but we help all of Washington when we can. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Last reviewed/updated in May 2026
Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors: What’s the difference?
For the lay consumer, I know there can be some confusion about all of the different titles used by mental health practitioners. Below, I have made a list of some of the confusing terms and initials. One good way around the confusion is to ask your family physician for a referral when you need mental health assessment or care.
In any case, do not be afraid to ask mental health practitioners about their education and training; most of us are used to fielding these types of questions.
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A.R.N.P. - Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. Nurse practitioners sometimes work in the mental health field, and often prescribe medications.
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Clinical - The term "clinical" before or after a title simply indicates that the person works with people in a clinical setting, rather than, say, working in a research or academic setting. No specific education or license is required to use this term.
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Counselor - Basically a generic term for anyone who "counsels." No specific education or license is required to use this title.
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Ed.D. - A person with this title has a doctorate degree in education.
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L.M.F.T. - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Must have a master's or doctoral degree and supervised training. See complete licensing requirements here. An "L.M.F.T. Associate" is someone who has completed their academic degree, but is still working on their training hours.
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L.C.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., or L.A.S.W. - Licensed Social Worker. Social workers sometimes work in the mental health field. They must have at least a master's degree. There are three levels of licensing for social workers in Washington State. You can read the requirements for all levels here.
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L.M.H.C. - Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Must have a master's or doctoral degree and supervised training. See complete licensing requirements here. An "L.M.H.C. Associate" is someone who has completed their academic degree, but is still working on their training hours.
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Life Coach - A generic term for anyone who gives advice on life's difficulties or changes. No specific education or license is required to use this title.
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M.F.T. - Marriage and Family Therapist. May mean that they are a L.M.F.T., or it could mean that they are a member of the A.A.M.F.T. or the W.A.M.F.T.
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Master's (M.A. or M.S.) - A master's degree is designated by the initials M.A. (Master of Arts) or M.S. (Master of Science). Specialized master's degrees include a Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.), a Master's in Education (M.Ed.), and a Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.). A person with a master's degree probably has extensive education and training in mental health issues, unless, of course, their master's is in an unrelated field. A person may also have a master's degree, but may not have met the licensing requirements to be a L.M.F.T., L.M.H.C., or L.I.C.S.W.
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Psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) - A doctor of psychology who is licensed by the state to perform psychological assessments and conduct therapy. See complete licensing requirements here, and read more detailed information from the state here. All psychologists have a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), however sometimes a person may have earned the academic degree, but may not be a "licensed psychologist" because they have not met the licensing requirements of the state.
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Psychiatrist (M.D.) - A medical doctor who specializes in mental health, and can prescribe medications and/or conduct therapy. Must be a licensed physician. Typically will be "board certified" in psychiatry, although any physician who specializes in mental health might legally be able to call themselves a "psychiatrist."
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Psychoanalyst - A person who practices psychoanalysis, which is a branch of psychology. Typically a "psychoanalyst" will have a Ph.D. or Psy.D., although it may be legally possible to call oneself a psychoanalyst without any specialized education or training.
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Psychotherapist - A person who practices psychotherapy, which is a type of mental health therapy. Typically a psychotherapist will have a master's or doctoral degree, although it is legally possible to call oneself a psychotherapist with no specialized education or training.
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Registered Counselor - A title that was discontinued by Washington State some years ago. The title simply meant that the counselor had registered with the state, but had no specialized training.
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School Psychologist - School psychologists administer some academic and cognitive assessments, and conduct therapy. However, they are not licensed psychologists and are not required to have a doctoral degree. They must have at least a master's degree and training in assessment. Other requirements can be seen here.
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S.U.D.P. - Substance Use Disorder Professional. Must have at least an AA degree, and the state requires specific training for this title. See the full licensing requirements here.
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Therapist - Basically a generic term for anyone who conducts therapy. No specialized education or license is required to use this title, or other forms of "therapist," such as "hypno-therapist," "equine-therapist," etc.
Will my insurance cover mental health services?
Most health insurance plans will cover visits for therapy or psychological assessments. However, coverage can vary a great deal depending on your specific plan, so it is important that you are familiar with your coverage, or call your insurance company and ask. Insurance companies typically do not cover couples or marital counseling.
For more specific information about the insurance companies that Olympic Psychology Services contracts with, visit the fees page HERE.
In the event that Olympic Psychology Services does not contract with your health insurance company, you may be able to use your "out-of-network" benefits. To do so, you must initially pay out-of-pocket, and then we will submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement at out-of-network rates. Insurance companies will typically reimburse you for 60%-80% of the costs for an out-of-network provider, although this varies by plan.
In some situations, OPS also accepts payment from third-party payees, such as law firms, school districts or other government agencies.
Why do I need help? People should be able to make behavioral changes for themselves, or for their families.
True, most of the time, people can change their own undesired behavior, or can help their children change negative behaviors. When individuals and families are able to function healthily, they do not need the services of a mental health professional.
But sometimes people need help because a situation becomes unmanageable. Mental health care is similar to physical health care in this way: most of us can manage everyday cuts and bruises, but we certainly wouldn't think of conducting surgery at home. Helping someone who is “having a bad day,” or teaching children to behave properly are certainly manageable within most families. But conditions such as clinical anxiety and depression, autism spectrum, eating disorders, phobias, psychosis, and many, many others are indeed serious. People who have these conditions are not just “looking for attention,” and are not able to “just stop acting like that” on their own.
In addition, there are sometimes difficult situations that might ultimately be manageable on your own, but a mental health professional can help to direct your efforts and get better, faster results. These situations might include child behavior concerns, relationship problems, adjustment to life changes, and self-esteem difficulties.
Sometimes families and individuals need the help of a mental health provider. It is not a sign of weakness any more than seeking the help of a physician.
Isn't it kind of weird or strange to talk about my personal issues with someone I don't know?
Talking to a mental health clinician might feel awkward at first. But part of our job is to establish trust and a good working relationship with every client. We are trained in how to do this.
It's important to remember that talking with a psychologist or other mental health clinician is not the same as talking with a friend (or family member) about problems. A friend might care about you in a different way than a clinician. But if you think about it, that caring and history between the two of you might inadvertently get in the way, or cloud the issues at hand. Talking with a psychologist for example will usually bring much more clarity to the situation, because a friendship is a personal relationship rather than a professional relationship. A psychologist will work with you in achieving specific goals, and will devise treatment plans to meet those goals. A psychologist has many years of education and training in knowing how to do these things.
When your mental health is not in balance, it's good to have friends to talk to, and it's good to have a therapist. But they are not the same.
What is a visit to a clinician like?
Usually, a first appointment is what we call an "intake interview." At this time we would discuss your reasons for coming to us, and we would collaborate on a plan to meet your needs.
Therapy appointments are scheduled regularly, typically once a week or once every two weeks. There are many different types of therapy, depending on the age of the client and the specific issues involved. For young children, "play therapy" is often used to address their needs. Most other types of therapy are classified as "talk therapy." Talk therapy can include a number of approaches, in which the client verbally works through his or her issues with the guidance of the psychologist. Some talk therapy approaches are more focused on identifying and changing specific thought patterns and behaviors, while other approaches focus on processing thoughts and feelings related to personal relationships and
experiences.
As your goals for therapy are achieved and/or as you begin to feel more at ease in your life, you and your therapist will begin to discuss tapering appointments further apart. When you feel ready to discontinue therapy, it is generally useful to schedule an ending session or two with the therapist, in which the two of you will review your progress and discuss a plan to help you maintain and strengthen your gains on your own.
Psychological assessments vary greatly. For children, psychological assessments often seem like playing a game, drawing pictures, or solving a puzzle. For adolescents and adults, there are often many questions to answer, and sometimes problem solving activities. Most assessments are designed to seem relatively simplistic on the surface. You will get the most benefit from a psychological assessment if you simply relax and be as open and honest as possible. Children should not be "prepped" for an assessment; this often produces only anxiety, which is usually counterproductive. It is best for parents to simply give some very minimal information to the child about the visit, and then adopt a relaxed, pleasant attitude.
How can I talk a family member into going to therapy?
First of all, it is not advisable to try to force someone into therapy; a willing (if somewhat skeptical) participant generally leads to a more successful outcome. Except in extreme situations, it's generally best for all forms of mental health care to be a choice. But even if a loved one refuses help, it is still possible for you to respectfully and lovingly tell the person that if they will not participate in therapy, it can still be your choice (and your right) to go on your own, so that you can find better peace of mind.
That being said, there are some good strategies for helping a loved one to see that therapy might benefit them:
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Find a good time and place to have an extended conversation about therapy. Do not approach the topic in anger or frustration, instead stress how much you care about the person and reassure them that you are suggesting therapy out of your love and concern for them.
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De-stigmatize mental health care. Maybe the person knows someone else who has benefitted from therapy. Maybe someone famous whom they admire has benefitted from therapy. (Here's a great video about an NFL player working to normalize mental health care.) Talking about these therapy "role models" could be used as a lead-in to your conversation.
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Offer your support. Offer to go with them to the appointment, either into the therapy room or to wait in the waiting area. Tell them that they do not have to divulge what happens in therapy. Give them every reassurance and every bit of support that you can.
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Remind them that they do not have to continue if therapy does not seem to be helping. If there is a chance that therapy might make life better, why not give it a try?
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For more thoughts on encouraging a loved one to see a therapist, check out these links:
How do I get started? What happens when I first reach out to Olympic Psychology Services?
Getting started is simpler than many people expect. You can reach us by phone at (253) 269-6063 or through our contact page, and someone from our team will get back to you to discuss what you're looking for and answer any initial questions.
Your first appointment is what we call an "intake interview." This is a relaxed conversation *not a test* where we get to know you, understand what's brought you in, and work together to figure out what kind of support would be most helpful. From there, we'll match you with the right clinician and outline a path forward.
If you're not quite ready to call, that's okay too. Feel free to look through our clinicians' profiles first — sometimes finding a person whose background resonates with you makes it easier to take that first step.
Do you offer telehealth / online therapy sessions?
Yes! Olympic Psychology Services offers telehealth sessions for clients throughout Washington State. We use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, and sessions feel very similar to meeting in person.
That said, we're not an online-only service. We genuinely believe in the value of face-to-face care for many clients, and our offices in downtown Tacoma are available for in-person appointments as well. A lot of our clients do a mix of both, depending on what works for them week to week.
You can learn more on our telehealth page, or just let us know when you reach out.
Do you see children and teenagers, or only adults?
We see clients across a wide age range - children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Our clinicians have different specializations, so when you reach out, we'll make sure to match you (or your child) with someone who has specific experience with that age group and the issues involved.
For younger children, therapy often looks quite different from adult talk therapy. Play-based approaches are common and developmentally appropriate - it doesn't feel like a clinical appointment to the child, which is usually a relief for parents.
Psychological testing and assessments are also available for children and adults. If you're wondering whether an evaluation might be helpful, feel free to ask us. We can help you figure it out.
What is psychological testing, and how do I know if I need it?
Psychological testing (also called a psychological assessment or evaluation) is a structured process where a licensed psychologist uses standardized tools to better understand how a person thinks, learns, processes information, and manages emotions. It goes deeper than a typical therapy conversation and produces a detailed written report with findings and recommendations.
People seek psychological testing for many different reasons. For children, it's often to understand learning differences, attention difficulties (like ADHD), or developmental concerns. For adults, it might be to clarify a diagnosis, understand why certain challenges have persisted despite treatment, or fulfill a requirement from a school, employer, or court.
Not everyone needs testing, therapy alone is the right path for many people. If you're not sure, ask us. We're happy to talk through what you're noticing and help you figure out whether an evaluation makes sense.
Is everything I share in therapy confidential?
Yes! Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship, and we take it seriously. What you share in sessions stays between you and your clinician.
There are a small number of legally mandated exceptions to confidentiality that apply to all mental health providers in Washington State: if there is an imminent risk of harm to you or someone else, or if there is reason to suspect abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, we are required by law to take action. Your clinician will explain these limits at the outset of treatment so there are no surprises. Additionally, some clinicians are under supervision and may discuss your situation with their supervisor.
If you have specific concerns about privacy, for example if you're worried about insurance records or about someone finding out you're in therapy, please bring it up. We can talk through your options.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
This is genuinely one of the hardest questions to answer without knowing more about you, and anyone who gives you a firm number before they've met you is probably oversimplifying.
Some people come in with a specific, well-defined goal (like working through a difficult transition or preparing for a challenging conversation) and feel ready to wrap up after a handful of sessions. Others are dealing with longstanding patterns or complex trauma, and a longer course of therapy produces much better results. Most people fall somewhere in the middle - ongoing weekly or biweekly appointments for several months, with a natural tapering off as things improve.
The short version: therapy is often not meant to go on indefinitely, and usually a good therapist will be actively working toward the point where you don't necessarily feel you need them anymore. We'll revisit your goals regularly and be honest with you about how things are progressing.
Where are you located, and is parking available?
Our offices are in downtown Tacoma at 711 Court A, Tacoma, WA 98402, the Pierce County Courthouse. We also see clients via telehealth throughout Washington State. The specific suite will depend on who you are seeing.
Parking is available nearby, and our office is accessible by public transit. You can find detailed directions and a map on our offices page.
Please note that our mailing address is different.