Answers to Consumer Questions  

Question 2: What is the difference between the words "counselor," "therapist", and "psychotherapist?"

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A: They all mean approximately the same thing. In Washington state the word "counseling " is a legally defined word.   The title one goes by--social worker, psychotherapist, mediator--makes no difference.  If what the person DOES falls within the legal definition of counseling, the person must be registered, certified, or licensed by the Washington State Department of Health, Counselors Section, P.O. Box 1099, Olympia, Washington 98507-0199.

        From RCW 18.19.020(5)" Counseling" means employing any therapeutic techniques, including but not limited to social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and hypnotherapy, for a fee that offer, assist or attempt to assist an individual or individuals in the amelioration or adjustment of mental, emotional, or behavioral problems, and includes therapeutic techniques to achieve sensitivity and awareness of self and others and the development of human potential ... 

        (6)   "Counselor" means an individual, practitioner, therapist, or analyst who engages in the practice of counseling to the public for a fee, including for the purposes of this chapter, hypnotherapists.

RCW 18.19.030: Registration required. No person may, for a fee or as a part of his or her position as an employee of a state agency, practice counseling without being registered to practice by the department under this chapter unless exempt under RCW 18.19.040.

        (RCW 18.19.040 sets forth a list of exemptions from the above policy.  To read the entire text of Chapter 18.19 RCW, Counselors, find the RCW [Revised Code of Washington] button on our government links page.)

----Floyd Else, MA, LMHC

   

 

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