Help Us Identify
Counselor's Staff: Therapist - Counselor Private Practice Resources
Who Are Your "Counseling Helpers" ?
throughout Washington State
This page is intended to help counselors throughout Washington State to find professional resources--professionals in different fields--who are recommended by other counselors who have worked with them and vouch for their effectiveness. This is NOT and advertising page. The people, businesses, and products listed on this page, are here because they have been recommended by a referral email from one of the practicing Washington State counselors who are listing on this site. The referring counselor tells us about their experience with this practice resource. (No anonymous recommendations or paid advertisements will be published on this page.)
We asked the counselors listed on this site about Washington State counselor resources: "Who provides profession services to help you in your counseling private practice business, that you would recommend to other counselors--professionals such as:
1. The attorney or lawyer or legal firm that you have turned to in the past and you can recommendation other counselors.
2. The bookkeeper that you use to keep your quarterly or annual bookkeeping reports, 1099 forms, B & O Tax forms, Profit and Loss reports.
3. The accountant who does your personal/business federal income tax returns and to whom you have turned for business advice of some sort.
4. A billing agent or billing service that does such tasks as billing, re-billing and calling insurance companies; or processes credit cards or debit cards for co-payments, session fees; and/or does insurance verification for new clients, or prepares monthly reports of billing status.
5. Do you have another category of professional who helps you in the conduct of your counseling business? Tell us about it.
6. What part of your work to you turn over to a professional and what parts to you do yourself?"
What professionals do you know. WHO do you recommend to other counselors looking for help? Contact Us.
Therapy Village*
Counselor's Virtual Resource Page**
Based on Counselor Recommendations
Attorney / Lawyer / legal advice related to counseling:n I have used an attorney once when a BPD client was dealing with a custody battle and trying to pull me in. I found Kristen Anderson, JD to be very helpful both in terms of the legal pieces/consult as well as her understanding of the mental disorders pieces. She is in Ballard at 2208 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107. (206) 781-3610. [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
n Two attorneys who have served my clients well in personal injury protection cases and have worked well with me are:
(1.) Michael Nelson, 17th Floor, Hoge building, Second Avenue Seattle (206) 623-7520.
(2.) And Don Morgan, 6218 Seaview Ave. NW Seattle, 98107 (206) 342-9636. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is no-fault coverage for damage resulting from an automobile accident. [Recommended by Doniella Boaz]n The following are are attorneys who have been recommended by WAMFT members for their work in the family law field. [ Info from Kirk Roberts, Executive Director, WAMFT.]
(1.) Joseph Schaub, MA, JD, LMFT (206) 587-0417, Collaborative Divorce and Legal Consultation and Representation of Therapists.
(2.) Jane Rhodes, Attorney, 253-852-2345, 555 W Smith Street, Kent, WA 98035. Child Custody, Divorce Mediation.
(3.) Stephen R. Feldman, Jr., J.D., Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, (206) 621-7007 (call 9 to 4) 216 - First Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104. Consultations with mental health practitioners on ethical and legal issues that arise in their practices.ð Legal Aid for Low-Income Washington residents with civil legal problems is available through the Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid. Services are provided by non-profit legal aid organizattions throughout the state. [Webmaster]
ð Sources of Free Legal Information on Washington State Law: This list identifies free Internet sources of information on Washington State law, organized by subject. This is a service of the Maran Gould Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington School of Law. [Webmaster]
Bookkeeper:n Aikman Piel Squared, Inc., Nancy Aikman, (206) 719-3107, 11324 - 182nd Pl NE, G1073, Redmond WA 98052. I run all my business expenses through my business checking account and my business credit card. For several years, I have sent photocopies of my check register and bank statements to my bookkeeper by mail. (We communicate by email, as required.) She reconciles my bank statements and prepares extensive reports, including profit and loss statement and makes up my B & O tax return forms for my signature. Then she mails me a bill. In the past, I did this first thing in January of each year, and produced all the business data that I needed to take to my CPA--she actually emails a copy to him, with my approval. All I need to give to my CPA is my tax withholding forms. Secret of success: dark, neat writing in my check register so she can read it. [Recommended by Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC ]
n Quickbooks Accounting Software: I do all of my daily accounting. I do all of my own input of invoices/charges for services rendered and then all of my income from clients (cash and check). Everything I do is logged into QuickBooks by me: all transactions, credit card payments, expenses, etc.. and it is simple to pull up graphs/pie charts, lists of expenses/income vs debit ratio... in this way I am self sufficient and do NOT have to pay a book keeper to do something I can do for myself.. a savings for me. [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
Accountant / CPA for counselors:n Gary McGrath, CPA, (425) 641-5065, 1245 - 166th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98008-5140. I have found Gary McGrath to be very dependable, to do excellent work and to be a good source of tax related business advice. [Recommended by Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC ]
n I have been using Laurie Muller of Dobson and Muller for my Accounting for many years and she is wonderful!! (253) 852-6029, 316 2ND Ave S. Kent, WA 98032. She does my annual Federal/Business Taxes and has me set up for paying my own estimated quarterly federal taxes. I do my State and City taxes annually and she set me up for that. I find that I can do that with the info I have from my QuickBooks and if I run into questions I can ask Laurie. I meet with her annually at her office and everything else is via phone and email. She is excellent! [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
n Terry Smith, Smith and DeKay, PS, 600 108th Ave NE, Suite 1030, Bellevue, WA 98004, (425)455-6600: Terry is great, I use him for my business and personal taxes. He has helped me more than any other CPA I have used (I have tried three others!) and helped correct errors and misinformation from previous accountants. He is not inexpensive, but definitely worth the price. [Recommended by Tana Anderson, MA, LMHC]
n Randi L Joseph, CPA, Joseph and ASsociates, (206) 682-3177, 1218 3rd Ave #508,Seattle,WA 98101. Excellent skills and very personable. [Recommended by Adrian Jarreau, PsyA]
n Anderson & Elite Accounting, Inc. (425) 775-8406, recommended for income tax, estimated tax, IRS issues and petitions, set up Incorporations and LLC, bookkeeping, consulting and payroll. [Recommended by Cindy Rushin-Gallagher, LMHC]
Banking Services:I have a business checking and credit card that I use so everything is all tidy and differentiated from my private checking account. I pay myself with the on-line transfer from business account to personal account. [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
Billing agent or billing services for counselors:n I do all of my own insurance submissions electronic claims via Office Ally www.officeally.com. It is essentially free. The insurance companies pays them a percentage so you rarely see any sort of bill.. at the most it is .25/claim if they have to print and mail it vs electronically submit it to the insurance company.. but since most companies are all electronic I never see a bill. It takes time to do the submissions but in this way I do not have to prepare or explain anything to a person submitting/accounting for me.. a saving to me time wise and financially.. I usually set aside 2-4 hours a month to do my submissions. Office Ally tech support is very helpful! [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
I recommend Office Ally, www.officeally.com. This is a free and easy service for medical professionals. Excellent customer service and training. I love this product! [Recommended by Tana Anderson, MA, LMHC]
n I do all my own billing and claims. I have a very streamlined method which I would be glad to share. [Recommended by Adrian Jarreau, PsyA]
n My recommendation for an excellent comprehensive billing service: PDS Billing Service, Owners: Peggy & Dick Stansbury, 21003 NE 67th Street, Redmond, WA 98053. Phone: (425) 898-9234. Fax: (425) 836-3375. Email: pdsc@comcast.net Having Peggy and Dick takeover the billing end of my practice enables me to devote more time to serving clients without the distraction of billing. It more than pays for itself in revenue and in my enjoyment of my work! The Stansburys are competent, courteous, and fun to work with. I highly recommend PDS. [Recommended by Erica Helm Meade, MA, LMHC]
Clinical Supervision for Licensure in Washington State:We have a full page of approved supervisors located throughout the state of Washington. If you are aware of a good clinical supervisor who is not listed on the clinical supervisor page, please refer them to our advertising page for more information. There is no cost to approved supervisors who wish to advertise their availability to counselors. We particularly need to identify supervisors in some of the more rural and remote counties in Washington.
Consultants for business or practice counseling issues:Eugene Kidder,(206) 525-7530, 4001 Northeast 50th Street, Apt J, Seattle, WA 98105-2962. He is a resource for group counselors and individual counselors looking for a very experienced consultant/teacher. [Recommended by S. John McDonald, MA, LMHC]
Credit Card Processing for counselors:n I began using Quickbooks credit card system several years ago to avoid the client's, "I forgot my checkbook" delay in payment and not wanting to chase after clients for payment. It cost some, but to me the cost/benefit works for me.. plus it is all tax deductible in terms of the software and % to the credit card company expense. [Recommended by Eileen Stein]
Employee Payroll for counseling practices:
n I recommend a great, inexpensive payroll tool: Intuit Online Payroll, from Intuit Small Business. [Recommended by Tana Anderson, MA, LMHC]
Insurance: (malpractice insurance and business liability insurance).Don't forget...business insurance. I have professional liability insurance and commercial liability insurance. I got them through CPH. It would have been helpful to have a few resources to contact. Thanks. [Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz]
NOTE: We have devoted a full page just to the various insurance programs that are highly regarded and recommended by national counselors organizations.
PSYCHIATRISTS for counseling referrals: Several counselors have indicated that they would like to have a list of psychiatrists to whom they could refer clients for specific purposes--psych evaluation, diagnosis, medication monitoring, etc. We need your recommendations for psychiatrists in your area.I would love to find a good psychiatrist in the South End (I practice in Tukwila). Is this something that could be addressed in this new section? [Erin Carruth].
For referral/reference purposes, I would love to see a list for psychiatrists that included what categories they were good (or not) with--kids/bipolar/etc. [Steve Anderson, Hartley Counseling Services]
WEB Site Design & Maintenance of Counselor Websites:
n Talking Dog Media, Lisa Pastore, (425) 531-2429, Bellevue WA has been helping me with my website for a couple of years and I have found her to be very dependable, diplomatic, and hardworking. [Recommended by Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, Webmaster: CounselingSeattle.com]
n Web Site Designer: Beautiful work (see link). Name: Word-Ware, Stephen and Nancy Leith,
http://www.word-ware.com/portfolio.htm [Recommended by Janette Brown]n I would recommend Anya LevySmith (anyalevysmith@hotmail.com), website designer. She did a good job for me for an extremely reasonable price. [Recommended by Wendy E. Smith]
CONTACT ME: I look forward to hearing from you. Send an email to Floyd Else, Webmaster. Please start your message with the subject line: "My recommendation for the Counselor Virtual Staff" followed by your name. You must be a counselor advertising on this site to recommend a professional for this page, and it must be someone that you have worked with and can recommend on the basis of your own business experience. Thanks. Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC. Webmaster: http://www.CounselingSeattle.com.
Remember: to return to this page of recommendations on the "Counselor's "Virtual Staff--Counselor Helpers" page, look for a link in the INDEX of the COUNSELOR QUESTIONS page--a web page for Washington counselors, counselors thinking of transferring to Washington State, and for persons new to counseling, [ http://www.counselingseattle.com/counseling/counselor-questions.htm]
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REFERRAL SOURCES: How about 'business referrals', 'business referral sources', or 'business partners'? [Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz]
*NAME SUGGESTION: How about "Therapy Village" as a name this page--as in that old saw about it takes a Village... [Tanya Ruckstuhl-Valenti, MSW, LICSW ]
**NAME SUGGESTION: I would recommend a name that used resources i.e. "Counselor's Virtual Resource Page". [Janette Brown]
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