Whatcom Mental Health Providers Directory
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WELCOME to NAMI Whatcom’s Database of local mental health and substance abuse providers in our community. The request for this database came out of monthly meetings of representatives from NAMI, mental health agencies, schools, medical practices and county government. We have been meeting for several years to address the mental health needs of students and families, believing that through collaboration, our community will better provide students with community support and innovative mental health services. Thanks to grants from St. Luke’s Foundation and the Whatcom County Health Department, we are able to highlight professionals who provide services to children, teens and families and adult services. NAMI Whatcom provides this information with the hope that children and adults will find the support they need within our community to lead healthy and productive family lives. The database is also for our busy school counselors, for mental health providers, for physicians and others who want to be aware of the mental health services available in Whatcom County to meet our community’s behavioral, emotional and mental health care needs. | ||
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Categories of Service Providers and
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Psychiatrists: (view list of local Psychiatrists)Psychiatrists are doctors of medicine who specialize in treating mental illness using the biomedical approach to mental disorders. Psychiatrists also go through training to conduct psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy, but it is their medical training that differentiates them from other mental health professionals. Psychiatrists earn a MD or DO after completing about four years of med school after the bachelor's degree, and then spend several more years in psychiatric practice. Psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. |
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Licensed Clinical Psychologists: (view list of local Psychologists)Psychologists provide counseling and psychotherapy services for clients dealing with a variety of mental health issues or disorders. Psychologists are required to hold a doctorate degree (PhD or Psy), complete an internship and supervised work experience and continuing educational requirements. Psychologists do not prescribe medication but do provide extensive assessments and pychotherapy. |
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Registered Nurses (view list of local Registered Nurses)A professional nurse who has completed a course of study at an approved and accredited school of nursing and who has passed the National Council of Licensure Examination. RNs are licensed to practice by individual states. RN is especially prepared in the scientific basis of nursing and who meets certain prescribed standards of education and clinical competence. RNs provide services essential to or helpful in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health and well-being of the consumer. A person who holds a license to practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles "registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." A person who holds a license to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in this state may use the titles "advanced registered nurse practitioner," "nurse practitioner," and "nurse" and the abbreviations "A.R.N.P." and "N.P." A registered nurse is qualified in observation, assessment, diagnosis, care or counsel, and health teaching of individuals with illnesses, injuries, or disabilities, or in the maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others; and may dispense medication as prescribed by a physician. An ARNP may also prescribe certain controlled substances. For more information see: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps6/Nursing/practice.htm | ||
Licensed Mental Health Counselors (view list of local LMHCs )According to Washington Code, "Licensed counselor" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, licensed advanced social worker, or licensed independent clinical social worker regulated under chapter 18.225 RCW. A licensed mental health counselor has graduated from a master’s or doctoral level educational program in mental health counseling or a related field from an approved college or university and has completed a minimum of 36 months of fulltime counseling or three thousand (3000) hours of postgraduate mental health counseling under the supervision of a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner in an approved setting. A minimum of 100 of the 3000 hours must be in immediate supervision with a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner, and 1200 of 3000 hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, groups, or families. The LMHC also passes an examination of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and pays a fee. For more information about licensing requirements for Mental Health Counselors in the state of Washington visit this link: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps7/Mental_Health_Counselor/licensure.htm
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Licensed Social Workers (view list of local LICSWs ) Licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). Graduation from a master's or doctorate level social work educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved by the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of four thousand hours of
experience, of which one thousand hours must be direct client contact, over a
three-year period supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker,
with supervision of at least one hundred thirty hours by a licensed mental
health practitioner. Licensed advanced social worker (LASW). Graduation from a master's or doctoral social
work educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and
approved by the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards. | ||
Chemical Dependency Professionals (view list of local CDPs ) The Chemical Dependency Professional Certification, can only be used while working as a an employee of an approved agency--not by persons in private practice. Obtaining the CDP requires passing a national examination and completing 2,500 hours of supervised internship. Candidates with a Masters Degree only need to do 1,500 hours of internship. The requirements for an approved supervisor are different that those for mental health counselor supervisors and require that the supervisor be a CDP. | ||
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (view list of local LMFTs )Requires a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a behavioral science master’s or doctoral degree with equivalent coursework from an approved school.
Anyone who has obtained American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) clinical membership status is considered to have met the education requirements. Post graduate experience: A minimum of three thousand hours of experience, one thousand hours of which must be direct client contact; at least five hundred hours must be gained in diagnosing and treating couple and families; plus At least two hundred hours of qualified supervision with a supervisor. At least one hundred of the two hundred hours must be one-on-one supervision, and the remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group supervision. For more information and an application to become a marriage and family counselor, please see the following web page. | ||
Registered Counselors (view list of local RCs )Registered Counselors have been regulated as a profession in the state of Washington since 1987, with no minimum educational or experience requirement. The RC credential will be phased out by 2010, with no RC credentials granted after July 2009. Those with RC credentials will need to obtain another license. | ||
Clientele Issues & Concerns:Follow the links below to locate mental health professionals who are qualified to provide services pertaining to these conditions or issues: |
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This directory is for information only and not an endorsement of services. NAMI will not be held responsible for the accuracy of information received from third parties participating in this resource directory. If you find an error or broken link, please email the webmaster with corrections. Thank you.
Updated July 2008 Return to NAMI Whatcom Home Page | ||