General Questions

A psychologist holds a doctoral degree from an accredited university. A licensed psychologist

• has completed post-doctoral supervised patient contact
• passed a written and oral examination given by the Washington State Examining Board of Psychology

Please note that a registered or certified couselor is not required to have the doctoral education,training, or experience that a licensed psychologist is required to complete. In addition, licensed psychologists are also required to continue learning new concepts, approaches and skills, which the Board monitors.

Psychologists may be specialists in clinical, consultative or research areas. Their doctoral programs are built on a foundation of scientific psychology with courses in social and biological bases of behavior. In addition, they have completed intensive study and research in a specialty.

Issues addressed by psychologists include but are not limited to:

• Abuse: sexual, physical, emotional
• Addiciton: e.g., alcohol, drugs, gambling
• AIDS and HIV
• Anxiety
• Attention deficit disorder
• Autism
• Behavior problems
• Chronic pain
• Cognitive issues: giftedness, limitations
• Death and dying
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Head injury
• Learning disabilities/problems
• Lifestyle issues
• Medical:cancer, stroke
• Paliative care
• Physical disabilities
• Psychiatric disorders
• Seperation, Divorce
• Sexuality
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sports and Performance

Services provided by psychologists include but are not limited to:

• Adoption assessment
• Alcohol/addiction counseling
• Assessment and diagnosis
• Bereavement counseling
• Brief therapy
• Child in need of protection assessment
• Cognitive retraining
• Consultation
• Couple therapy
• Crisis intervention
• Custody and access assessment
• Desensitization training
• Disability assessments
• Educational coounseling
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Hypnosis
• Individual therapy
• Mediation
• Organizational consultation
• Program evaluation
• Pain control
• Play therapy
• Research
• Seperation/divorce counseling
• Sexual counseling
• Smoking cessation counseling
• Social skills training
• Stress management
• Treatment for abusive partners

Yes they are. Some of their reports and testifying may include:

• Ability to parent
• Child custody and access
• Client functioning
• Diagnosis for psychiatric problem
• Coping styles
• Incapacity
• Intellectual ability
• Likelihood to re-offend
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Parenting ability
• Psychological status
• Psychosis
• Release on parole
• Sentencing
• Sexual abuse

Washington State law provides for a board that consists of seven psychologists and two public members appointed by the Governor for five-year terms.

The overall task of the Board is to protect consumers of psychological services. The specific function of the Examining Board of Psychology includes adopting rules that clarify and facilitate adherence to the law. The Board examines qualifications of applicants for licensure and determines whether persons may be licensed as psychologists. The Board investigates and rules on consumer complaints and takes disciplinary action against psychologists as necessary.

The laws and rules (Chapters 18.83 and 18.130 RCW and chapters 246-924 WAC) that regulate psychologists are intended to protect the public by helping to ensure the competency of psychologists. These laws include client protecitons and rights. You have the right to disclosure, treatment plan, confidentiality and a complaint process. See below for more information on these right.

Prior to the beginning of a treatment program with a psychologist in private practice, expect to receive a written disclosure statement with general information on the psychologist's background, experience, theoretical orientation and approach to services. Fees and payment arrangements must be clearly stated. The statement must inform you that you may at any time refuse treatment or request a change in approach.

Expect your psychologist to assess your needs and develop a treatment plan based on psychological theory and research. You have a right to be informed about your treatment plan, to have input into it, and to request changes in it.

Your visits to a pscyhologist are generally priviledged and cannot be disclosed to any other person, unless you give consent.

Yes there are. Exceptionx include:

• If you are a danger to yourself or others
• If the information involves the abuse of a child, developmentally disabled person or dependent adult
• If your psychologist is required by a court to disclose information

There are additional circumstances where information may be released without your authorization as stated in the Uniform Health Care Information Act (Chapter 70.02 RCW).

The details of confidentiality must be presented in the disclosure statement. Ask your psychologist to discuss this if you have questions.

The psychologist's disclosure statement must be clear regarding how any concerns you may have about services can be resolved and how to reach the Examining Board of Psychology if major concerns cannot be resolved. Laws pertaining to psychologist (Chapter 18.130 RCW) provides for the investigation and resolution of complaints against psychologists.

Yes there are. The laws and rules pertaining to the practice of psychology in Washington establish what is unprofessional conduct by psychologists. For example, it is unproffesional conduct for your psychologist to:

• Be involved with you on a personal level (for example: borrow money from you, attend social events or exchange birthday gifts with you)
• Have sexual contact with you
• Inappropriately reveal your confidences
• Charge fees for services not provided, misrepresent services or charge excessively
• Practice psychology while impaired by alcohol or drugs

You may request a copy of the relevant law that specify unprofessional conduct and code of ethics from the Board by calling (360) 236-4910.

If you decide to seek psychological services, be sure the person is licensed. Carefully read the disclosure statement and have your questions answered.

Be informed about the services you will be provided and understand that you may request changes or refuse services. A responsible licensed psychologist will be glad to answer your questions about his or her training, experience, office practice, assessment and treament procedures, and will help you find another professional if you should desire.

Ask your psychologist. Disclosure rights mean you have access to information regarding a psychologist's background, experience, theoretical orientation and approach to services. You can also contact the Washington State Examining Board of Psychology at (360) 236-4910 if you wish to confirm that a psychologist you are considering is licensed, if you have a concernt or complaint, or if you would like a copy of the relevant laws.

You can call them at (360) 236-4910 or, if you wish, you can visit their website at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/HPS7/Psychology/default.htm.