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Online Therapy in Tacoma · Anywhere in Washington

Online therapy in Tacoma, Washington.

We see Tacoma residents anywhere in Washington by secure video, the same therapist each session. Most major insurance plans accepted, with a first appointment the same week, not a months-long South Sound waitlist. Our nearest office is in Burien, about 35 minutes north, so in person is a real option here too.

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The Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Washington

Serving Tacoma, Washington by secure video. Pictured, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

In short

Yes, you can see a therapist in Tacoma online. Counseling Services for Wellbeing connects Tacoma residents with a licensed Washington therapist by secure video, the same person each session. We are a real Washington practice with a Burien office about a 35-minute drive north, and we see most South Sound clients by video. We accept most major insurance plans and book first appointments the same week.

Does this sound familiar?

You are ready to start, and the wait or the drive should not be the thing in the way.

Let us be clear up front. Counseling Services for Wellbeing does not have an office in Tacoma itself. We are a Washington practice, and we see Tacoma residents by secure video, the same licensed clinicians who would see you in a room, wherever you are in the state. There is no waiting room and no months-long wait for a local opening. There is a Washington-licensed therapist on a screen, ready to meet you where you already are.

If being in the room matters to you, that is a fair preference, and here it is an easy one to honor. Our Burien office is about 24 miles, roughly 35 minutes north on I-5, so for Tacoma and the South Sound in person is a genuine option, not a two-hour trek. Most clients still choose video because it skips the drive, but the choice is yours.

Online therapy here means a real therapist, the same one each session. Someone who knows your story, and care your insurance can actually reach.

Why Tacoma

Why does online therapy fit Tacoma in particular?

Three things about the South Sound make video the realistic way to start. They are specific to here, not a generic case for telehealth.

A big city, thin local coverage

Tacoma is the second-largest city in Washington, with about 222,000 residents, yet a search for a Tacoma therapist mostly returns national directories and platforms rather than local in-network group practices with open slots. The supply that does exist fills up, which is why so much of the South Sound search ends on a waitlist.

A real provider shortage

Federal shortage data has flagged pockets of Pierce County, including areas around Tacoma, as short on mental health providers, and nationally the supply in designated shortage areas meets only about a quarter of the need. So the wait for a local opening is a documented reality, not a story you are imagining. Seeing a Washington-licensed clinician by video widens the pool well past whoever has a Tacoma opening this month.

The commute the session does not need

Reaching the deeper provider supply up in the Seattle metro means heading north on I-5 at the hours an appointment would fall, one of the most reliably congested stretches in the region. That drive can cost more time than the hour itself. Video removes it, so a session fits a lunch break or an early slot from a private room at home, and the Burien office stays there for the days you would rather be in person.

This is not only a Tacoma story. Lakewood, Puyallup, University Place and the rest of Pierce County run on the same South Sound rhythm and the same thin local coverage, and we work with clients across the county by secure video.

What we offer

Online therapy for adults across Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup and Pierce County.

It is built for the person whose waitlist or commute, not their motivation, is the thing standing in the way of starting.

Stuck on a South Sound waitlist

You have called around Tacoma and kept hearing weeks-out or not taking new clients, and you want to start this week instead.

A shift or commuter schedule

Your hours rule out a midday drive north on I-5, so you want care that fits inside the workday from a private space.

Carrying stress, burnout, anxiety or low mood

You are tired of putting it off because there is no opening, and you want to stop white-knuckling it on your own.

Working through relationship strain or a transition

You want a licensed clinician, not a self-help app, and a steady person who stays with you through it.

Open to in person, but not a long drive

You like the idea of a room, and Burien is close enough to make that real on the days you want it, video the rest.

You want consistency, not a rotating platform

You do not want a different counselor every few weeks, so you are looking for one therapist who stays with you over video.

You do not have to choose between waiting for a local opening and getting support now. And if you would rather be in the room, the same care is available in person at our offices, with Burien the closest to Tacoma.

Our approach

How does online therapy work at Counseling Services for Wellbeing?

Online therapy here works the same way our in-person care does, matched at intake to one Washington-licensed therapist who stays with you, delivered over secure video built for healthcare. The format changes, the quality of the relationship does not.

1

Reach out

A short form or a call. We learn what you are working on and whether video fits, which for most Tacoma residents it does. A real person from our team reviews each one before reaching out, so the first step is never a portal you talk to alone.

2

Matched at intake

We pair you with a Washington-licensed therapist whose approach fits what you are working on, the same way we would in person. The match is the priority, not the next open slot, and that one therapist learns your story and stays with you.

3

Start this week, by video or at Burien

First appointments are available the same week, over secure video built for healthcare, or in person at our Burien office about 35 minutes north if you would rather. You join from a private space on a phone, tablet or computer, and we walk you through exactly how it works before your first session.

Why Tacoma residents choose us

A real Washington practice that serves Tacoma by video, with the same therapist each session.

Counseling Services for Wellbeing is a Washington mental health practice. Our clinicians are licensed in Washington, which is what lets us see Tacoma and Pierce County residents by secure video. The whole team works under our clinical director, an AAMFT-approved supervisor. We hold a 4.8-star rating across 338 reviews. We accept most major insurance plans, including Premera, Regence, Kaiser, Aetna, Optum and Cigna, and we book first appointments the same week. Research finds that for many people online therapy works as well as in-person care, a view the American Psychological Association echoes when it notes telepsychology can be as effective as in-person treatment for a range of concerns.

One therapist who knows your story. Matched at intake so the fit is right. Secure video that meets the privacy bar. A whole-person lens carried straight into video care. The practice was built on the idea that mental health care should account for the whole person, not just the presenting problem, so we pay attention to sleep, energy, stress and the patterns around you, whether you meet us with CBT, EMDR or DBT on a screen.

What our team sees with Tacoma-area clients. A lot of the people who reach us from the South Sound have already spent weeks trying to find someone local, called a few Tacoma practices and hit a waitlist or a not-taking-new-clients message each time. By the time they reach us they are tired of the search itself. For many of them the relief is as much about finally getting on the calendar this week as it is about the hour, because the wait had become its own weight. The ones who want a room appreciate that Burien is close enough to choose.

Clinical content reviewed by Issy Kleiman, LMFT, AAMFT-approved supervisor and clinical director at Counseling Services for Wellbeing.

How we compare

Counseling Services for Wellbeing vs. other ways for Tacoma residents to get therapy.

In-person Tacoma practices Online-only national platforms Counseling Services for Wellbeing
An office to sit in near Tacoma
A room in town to walk into
Video only, no offices
Burien office about 35 min north, plus video
Lowest cost or 24/7 in-app messaging
Session-only, often higher cost
Low-cost plans and built-in chat
Care happens in your sessions
The same therapist each session
Usually the same therapist
Often a rotating pool
One therapist who stays with you
First appointment in days, not weeks
Often a months-long waitlist
Quick app-driven sign-up
Same-week first appointments
Coordinated therapy and psychiatry
Often refers psychiatry out
Therapy and meds run separately
Therapy and psychiatry in one practice
Most major insurance plans accepted
Varies, often a few plans
Often cash-pay only
Most major insurance plans accepted

  • An office to sit in near Tacoma

    • In-person Tacoma practicesA room in town to walk into
    • Online-only national platformsVideo only, no offices
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingBurien office about 35 min north, plus video

  • Lowest cost or 24/7 in-app messaging

    • In-person Tacoma practicesSession-only, often higher cost
    • Online-only national platformsLow-cost plans and built-in chat
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingCare happens in your sessions

  • The same therapist each session

    • In-person Tacoma practicesUsually the same therapist
    • Online-only national platformsOften a rotating pool
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingOne therapist who stays with you

  • First appointment in days, not weeks

    • In-person Tacoma practicesOften a months-long waitlist
    • Online-only national platformsQuick app-driven sign-up
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingSame-week first appointments

  • Coordinated therapy and psychiatry

    • In-person Tacoma practicesOften refers psychiatry out
    • Online-only national platformsTherapy and meds run separately
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingTherapy and psychiatry in one practice

  • Most major insurance plans accepted

    • In-person Tacoma practicesVaries, often a few plans
    • Online-only national platformsOften cash-pay only
    • Counseling Services for WellbeingMost major insurance plans accepted

We do not have a room in Tacoma itself, and we are not the cheapest app with a 24/7 message thread. We are the option that gives Tacoma residents the same therapist each session, takes most major insurance plans including the Premera, Regence and Kaiser plans common across Pierce County, gets you in this week by secure video, keeps an in-person Burien office about 35 minutes north for the days you want it, and can coordinate therapy with psychiatry inside one Washington practice.

Insurance & coverage

Most major insurance plans accepted

Kaiser Permanente Premera Blue Cross Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Aetna Cigna UnitedHealthcare Optum Humana Wellpoint Carelon LifeWise First Choice Health Network Coastal Administrative Services Medicare Tricare Triwest

Most South Sound employers offer coverage through carriers like Premera, Regence, Kaiser, Aetna and Optum, and we work with all of them. We confirm your specific plan before your first session, so online care here does not have to be cash-pay only the way many national telehealth platforms are.

South Sound coverage

If you have commercial coverage through a Pierce County employer, you are most likely already covered.

Most working adults in Tacoma and the South Sound carry a commercial health plan through their employer, and the carriers those plans run through are ones we work with.

The commercial plans common across Pierce County run mostly through a familiar handful of carriers, Premera Blue Cross, Regence, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Optum and Cigna. We work with all of them, so for many Tacoma residents online therapy with us is reachable on the plan you already carry, rather than the cash-pay arrangement many national telehealth apps require. That matters here because so much of the local search returns directories and platforms that bill out of pocket.

Telehealth therapy is generally a covered behavioral health benefit on these plans, billed the same way an in-person session would be. What it actually costs you depends on your specific plan, your deductible and where you are in the year, so we do not want to quote a copay we cannot stand behind. Local directories put cash-pay sessions in Tacoma in the range of 120 to 160 dollars, which is exactly the bill coverage helps you avoid. We confirm your exact plan and what to expect before your first session, so you start with a number rather than a guess.

One practical note. If your plan ever changes during the year, or you move within Washington, your care does not have to. Because our clinicians are licensed statewide, the same therapist can stay with you by video wherever you land in the state.

The team

Washington clinicians who see Tacoma-area clients by secure video.

A team that works by secure video across anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout and couples, deeper than the few here. We match you with one therapist whose focus fits what you are working on, and they stay with you.

Aaron Cilwa, MS, LMHC, CCTP

Aaron Cilwa

MS, LMHC, CCTP
CBTTraumaAnxietySubstance useTelehealth
Read bio Book with Aaron

Megan McInerney, LMHC

Megan McInerney

LMHC
ACTTraumaAnxietyDepressionTelehealth
Read bio Book with Megan

Satnam Gfeller, MA, LMHC, NCC

Satnam Gfeller

MA, LMHC, NCC
CBTSolution-focusedLife transitionsRelationships
Read bio Book with Satnam

Maria Lathrop-Skalos, LCSW

Maria Lathrop-Skalos

LCSW
Self-esteemTeensFamiliesAdultsTelehealth
Read bio Book with Maria

Alvena Willis, MA, LMFT

Alvena Willis

MA, LMFT
CouplesTraumaSubstance useSelf-esteemTelehealth
Read bio Book with Alvena

+ Meet the full team

Washington clinicians across all three offices and by secure video.

Meet the team

A deeper bench of Washington clinicians than the few here. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with the right person, by secure video.

Where to meet

Secure video anywhere in Washington, or our Burien office about 35 minutes north if you would rather be in the room.

Counseling Services for Wellbeing serves Tacoma and all of Washington by secure video, so where you live is not a barrier to good care. Tacoma is also close enough to our Burien office, about 24 miles or roughly 35 minutes north on I-5, that in person is a genuine choice here, and you can move between video and in-person sessions as your life changes.

Secure video, Tacoma and statewide

Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup and anywhere in Washington. The same therapist each session.

Online therapy in Washington →

Burien · closest to Tacoma

About 35 min north on I-5. White Center, SeaTac, Normandy Park, South King

View office →

Green Lake, Seattle

North Seattle, Wallingford, Ravenna, Roosevelt

View office →

Smokey Point, Arlington

Arlington, Marysville, north Snohomish

View office →
Frequently asked questions

What Tacoma residents ask before starting online therapy.

Do you have an office in Tacoma?

No. Counseling Services for Wellbeing does not have a Tacoma office. We are a Washington practice and we see Tacoma and Pierce County residents by secure video anywhere in the state, with the same licensed clinicians. Our nearest physical office is in Burien, about a 35-minute drive north on I-5, so unlike the telehealth-only cities we serve, in-person is a real option here. Most South Sound clients still choose video because it skips the drive.

How long is the wait to start therapy in Tacoma?

Much of the South Sound market books four to six weeks out or is cash-pay only, and a lot of the Tacoma search results are national directories and platforms rather than local in-network group practices with open slots. With us, first appointments are available the same week by secure video. You do not have to sit on a Pierce County waitlist to get started.

Do you take Pierce County commercial plans like Premera, Regence or Kaiser for online therapy?

We accept most major insurance plans, including Premera, Regence, Kaiser, Aetna, Optum and Cigna, which are the commercial carriers most South Sound employers use. Telehealth therapy is generally a covered behavioral health benefit on these plans, billed the same way an in-person session is. We confirm your specific plan and what to expect before your first session, so online therapy here is not the cash-pay arrangement many national platforms require.

Can I meet in person at the Burien office instead of by video?

Yes. Tacoma is one of the few areas close enough to a Counseling Services for Wellbeing office to make in-person a genuine choice. Our Burien office is about 24 miles, roughly 35 minutes north on I-5, and you can meet there if you would rather be in the room. You can also start by video and switch to in-person later, or move between the two as your schedule changes, with the same therapist either way.

Are your therapists licensed in Washington?

Yes. Every clinician who sees Tacoma clients is licensed or working toward licensure in Washington under senior supervision. Washington licensure is what lets us see Tacoma and Pierce County residents by secure video, and it is also what lets you meet in person at our Burien office if you prefer, so geography is not the limit, your schedule and goals are.

How soon can I be seen?

First appointments are available the same week, not weeks out. Much of the South Sound market books four to six weeks ahead or is cash-pay only, so you do not have to white-knuckle a long wait to start. We are accepting new clients now by secure video, with in-person at Burien available too, and will find the first opening that fits your schedule.

Do I need to live in Tacoma exactly to be seen?

No. We serve all of Washington by secure video, including Lakewood, Puyallup, University Place and the rest of Pierce County, so where in the South Sound you live is not a barrier. Because our clinicians are licensed in Washington, geography is not the limit, your schedule and your goals are what shape the care.

Will I see the same therapist each session online?

Yes. You are matched with one therapist who learns your story and stays with you session to session, rather than a rotating pool that hands you to whoever is free. That continuity is the heart of how we work and the main thing that sets us apart from the big national telehealth platforms, where the face often changes.

How much does therapy cost in Washington if I use insurance?

With insurance you usually pay a copay or a share of the session rather than the full cash rate, and the amount depends on your specific plan and where you are in your deductible for the year. Local directories put cash-pay sessions in Tacoma around 120 to 160 dollars, so coverage matters. We accept most major insurance plans, including the Premera, Regence and Kaiser plans common across Pierce County, and we confirm your exact plan and what to expect before your first session.

Can I get both therapy and a psychiatrist in one place?

Yes. Counseling Services for Wellbeing offers therapy and psychiatric medication management inside one Washington practice, so if it turns out you want both, they can be coordinated rather than run by two offices that never talk. Many Tacoma practices and national platforms refer the medication side out. If you are not sure which you need, that is a normal place to start, and we help you sort it at intake. You can read more about online psychiatry in Washington if that is part of what you are weighing.

If you need help now

Tacoma and Pierce County mental health resources.

Online therapy is for ongoing support, not an emergency. If you or someone you care about is in crisis, these reach a real person right now, and they are free.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 any time, day or night. It is free, confidential and answered around the clock for anyone in the country who is struggling or worried about someone else.

Pierce County Crisis Line

The local 24-hour behavioral health crisis line for Pierce County is 800-576-7764. It is free, staffed around the clock and is the regional option for a mental health crisis in the Tacoma area.

Nearest emergency room

For a medical or psychiatric emergency, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department at 315 Martin Luther King Jr Way, and St. Joseph Medical Center at 1717 S J Street is another Tacoma option. In an immediate emergency, call 911.

For ongoing care, here is the honest part. We do not have an office in Tacoma itself, but unlike most of the cities we serve by video, in person is genuinely within reach here. Our Burien office is about 24 miles, roughly 35 minutes north on I-5, so you can meet there if you would rather be in the room. Most Tacoma clients still choose secure video because it skips the drive, and the same Washington-licensed team works either way.

Also see

Related care from our team.

OlympiaOnline therapy in OlympiaLearn more → KirklandOnline therapy in KirklandLearn more → Telehealth hub Online therapy in Washington Learn more → Anxiety Anxiety therapy by video Learn more → Depression Depression therapy by video Learn more → In person Our Burien office, closest to Tacoma Learn more →
Take the next step

Good care should not depend on whether a Tacoma practice has an opening this month.

Request an appointment today and we will match you with a Washington-licensed therapist who fits what you are working on, by secure video, often within the same week. Counseling Services for Wellbeing accepts most major insurance plans, sees Tacoma residents anywhere in Washington by secure video, and keeps you with the same therapist whether you meet from home or in person at our Burien office about 35 minutes north. If you want the statewide picture first, start at our online therapy in Washington hub.

Call (206) 242-8211 Request an appointment