Therapy at Samaritan

If you have never worked with a counselor before (or even if you have), the first steps can be daunting. Samaritan Center is here to help—and to make those first steps less intimidating. Our agency has been providing service for over 60 years in the greater Seattle area and increasingly across the entire state. Throughout, we place our emphasis on professional care and open hearts to your concerns.

We offer services on both private pay and insurance bases. Insurance providers do not cover some types of therapy; for example, couples therapy and family therapy are typically not covered. In recognition of that fact (and because some therapists prefer not to work with insurance), we have established a subsidiary that is devoted exclusively to private pay clients: StillWaters Counseling and Consultation. Some therapists work solely within that subsidiary.

As you will see if you go to our Find a Therapist page, your initial choices might include

  • whether to work only with a StillWaters therapist or a Samaritan therapist
  • the type of counseling you seek—for yourself individually, for a child, or for yourself and a partner or other family members.
  • Your insurance provider, to see which of our counselors might be covered by your plan
  • Your location, to choose a counselor who has an office that is convenient for you. You can also visit our Locations page to see a map of all our locations.
  • Any special therapy requests; this is entirely optional, though some people come with a need or expectation of a particular mode of treatment

We hope to understand your goals and preferences to help you determine whether and how we can be a fit for you in a time of distress and potential growth or healing in your life.

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling can be helpful in dealing with many life problems, including understanding and managing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, healing from abuse and trauma, coping with grief and loss, moving through life transitions, strengthening relationships, exploring workplace and career concerns, and dealing with addiction and dependency.

Marriage & Couples

Working with couples is a specialty of Samaritan Center. Our therapists are experienced in guiding couples through many stages of relationships: those who are preparing for marriage or remarriage; those who are working to maintain their relationship amid the stress of parenting and careers; couples who are considering separation or divorce; couples in later life who are coping with issues of retirement and aging.

Couples of all backgrounds, faiths and lifestyles are welcome at Samaritan. We work collaboratively with couples, helping them identify and clarify their issues and set realistic goals, supporting each individual as they work toward solutions and a more satisfying relationship.

Family Counseling

Family Counseling is a specialty at Samaritan Center.

Many of our staff are trained as family therapists and child specialists, experienced in working with the concerns that bring families to counseling, including communication, school problems, eating issues, drug and alcohol involvement, and the symptoms of ADHD, depression and anxiety.

We help families cope with the problems that arise in everyday life, providing practical tools and emotional support as they work through difficult times.

Group Therapy

Groups Can Create a Space for Growth
Group therapy is an effective and affordable resource for those in the midst of stressful situations. A small group can provide a safe place for both adults and children to work through feelings of loss, anger and grief and develop skills that will help them move through painful transitions. People who are experiencing depression and anxiety can learn ways to manage these symptoms and develop a stronger sense of self.

Low-Fee Clinic
& Professional Training Program

Samaritan’s Low Fee Clinic was created in 1994 with two goals in mind:

  • to provide counseling and mental health services for those with extremely limited incomes, and
    to offer supervision and training for therapists who have completed their academic training and are working toward state licensure.
  • Clinic providers receive supervision with experienced Samaritan clinicians and participate in regular consultation and training opportunities. Like all Samaritan Center therapists, Clinic providers identify as Christian and are committed to working in a respectful way with clients of all faiths, backgrounds and lifestyles.

To apply for Low Fee Clinic services
Call (206) 527-2266 to be screened by phone and connected with a clinician.

Applying to be a provider in this program
Graduates with a master’s degree in a counseling-related field who identify as Christian may send a letter of interest and CV to the Clinic Director, Heather Macdonald, at  or call (206) 527-2266.

Getting Started

Once you’ve found a therapist who you feel is a good fit, to book your first appointment, follow these steps. These instructions are also at the bottom of each therapist’s profile page.

Samaritan Center uses an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system developed by Valant for client intake and subsequent health records management. To set up your account and schedule your appointment, follow these steps, as directed by your therapist and prompted by Valant:

  1. To begin the process, first contact the therapist by email or phone (listed on this page above) to schedule an initial conversation about fit.
  2. When prompted by an email from Valant, set up your patient portal account using a validation code provided by your therapist.
  3. Fill out your demographic/insurance information in Valant. Let your therapist know when this is complete.
  4. When prompted by an email from Valant, complete our eSignature intake packet.

NOTE: All the above steps must be completed before your first session with your therapist.

Having trouble? Read Valant’s detailed instructions for setting up and using your patient portal.
For additional assistance, email patientportalhelp@samaritanps.org.
Existing client? After your patient portal is set up, you can log in here.
First telehealth session? Read Valant’s detailed instructions for Teletherapy.