
Tara Bates
LGBTQ-affirming counselor for life transitions
Start with Tara BatesLicensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime


LGBTQ-affirming counselor for life transitions
Start with Tara BatesLicensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Tara Bates is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington with 12 years of clinical experience. Her license is listed as WA LMHC, license number LH 61613960, and she focuses much of her practice on serving LGBTQ and polyamorous clients.
She intentionally reserves the majority of her caseload availability for people who identify as non-heteronormative or who are part of polyamorous relationships, and she is trained to provide family treatment that addresses those specific needs.
Tara believes clients are the experts on their own stories and that most people bring strengths that help them respond to life’s challenges. She emphasizes the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship and takes time to build understanding and rapport with each person. She recognizes that beginning therapy can take courage and expresses support for those first steps.
Her current availability is limited to Saturday and Monday appointments, and she prefers to work with each client to establish a consistent schedule that meets their needs. Her therapeutic approach may include talk therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness and body-awareness techniques, and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy.
Many people wonder whether remote therapy can truly help. For common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or adjusting to life changes, online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions for most people.
One of the primary benefits is flexibility - you can connect in the way that feels most comfortable, whether by video call, phone session, live chat, or in-app messaging. That variety makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule or to access care from different locations.
All participating clinicians are licensed professionals, and clients have the option to switch therapists if they want a different fit. Online therapy can offer an accessible and practical route to support while maintaining the same core therapeutic methods used in face-to-face care.