Frequently Asked Questions
Need more information?
Questions about my licenses or services?
A Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is a licensed mental health professional (aka therapist) in Washington State who:
- completed a master’s and/or doctoral degree in mental health counseling
- completed 3,000 hours of postgraduate mental health counseling including 100 hours of immediate supervision from a qualified licensed mental health practitioner and 1,200 hours of direct counseling with individuals, couples, groups or families
- passed the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) examination
- completes 36 hours of continuing education including six hours in professional law and ethics every 2 years to maintain credentialing
- is held to a professional code of ethics
Some of the other types of qualified mental health professionals include a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), and any licensed associate who is completing their postgraduate requirements for these licenses. The difference between these licenses include slight variations in postgraduate requirements and areas of clinical focus.
A Licensed Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist is also a qualified mental health professional who has completed their PH.D or Psy.D and a supervised internship.
A Licensed Psychiatrist is a M.D. or D.O. that is qualified to prescribe mental health medications. Some Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) and Physician Assistants (PA) are also qualified to prescribe mental health medications if they have specialized training. I do not recommend receiving mental health medications from prescribing practitioners who do not specialize in treating mental health due to the complexity of these conditions and medications.
Mental health counseling licenses and regulations vary state-by-state, and it is required that you receive mental health counseling from someone who is licensed in the state in which you currently reside.
You may be able to meet your needs via non-clinical well-being consulting if I'm not able to work with you as a mental health counselor where you currently reside. Please read my FAQ about non-clinical well-being consulting below and reach out if you have any questions or want more information.
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) aka Registered Dietitian (RD) is a licensed nutrition professional who:
- completed a bachelor's and/or master's degree at an accredited university
- completed an internship including 1,200 supervised practice hours in various areas of nutrition
- passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration's (CDR's) national examination
- completes 75 hours of continuing education including 1 hour in ethics every 5 years to maintain credentialing
- is held to a professional code of ethics
Sometimes the term "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist" is confused with "nutritionist." In most states, the term nutritionist is not regulated, which means that anyone can practice as a nutritionist even without formal qualifications, academic training, or requirements to follow health privacy laws or a professional code of ethics.
While my Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) license is nationally recognized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), licensure regulations still vary state-by-state. Please contact me and/or view the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' licensure map for statutes and information by state to determine if I have the ability to work with you as a dietitian/nutritionist where you currently reside.
I am also a Certified Dietitian (CD) in Washington state, allowing me to practice nutrition/dietetics with those living in Washington.
You may be able to meet your needs via non-clinical well-being consulting if I'm not able to work with you as a dietitian/nutritionist where you currently reside. Please read my FAQ about non-clinical well-being consulting below and reach out if you have any questions or want more information.
A Certified Dietitian (CD) is a licensed nutrition professional in the state of Washington who has met all of the same requirements for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) license mentioned above. The CD license allows me to practice as a nutrition/dietetics professional in Washington state.
Also in the state of Washington, anyone who has completed a master's or doctorate degree in a nutrition-related subject can acquire a Certified Nutritionist (CN) license. Certified Nutritionists are also effective nutrition practitioners; however, this certification does not require continuing education to maintain credentialing, does not allow the practitioner to work with specialty lab tests, and does not meet the same extensive training as a Certified Dietitian/RDN.
A Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT) is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who has received advanced, comprehensive clinical training on a highly effective method of helping clients with adverse food reactions and food sensitivities through Mediator Release Testing (MRT) and the Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) program.
The patented Mediator Release Test (MRT) uses bloodwork to help uncover food and chemical sensitivities, not IgE (food) allergies.
The LEAP program is an evidence-based and highly effective eating plan for food sensitivity-related health problems that goes beyond typical avoidance or elimination diets. LEAP Protocol is more practical and suited to the clinical realities of food sensitivities and can achieve rapid and dramatic clinical improvements, often when conventional therapies have failed.
MRT testing and the LEAP program may dramatically improve outcomes and quality of life in a wide range of chronic health problems:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Migraine and headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Eczema
- Urticaria (Hives)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- And a number of other illnesses related to food sensitivities
Non-clinical well-being consulting is a peer-to-peer relationship for support in achieving specific goals. I have a focus in individualized, integrative, and functional non-clinical well-being consulting in order to support you in reaching your desired goals. I will help you to consider the various factors that are impacting your current needs from a holistic perspective and offer tools to help guide you in achieving your short and long-term goals. My hope is to assist you in discovering what works best for you so that you may implement those effective tools in your path towards well-being in a compassionate, methodical, and deeply-rooted way.
My areas of focus & experience include:
- Providing referrals to a mental health or healthcare professional if you are in need of those services
- Providing continuity of relationship and attention
- Providing support, tools, & information about:
- Growing in emotional & spiritual attunement
- Meditation & mindful awareness skills
- Integrative & functional well-being
- Personalized meal plans & recipes
- Accountability & self-awareness
- Values, goals, & inner wisdom
- Health At Every Size (HAES)
- Organizational strategies
- Mindful & intuitive eating
- Reputable supplements
- Food & body neutrality
- Communication skills
- Cultivating creativity
- Living authentically
- General well-being
- Writing exercises
- Relaxation skills
- Life transitions
- Focusing
Non-clinical well-being consulting is a peer-to-peer relationship for support in achieving specific goals. Non-clinical well-being consulting, however, is NOT healthcare, is NOT a substitute for healthcare of any kind, and does NOT replace a relationship with a mental health professional. If you have a healthcare or mental health need, or one should arise during our work together, you will need to contact a healthcare and/or mental health professional. These include things such as suicidal thoughts and behavior, depression or anxiety that significantly affects your ability to conduct your everyday life, panic attacks, addiction, psychosis, or other mental health or medical issues. I will provide referrals to healthcare and/or mental health professionals if you are in need of those services.
Because non-clinical well-being consulting is not healthcare, I may consult with people globally. If I am not able to offer you nutrition or mental health counseling where you currently reside, you may be able to meet your needs via non-clinical well-being consulting if they fall under my areas of focus/experience listed above.
Please reach out if you have any questions or want more information about non-clinical well-being consulting.
Nope! And here's why:
Research actually indicates that diets are counterproductive and unhealthy because they lead to weight cycling, causing damage to your metabolism, your relationship with food and your body, and your mental health in the long run.
What we WILL do is help you to discover a balanced and neutral relationship with food and your body, providing health, nutrition, freedom, and flexibility while normalizing your body's natural shape and size.
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and/or coach, I am not able to prescribe medications.
With nutrition and mental health counseling, I will collaborate care with your prescribing physician and/or can help you find a qualified prescribing practitioner who is specialized to treat your concerns as needed.
With non-clinical well-being consulting, I will provide you with referrals for healthcare or mental health services based on your needs for those services.
Questions about the logistics?
I typically work with individuals and groups who are 20 years of age or older because I have the most experience with these populations.
We will meet for our sessions virtually through my secure online platform (Practice Better).
Depending on what you prefer, we can have our sessions via video conferencing or phone.
After your complimentary 15-minute consultation, I will email you detailed instructions about how to set up and access your online Practice Better account, fill-out intake paperwork, join our sessions, contact me between sessions, and more.
For Nutrition Services:
While my Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) license is nationally recognized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), licensure regulations still vary state-by-state. Please contact me and/or view the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' licensure map for statutes and information by state to determine if I have the ability to work with you as a dietitian/nutritionist.
I am also a Certified Dietitian (CD) in Washington state, allowing me to practice nutrition/dietetics with those living in Washington.
For Mental Health Services:
Mental health counseling licenses and regulations vary state-by-state, and it is required that you receive mental health counseling from someone who is licensed in the state in which you currently reside.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington state, which means I can only provide mental health counseling to those who live in Washington.
I am also working towards becoming licensed for mental health counseling in California.
For Non-clinical Well-being Consulting:
Non-clinical well-being consulting is a peer-to-peer relationship for support in achieving specific goals. Non-clinical well-being consulting, however, is NOT healthcare, is NOT a substitute for healthcare of any kind, and does NOT replace a relationship with a mental health professional. If you have a healthcare or mental health need, or one should arise during our work together, you will need to contact a healthcare and/or mental health professional. These include things such as suicidal thoughts and behavior, depression or anxiety that significantly affects your ability to conduct your everyday life, panic attacks, addiction, psychosis, or other mental health or medical issues. I will provide referrals to healthcare and/or mental health professionals if you are in need of those services.
Because non-clinical well-being consulting is not healthcare, I may consult with people globally. If I am not able to offer you nutrition or mental health counseling where you currently reside, we may be able to meet your needs via non-clinical well-being consulting.
Please read my FAQ's about my licenses and services above and reach out if you have any questions or want more information.
For mental health services, I am in network and accepting new clients with some plans administered by Premera and First Choice. Please verify with your insurance if I am in network with your plan. If you're covered by a different insurance, I can also provide you with a superbil for potential reimbursement. If insurance declines to cover your visit(s) for any reason, you are responsible for the full amount billed.
For nutrition services, I currently don't accept insurance, but I can provide you with a superbill upon request. When you submit a superbill, insurance companies may potentially reimburse you. If you're interested in receiving a superbill, please verify with your insurance if medical nutrition therapy services and/or functional nutrition lab tests are covered under your plan.
Because non-clinical well-being consulting is not healthcare, it not covered by insurance, and I cannot provide you with an insurance superbill for these services.
For details about packages and pricing, please see the pricing tables on my "Book Now" page.
Please schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation if you have more questions.
I accept credit/debit cards, HSA & FSA cards (for nutrition/mental health education & counseling services only), or mailed cash or checks. A credit/debit card on file is required to secure appointments.
Payment is due from you before or at the time of service.
Specialty functional lab tests are only available for nutrition education & counseling services. They can be added separately to my Bloom Nutrition Package, and up to a maximum of $1000 of speciality functional lab tests are included in the Root Nutrition Package. See nutrition services to learn more about the tests I offer. I will give recommendations for tests as needed during your complimentary 15-minute consultation, initial session, and/or follow-ups. Prices for each test vary and most tests are not covered by insurance.
The prices of supplements also vary. Supplements are sold separately with most of my services. Up to a maximum of $500 of supplements are only included with my Root Nutrition Package. Through my online dispensary, you'll receive access to only high quality, professional grade supplements for 10% off of the suggested retail price. Orders of $50 or more also qualify for free shipping.
Yes, I offer a sliding fee scale option for those who income is below the Federal Poverty Level.
Prices vary based on your current income and family size to help make my services more affordable. I will ask that you inform me of any significant changes in your income, so that I may offer my discounted services to others who may be in need.
Please contact me for more information about my sliding fee scale.
What will the process of working together look like?
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Consultation
During your complimentary 15-minute consultation, we will discuss your needs, see if we're a good fit for each other, explore the logistics of working together, determine which services may be most beneficial, and schedule your initial assessment.
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Intake Paperwork
In between your consultation and initial session, you will fill out intake paperwork on my secure online portal (Practice Better). This information will help me to better assess your needs and determine the services that may benefit you the most.
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Initial Assessment
During your initial 90-minute assessment, we will fully review your intake paperwork, clarify any important information, explore your needs and goals, discuss recommendations, and create a plan.
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Functional Lab Testing (For Nutrition Services Only)
If we determine that functional lab testing is appropriate for your progress, your lab orders and draw kits will be mailed directly to you. I will provide you with options of labs and/or practitioners who can collect your samples and send them out to the labs.
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Follow-Up Sessions
Follow-up sessions will be 30-60 minutes. The length, frequency, and amount of follow-ups will be based upon your needs, chosen services, and our plan.
With all services, we'll address your goals one step at a time. If lab testing is performed, we'll review your results together and discuss plans for moving forward.
In-between sessions, support will also be offered based on your needs, chosen services, and our plan. You will be able to message me using the chat feature on my online portal (Practice Better).
What do previous clients say?
"Angela was my first therapist ever and I saw her 1x/wk for over 2 years. She does cognitive behavioral therapy, EFT, EMDR, mindfulness and more. She helped me get the tools I needed to heal, grow and thrive after traumatic events in my life. I am forever grateful to this absolutely gifted therapist. She also has a nutrition background and takes a holistic approach."
"Angela is one of the best counselors I have been to! She is extremely compassionate, non-judgmental, and knowledgeable. She is easy to talk to and makes you feel heard and supported in your thoughts and struggles. Therapy can be tough, but I always left each session feeling better and more at peace. She helped me address and overcome anxieties and traumas by using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and practicing mindfulness, as well as providing me with various coping mechanisms and tools to use outside of our sessions. I am so grateful for the help and support she gave me. I would recommend her in a heartbeat!"
I have had several therapists over the years and I can say that Angela is one of the best I have had. Angela is kind, compassionate, understanding, and wonderfully positive. Angela has a wide range of skills that allow her to connect with a patient no matter what they are dealing with. Her background in nutrition is a bonus, as it brings an extra therapeutic tool to the table that many therapists do not have. Opening up to a therapist can be extremely difficult, I know that it was for me, but Angela makes that difficulty almost non existent. You never feel any judgment from her, only compassion. She comfortably challenges you without pressuring you. I highly recommend Angela as a therapist to begin your journey to healing, you will not regret choosing her.
"It felt like a small miracle occurred when I walked out of my first session with Angela Fruhner. I knew I had met someone who could truly see and hear what I was trying to ‘unpack’ and heal in my life. She had effective, efficient tools for transforming trauma and emotional pain that I couldn’t clear on my own. I laughed and cried - I looked forward to our sessions. After working with Angela a couple months I knew she was skilled, capable and excellent at holding space for the healing I was ready to do. Angela was the right partner to go deep into the well of life and clear out/transform the old, distant, yet familiar pain that was disrupting my relationships and my ability to co-create with the Universe in the ways I know I came here to do. Investing in myself and time with Angela was a fabulous use of my time and resources. Once you meet her you will understand what I mean and feel thankful she got in your orbit."
Have more questions or need clarification?
Feel free to REACH OUT!