Your client moved to New Jersey. Another is spending the winter in Florida. A college student goes home to Connecticut for the summer. Can you keep seeing them by video? For New York therapists this is one of the most common and most misunderstood questions in practice, and getting it wrong is a licensing issue, not just an insurance one.
The rule in one sentence
Telehealth happens where the client is physically located at the time of the session, and you generally need to be authorized to practice in that state.
What that means in practice
- Client physically in New York, you in New York: fine, with normal telehealth consent.
- Client physically in another state: you need that state’s permission. Some states have temporary practice allowances (often 10 to 30 days per year), some require a telehealth registration, and some require a full license.
- You traveling, client in New York: usually permitted for New York licensees, but check the rules of the state you are in.
PSYPACT and the counseling compact
PSYPACT allows licensed psychologists in member states to practice telepsychology across member-state lines. New York’s participation status has changed over time, so check the current PSYPACT map before relying on it. The Counseling Compact (for LMHCs) and the Social Work Compact are rolling out state by state. Each has its own application and fee.
Insurance adds a second layer
Even where you are legally allowed to see a client across state lines, the client’s plan may not cover out-of-state telehealth or may require you to be credentialed in that state’s network. Verify before the session, not after the denial.
A simple policy for your practice
- Ask every telehealth client to confirm their physical location at the start of each session and document it.
- Keep a short list of states where you are authorized and the limits of each.
- Have a written plan for clients who travel: pause, refer, or confirm temporary-practice allowance in writing.
- Put all of this in your telehealth consent.
Where we come in
MBBCS keeps the state-rule list current for the practices we manage, builds the location check into intake and documentation workflows, and verifies out-of-state coverage before sessions are scheduled. It is operations work, and it protects your license.
Quick answers
Can a New York therapist see a client who is temporarily in another state?
Only if that state permits it. Many states allow short temporary practice (often 10 to 30 days a year); others require registration or a full license. The rule is based on where the client is physically located.
Is New York in PSYPACT?
New York has considered PSYPACT legislation; check the current PSYPACT member map before relying on it, because status changes.
Does insurance cover telehealth when my client is out of state?
Not always. Even where practice is legal, the client’s plan may exclude out-of-state telehealth. Verify coverage before the session.
Ready to talk? MBBCS is a clinician-owned practice management team in Brooklyn serving therapists across New York. Book a free 20-minute consult or get a ballpark estimate in 30 seconds.
