Last updated: October 22, 2026 · By Alex Sandev, Founder of HiveSourced
If you see clients by telehealth, your website should say which states you can see them in, and who is allowed to book. In most places the rule that matters is where the client is sitting during the session, not where your office is. Licensing compacts such as PSYPACT for psychologists and the Counseling Compact for professional counselors can widen that reach, but they differ by state and by profession and they change often.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your licensing board is the final word on where you can practice.
Key takeaways
- Many state boards look at where the client is located during the session. Check each board you plan to serve, not only your home state.
- PSYPACT covers psychologists. The Counseling Compact covers licensed professional counselors. Other licenses follow their own boards or their own compacts.
- Compact membership and start dates change. Link to the official maps instead of copying a state list onto your site.
- Put a short, plain “Where I see clients” statement on your site, and repeat it where people book. See the pages every therapist website needs
- State-specific pages help clients and search engines understand your reach. See New York and New Jersey for examples.
Where can I see telehealth clients?
The short answer is: in the states where you hold a license or another form of authorization. The detail sits with each board. The HHS telehealth site is a good starting point for federal telehealth information, but licensing is set state by state.
Two examples show how this works. New York’s education department says a license or other authorization is required when the client is located in New York or the practitioner is located in New York, in its telepractice guidance for marriage and family therapists. New Jersey’s telehealth rule for counselors (N.J.A.C. 13:34-32) addresses out-of-state clinicians treating clients located in the state, which we cover on our New Jersey page. Other states may differ, so read your own board’s page.
What are PSYPACT and the Counseling Compact?
A licensing compact is an agreement among states that lets a clinician licensed in one member state practice in others under set rules. Each compact is run by its own commission and covers one profession.
| Compact | Who it covers | Where to check status |
|---|---|---|
| PSYPACT | Psychologists | The official PSYPACT site lists participating jurisdictions |
| Counseling Compact | Licensed professional counselors | The official Counseling Compact site shows member states and privilege status |
| Other licenses (LMFT, LCSW, others) | Marriage and family therapists, social workers and more | Your state board, since rules and any compact vary by profession |
Do not assume a state is “live” just because it passed a law. When we researched this post, public guides disagreed on how many states were issuing Counseling Compact privileges, which tells you how fast the picture moves. Use the official sites, and confirm with your board before you advertise a new state.
What should your website say about where you practice?
Clients should not have to guess. Add a short block to your home page, your contact page and your booking page. A simple version has four parts.
- The states you are licensed in. List each state and your license type. Keep it matched to what your board shows.
- Where the client must be located. Say plainly that the client needs to be in one of those states during each session.
- Any compact privileges, with a date. If you rely on PSYPACT or the Counseling Compact for a state, name it and link to the official source.
- What happens if the client travels. A line such as “If you are traveling, tell me before the session so we can check whether I can see you” sets expectations.
Keep the wording short. A client who is nervous about reaching out should be able to read it in ten seconds. If you are not sure how to phrase a clinical or legal point, ask your board or your professional association.
Where should this information appear?
| Page | What to add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home page | One sentence on states served, linking to details | Visitors see it before they invest time |
| Contact and booking page | Client location requirement | Prevents a booking you cannot take |
| About page | License types and states, matched to your board record | Builds trust and supports E-E-A-T |
| State pages | Facts about that state’s board and telehealth rules | Helps people and search engines in that state |
| FAQ | “Can you see me if I am traveling or moving?” | Answers a very common question |
Should you build a page for each state?
If you are licensed in several states, a page for each can help the right clients find you, but only if each page has real, state-specific information. Copying one page and swapping the state name is a doorway page, and search engines discount it. Include things a client in that state would value: your license in that state, the board that regulates you, and how to verify your license. Our group practice website design service builds location pages this way, and our local SEO guide covers how to support them.
What mistakes do therapists make with telehealth wording?
Most problems come from vague or outdated statements, not bad intent. These are the ones to look for on your own site.
- “Serving all of the US.” Unless you are licensed or authorized in every state, this overpromises. Name the states instead.
- A copied state list. Compact lists change. Link to the official page and add the date you last checked.
- Listing a state before you are active there. A pending license or a law that has passed is not the same as being able to see clients.
- No mention of client location. If the booking page never says the client must be in a listed state, you will field avoidable questions.
- Different wording on different pages. Use one approved block everywhere so the story stays consistent.
How do you keep the information current?
Treat your “where I practice” statement like your fee schedule. Put a calendar reminder to review it each quarter, and again any time you add a state, let a license lapse, or a compact status changes. Link to the official compact pages rather than copying a state list, so your site does not go stale. If you also publish blog posts about telehealth, add a “last updated” date at the top.
If you work with a web team, make this part of your regular updates. Our ongoing web design service includes unlimited content updates, so a change to your licensed states is a quick edit.
What should you do this week?
- List every state where you hold a license and confirm each against your board’s record.
- Check the official PSYPACT or Counseling Compact site if either applies to you.
- Write a four-line “Where I see clients” block and add it to your home, contact and booking pages.
- Add one FAQ about travel and moving.
- Set a quarterly reminder to review it.
Need your site to say this clearly and still feel warm? HiveSourced builds custom WordPress sites for therapists from $2,000. See what a therapist website costs or tell us about your practice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license in the state where my client lives?
In many states, yes, because boards look at where the client is located during the session. New York and New Jersey both address this in their rules. Check each board you plan to serve, or ask your professional association.
What is PSYPACT?
PSYPACT is an interstate compact for psychologists. The official PSYPACT site lists the participating jurisdictions and how to apply.
Does the Counseling Compact cover social workers or MFTs?
No. The Counseling Compact is for licensed professional counselors. Other professions follow their own boards or compacts, so check with your state board.
Should I list every state on my website?
List the states where you are licensed or authorized, and say that clients must be in one of those states during sessions. Keep the list matched to your board record.
What if a client travels during therapy?
Ask clients to tell you before a session if they will be in another state. Whether you can see them depends on that state’s rules, so check before you proceed.
Can HiveSourced add this to my site?
Yes. We write and place a clear “where I see clients” statement as part of a custom build. See custom websites for therapists.
