Find a Therapist Licensed in Multiple States
Find online therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and medication providers for the states where you’ll attend sessions.
Choose two or more states where you’ll be during appointments. For couples or family therapy, include everyone’s location. Results show providers whose listed licensure includes all selected states.
How to find a therapist licensed in two or more states
Choose your care
Select the service you need.
Select your states
Choose the states where you’ll be during sessions. For couples or family therapy, include everyone’s location.
Compare providers
Review specialties, approaches, fees, and insurance.
Confirm before booking
Ask about availability and confirm the provider can work with you in each state.
When a multi-state therapist may be helpful
Couples in Different States
If you and your partner live in different states or spend time apart for work, search for a couples therapist licensed in both locations. Choose Couples Therapy and select the states where you’ll each attend sessions.
Family therapy across state lines
Parents, adult children, and siblings may live in different states but want to attend therapy together. Choose Family Therapy and select every state where someone will join sessions to find therapists whose listed licensure includes everyone’s location.
College Away From Home
Going to college in another state can mean moving between campus and home throughout the year. Search both states to find a therapist who may be able to work with you during the semester, school breaks, and summer visits.
Splitting Time Between Homes
If you spend part of the year in another state or regularly alternate between two homes, include both locations in your search. A therapist licensed in both states may help you maintain consistent care as you move between them.
Moving to Another State
Planning a move? Search your current state and your destination together to find a therapist who may be able to support you before and after relocating. If you already have a therapist, discuss whether you can continue working together after the move.
Frequent Travel or Work Trips
Regular work trips, temporary assignments, or extended visits can mean attending therapy from several states. Include the locations where you expect to have sessions so you can look for a therapist whose listed licensure matches your travel plans.
Why your session location matters
For online therapy, your provider must be licensed or otherwise authorized to work with you in the state where you are during each session.
This matters when you move, travel, or attend couples or family therapy from different states.
Multiple state licenses and interstate compacts
Cross-state practice depends on the provider’s profession, authorization, and the states involved.
Multiple licenses
A provider may hold a separate license in each state. Ask whether their current licenses allow them to provide your specific service in every location you select.
Interstate compacts
Examples include PSYPACT for psychologists and the Counseling Compact for professional counselors. Providers must meet the relevant eligibility requirements and obtain the required authorization; a state joining a compact does not automatically authorize every provider to practice there.
As of September 19, 2026, the Social Work Licensure Compact is still being implemented and is not yet issuing multistate licenses.
Which states should I include?
Select the states where you expect to be physically located during appointments, even if your permanent address is elsewhere. For couples or family therapy, include each participant’s location.
Your search may include:
- Your primary home
- A second or seasonal residence
- Your college state
- A state you visit regularly
- The locations of partners or family members joining sessions
Need psychiatry or medication management?
Psychiatrists and other medication providers may need to follow additional federal and state requirements, particularly when prescribing controlled medications.
Use the directory to search by both service and state. Before your first appointment, ask whether your location will affect appointments, prescriptions, required in-person visits, or pharmacy access.
Questions to ask before you book
Before scheduling, ask:
- Are you currently licensed or authorized to provide the care I need in each of my selected states?
- Are you accepting new clients, and what are your session fees and payment options?
- What should I do if my location changes before an appointment or I move?
- Are there additional location requirements for medication management?
- If care cannot continue, how do you help with referrals or transitions?
Compare the specialties and approaches described in each profile. Contact the provider directly about availability, fees, insurance, and any details you cannot find in the listing.
Be specific about your plans. For example: “I usually live in Arizona, but I spend part of the year in California. Could I attend sessions from both states?”
Questions about finding multi-state care
How do I find a therapist licensed in two states?
Select both states in Therapy Expanded’s directory search and choose the type of care you need. Results show providers whose listed licensure includes both states. Compare their specialties and approaches, then contact a provider about fees, availability, and whether they can work with you in both locations.
Can therapists be licensed in multiple states?
Yes. Therapists can hold separate licenses in multiple states. Some also have authorization to practice through an applicable interstate compact or another state-authorized pathway. Confirm the provider’s current authorization for each location before booking.
Does my location during an online therapy session matter?
Yes. For telehealth, the provider generally needs to be authorized where you are physically located during the appointment. Your permanent address alone does not determine where the provider must be licensed.
Can I keep seeing my therapist if I move to another state?
Possibly. You may be able to continue if your therapist is authorized to practice in your new state. Discuss the move as early as possible so you can make a continuity or transition plan.
Can I see my therapist while traveling?
Possibly, but check before the appointment. The answer may depend on the state you are visiting, the provider’s profession, and the rules that apply there.
Can couples or family members attend from different states?
Sometimes. The provider may need authorization in each state where a participant is physically located. Tell the provider where everyone will be joining from before scheduling.
Can I find medication providers licensed in multiple states?
Yes. Search for medication management and select all relevant states. Because prescribing rules may involve additional requirements, confirm the details with the provider before beginning care.
Can I use this directory if I need crisis support?
Therapy Expanded is a directory for finding ongoing care, not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you need urgent mental health, suicide, domestic violence, substance use, or LGBTQIA+ support, use our crisis and mental health resources page instead of searching the directory.
Browse providers by service
Explore the kinds of care available, or use the search above to find a provider across your selected states.
Individual Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Child Therapy
Teen Therapy
Parenting Therapy
Medication Management
Testing and Evaluations
Need urgent support? Therapy Expanded is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you need urgent mental health, suicide, domestic violence, substance use, or LGBTQIA+ support, visit our crisis and mental health resources page.
By Meghan Gilliland, LCSW, Co-Founder of Therapy Expanded Updated
This page is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Licensure, compact participation, and prescribing rules can vary by profession and state, so confirm details directly with the provider before booking.