Do You Have to Be in Virginia for Online Therapy? Telehealth Rules, Explained

Online therapy has made care far more accessible — but it comes with a rule that surprises a lot of people. Here’s the plain-English version of how telehealth works with a Virginia therapist.

The rule: it’s about where you are, not where I am

Therapists are licensed by state, and the law says care happens where the client is physically located during the session. Because I’m licensed in Virginia, you need to be physically present in Virginia during our sessions — even over video.

What that means in practice

• At home in Virginia on video — perfect, no problem
• Traveling out of state that week — we’d reschedule, since you’re not in Virginia
• Live in the DMV but just outside Virginia — in-person or intensive visits to Fairfax are a great option
• Moving to Virginia soon — reach out and we’ll plan around your start date

The upside

Within Virginia, telehealth means you can meet from your couch during a nap, skip the commute, and still get specialized perinatal and EMDR care. Many clients mix virtual weekly sessions with an in-person intensive in Fairfax.