Why we can only (currently) accept clients from Texas and Colorado.

Written By Ryan Buell

We know that there are people all around the United States who would like to participate in our group. However, every state has their own laws regarding therapy. As of right now, a therapist may only offer therapy to people in the states they are licensed to practice in. Our therapists, Ryan Buell and Dr. Darin Wallis are currently licensed to practice therapy in Colorado and Texas.

However, laws are rapidly changing. In 2023, an initiative was launched to allow therapists to practice in multiple states. This is known as the Counselor Compact, which will allow therapists licensed and residing in a member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. As of August 2024, 41 states have joined, or are in the process of joining, the Counselor Compact.

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For many decades, counselors and therapists have been limited to only working with clients that lived in the state that the therapist was licensed in.  So, for example, a therapist practicing in Colorado could only work with clients that resided in Colorado.  In recent years, most notably after the COVID-19 pandemic began, a push by counselors and therapists occurred and now there is a Licensure Compact Agreement for both Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) that will allow interstate Telehealth Practice.  Once fully enacted, counselors and therapists will be able to work with clients from multiple states through Telehealth services.  The enactment of these Compacts is expected to begin in early 2025. A realistic expectation is that in the near future, most states will be part of these psychotherapeutic Compacts.  

So far, for LCSWs, 25 of the 50 states will be participating in the Compact (see the following list).  For LPCs, 41 of the 50 states will be participating (see the following list).  Licensed Psychologists and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFTs) will also be arranging bills for their own Compacts.  

Dr. Darin Wallis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Ryan Buell will be a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2025.

LCSW Compact States:

  • Washington – HB1939

  • Arizona – SB 1036

  • Utah – HB 44

  • Colorado – HB 24-1002

  • Kansas – HB 2484

  • Nebraska – LB 932

  • South Dakota – HB 1015

  • Minnesota – HF 4247

  • Iowa – HF 2512

  • Missouri – SB 70

  • Louisiana – HB 888

  • Ohio – SB 90

  • Kentucky – HB 56

  • Tennessee – TN SB 2134

  • Alabama – SB 208, HB 318

  • Georgia – SB 195

  • North Carolina – (Pending) SB 718

  • Virginia – HB 326, SB 239

  • Pennsylvania – SB 2184, HB 7350

  • New Jersey – (Pending) AB 2813

  • Connecticut – HB 5197

  • Rhode Island – SB 2184, HB 7350

  • Vermont – S 193

  • New Hampshire – HB 1190 SB318

  • Maine – LD 2140


LPC Compact States:

  • Washington

  • California (Pending)

  • Montana

  • Wyoming

  • Utah

  • Colorado

  • Arizona

  • North Dakota

  • South Dakota

  • Nebraska

  • Kansas

  • Oklahoma

  • Minnesota

  • Iowa

  • Missouri

  • Arkansas

  • Louisiana

  • Wisconsin

  • Indiana

  • Ohio

  • Kentucky

  • Tennessee

  • Mississippi

  • Alabama

  • Georgia

  • Florida

  • South Carolina

  • North Carolina

  • Virginia

  • West Virginia

  • Maryland

  • Pennsylvania (Pending)

  • New York (Pending)

  • Connecticut

  • Rhode Island

  • Vermont

  • New Hampshire

  • Maine

Ryan Buell