My name is Dr. George A. Ball, and I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist here in Texas where I have been working with clients for almost 15 years and have been licensed in the state of Texas since 2016. I specialize in working with adults and couples on various presenting issues including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, life transitions, and marital discord. I am trained in several evidenced-based treatment modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Solutions Focused Therapy. I was recently credentialed through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact) to practice telehealth counseling in the 39 participating states. We are excited to offer this opportunity to clients outside of the state of Texas to continue or begin care with Heritage Counseling.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for telehealth therapy became much more pronounced (1). Due to lockdowns, social distancing, and working from home, it became more difficult for those needing mental health services to access them in person. That need has not diminished as life has continued to change and the focus on mental health has never been more important (2). Due to increases in mental illness in this country, matched with a lack of available providers, state legislatures became more comfortable allowing Psychologists licensed in other states to practice telehealth counseling in their state.
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact began in 2015 with the mission of passing legislation that allows Licensed Psychologists to practice telehealth in all 50 states while being licensed in only one state. Additionally, PsyPact operates as the governing body that credentials Licensed Psychologists to practice telehealth therapy in member states. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the need for this program and 39 states have passed laws allowing telehealth counseling across state lines. Counseling services covered under this program are varied and include individual, couples, and family therapy.
The following states participate in the PsyPact program:
Alabama - AL SB 102 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/1/2021) |
Arizona - AZ HB 2503 (Enacted on 5/17/2016; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Arkansas - AR HB 1760 (Enacted 4/25/2021; Effective (11/18/2021) |
Colorado - CO HB 1017 (Enacted 4/12/2018; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - CNMI HB 22-80 (Enacted and Effective 10/24/2022) |
Connecticut -CT S 2(Enacted 5/24/2022; Effective 10/1/2022) |
Delaware - DE HB 172 (Enacted 6/27/2019; Effective 7/1/2020) |
District of Columbia - DC B 145 (Enacted and Effective 4/2/2021) |
Florida -FL H 33(Enacted 5/25/2023; Effective 7/1/2023) |
Georgia - GA HB 26 (Enacted 4/23/2019; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Idaho - ID S 1305 (Enacted 3/23/2022; Effective 7/1/2022) |
Illinois - IL HB 1853 (Enacted 8/22/2018, Effective 7/1/2020) |
Indiana -IN S 365(Enacted 3/10/2022; Effective 7/1/2022) |
Kansas - KS SB 170 (Enacted 5/17/2021; Effective 1/1/2022) |
Kentucky - KY HB 38 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/28/2021) |
Maine - ME HB 631 (Enacted 6/22/2021; Effective 10/18/2021) |
Maryland - MD HB 970 (Enacted and Effective 5/18/2021) |
Michigan -MI H 5489(Enacted 12/22/2022; Effective 3/29/2023) |
Minnesota - MN SB 193 (Enacted 5/25/2021; Effective 5/26/2021) |
Missouri - MO HB 1719/MO SB 660 (Enacted 6/1/2018; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Nebraska - NE L 1034 (Enacted 4/23/2018; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Nevada - NV AB 429 (Enacted on 5/26/2017; Effective 7/1/2020) |
New Hampshire- NH SB 232 (Enacted 7/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020) |
New Jersey -NJ A 4205(Enacted 9/24/2021; Effective 11/23/2021) |
North Carolina - NC 361 (Enacted 7/1/2020; Effective 3/1/2021) |
North Dakota - ND S 2205 (Enacted 4/13/2023; Effective 8/1/2023) |
Ohio -OH S 2 (Enacted 4/27/2021; Effective 7/26/2021) |
Oklahoma - OK HB 1057 (Enacted 4/29/2019; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Pennsylvania- PA SB 67(Enacted 5/8/2020; Effective 7/8/2020) |
Rhode Island -RI H 7501(Enacted 6/21/2022; Effective7/1/2023) |
South Carolina -SC H 3204(Enacted 5/16/2023; Effective7/17/2023) |
Tennessee -TN S 161 (Enacted and Effective 5/11/2021) |
Texas - TX HB 1501 (Enacted 6/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Utah - UT SB 106 (Enacted on 3/17/2017; Effective 7/1/2020) |
Virginia- VA SB 760(Enacted 4/11/2020; Effective 1/1/2021) |
Washington -WA H 1286(Enacted 3/4/2022; Effective 6/9/2022) |
West Virginia - WV SB 668 (Enacted 4/21/2021; Effective 11/18/2021) |
Wisconsin -WI A 537 (Enacted 2/4/2022; Effective 2/6/2022) |
Wyoming - WY S 26 (Enacted 2/15/2023; Effective 2/15/2023) |
Telehealth therapy's several benefits make it a preferred option for many people. The most commonly cited is the accessibility of telehealth services. As long as you have a device with a microphone and camera, you can have a therapy session. Also, as mentioned previously, with the advent of PsyPact, you can meet with a therapist not located in your state, significantly increasing your ability to work with a preferred provider. Telehealth counseling also allows you to continue working with your therapist should you move, go on vacation, or find yourself out of state for any reason. Telehealth therapy has also been shown to be as effective as in-person therapy for many people (3), allowing you to receive the quality care you may need.
Telehealth counseling is structured the same way in-person therapy is. Here at Heritage Counseling, your first appointment is 1.5 hours long to give you and the therapist ample time to gather the background information needed for case conceptualization and build the therapeutic relationship. Subsequent sessions are 50-55 minutes long. All that is required is an internet-connected device (computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone) that has a microphone and camera and a quiet/secure location. Heritage uses a HIPAA-compliant telehealth program that ensures complete security and confidentiality.
To get started, please reach out to our administrative team at 214-363-2345. You will be greeted on the phone by one of our team members who will assist you through the process of becoming a client. Standard intake paperwork will be emailed to you to fill out before your first session. Due to the nature of insurance benefits, your plan may cover telehealth counseling from an out-of-state provider. To find out what benefits your plan covers, I encourage you to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask about mental health benefits including telehealth from an out-of-state provider credentialed through PsyPact.
If you or someone you know is struggling, I encourage you to call 214-363-2345 for more information about the telehealth services offered at Heritage Counseling & Consulting.
To find the most up-to-date information about PsyPact and its participating states, please click here.
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