Reports
Alma’s Cross-State Licensure Report
Alma surveyed over 200 therapists across the country to better understand their experience with teletherapy, and to get a sense of how state-level licensure impacts their practices.
Last updated: September 2024
It's clear that teletherapy is here to stay. Clinicians and their clients have embraced the convenience and flexibility, as well as the positive impact on accessibility.
Teletherapy could also open the door for clients with specific needs to work with specialized therapists, even if those therapists live in a different location. But in practice, licensure regulations lag behind — and allow geography to limit access to virtual care.
As a bicultural, bilingual trauma therapist, I would be able to work with folks who may not have the same access to my specialties in their states. And as a brown immigrant woman, I know the importance of having someone who understands you and your background.
Virtual care is here to stay
When asked if they plan to continue offering teletherapy over the next 6-12 months, 100% of our respondents said yes — and 70% said they plan to maintain an entirely virtual practice.
This is a significant shift from our previous survey, when only 41% of clinicians planned to maintain an exclusively virtual practice.
Teletherapy supports strong therapist-client relationships
One possible reason for this increased interest in fully-virtual practice is that after several years of experience, therapists know that teletherapy does not negatively impact their relationships with clients. In fact, 30% of clinicians reported that teletherapy has made these relationships stronger, and 98% of clinicians said they’ve had positive experiences (at least 4 out of 5 on a 5-point scale) seeking clients via teletherapy.
Access the full report
With this resource, you'll learn how to:
Learn how cross-state licensure benefits clinicians and their clients
Understand the challenges and barriers of cross-state licensure
See how to contribute to regulatory reform around cross-state licensure
