Why can't New Yorkers work with their psychologist when out of state?

May 14, 2026 - 16:46

For many New Yorkers, finding the right psychologist is a difficult and personal process. But for those who travel, move for college, or spend part of the year in another state, that relationship can be abruptly cut off. The reason is a simple but frustrating legal wall: psychologists are licensed by individual states, and their authority to practice stops at the state line. A New York license does not allow a therapist to treat a client who has physically crossed into New Jersey, Connecticut, or anywhere else.

This creates a significant gap in care. A student from Buffalo attending school in Boston must either end their sessions or find a new provider. A family spending the winter in Florida cannot continue their weekly telehealth appointments with their trusted New York therapist. This disruption is not just inconvenient. For someone managing a serious mental health condition, losing continuity of care can be a major setback.

The solution already exists, but New York has not joined it. The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, or PSYPACT, is an agreement between states that allows licensed psychologists to practice across state lines. Under this compact, a psychologist in a member state can legally treat a patient who is located in another member state, either in person or through telehealth. It is designed with strict standards for licensure, background checks, and ethical conduct, ensuring patient safety is not compromised.

Currently, dozens of states have joined PSYPACT, but New York is not one of them. This means New Yorkers are locked out of a system that would expand their access to quality mental health treatment. Joining the compact would not only help residents who travel but also attract top psychologists to the state, knowing they could serve a wider patient base. It is a practical, bipartisan step that would remove an artificial barrier to care. For a state that prides itself on leadership, staying on the sidelines of this compact is a missed opportunity to put the well-being of its people first.