A therapist must be licensed in the state where you are physically located during each session, not the state where the therapist sits. I hold clinical social work licenses in Florida (SW19366) and New York (089811), which means I can work with you virtually while you are in either state, and in person at my office in Aventura, Florida. Here is what that rule means in practice, especially if your life moves between the two.
Why location matters more than you might think
Professional licenses are issued by states, and each state regulates care provided to people within its borders. When you log on to a video session from your living room in Brooklyn, New York law applies. If you log on from a condo in Aventura, Florida law applies. The therapist needs to be licensed in whichever state you are in at that moment.
This can feel like a technicality, but it protects you. Licensure means a state board has verified education, supervised experience, and ongoing ethical standards, and it gives you a place to turn if something goes wrong.
The good news for my clients is simple. If you are in Florida or New York during the session, we can meet.
What this means for people who split their time
Many of the women I work with do not live in one place year-round. Two licenses make continuity possible in situations that would otherwise interrupt care.
- Snowbirds who winter in South Florida and spend summers in New York can keep the same therapist all year.
- Students who attend college in one state and go home to the other for breaks do not have to pause.
- Professionals who commute between Miami and Manhattan can schedule around wherever they will be that week.
- Women who are relocating from New York to Florida, or the reverse, can begin therapy before the move and continue after it.
What happens if you travel somewhere else?
If you are temporarily in a third state or outside the country, I generally cannot hold a session until you are back in Florida or New York. We plan ahead for this. Many clients simply schedule around trips, or we use the time for a short check-in by phone if that is appropriate and allowed.
Please let me know before a session if you will not be in one of the two states. It is a routine conversation, and it keeps your care within the rules that protect you.
How to verify a therapist's license
You should be able to verify any therapist's license in under five minutes, and I encourage you to do it.
- Florida: search the Florida Department of Health license lookup at flhealthsource.gov. My Florida clinical social work license number is SW19366.
- New York: search the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions at op.nysed.gov. My New York license number is 089811.
- Look for an active status and confirm that the name and profession match. A licensed clinical social worker will appear under clinical social work.
What a secure virtual session needs
Virtual therapy works best with a few simple conditions. A private space where you will not be overheard. A stable internet connection. Headphones if others are nearby. And a few minutes before the session to settle, the same way you might in a waiting room.
Sessions take place on a secure telehealth platform rather than consumer video apps. You will receive a link through the client portal, and nothing is recorded.
If you prefer to meet in person, or to mix formats, my office is at 2875 NE 191 St in Aventura, Florida. Some clients come in for the first few sessions and move to virtual once we have established a rhythm. Others do the reverse. Both are fine.