Verbatim response from ChatGPT
Short answer: verify their license number and check it with the appropriate state licensing board, confirm they are licensed to practice in your state for telehealth, and make sure the platform or clinician uses secure/HIPAA-compliant telehealth and has clear consent/crisis procedures.
Concrete steps (what to do, in order)
- Ask the clinician directly for their full name, professional degree (PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, MD, NP, etc.), license number, and the state(s) where they’re licensed to practice.
- Look up the license on the state licensing board website (search “[state] board of psychology” or “[state] board of behavioral health” or “[state] board of social work” + “license lookup”). The board record will show active/expired status and any disciplinary actions.
- Check the NPI (National Provider Identifier) Registry (nppes.cms.hhs.gov) to confirm name, specialty, and organization.
- Confirm the clinician is licensed in the state where you live. Teletherapy laws usually require the provider to be licensed where the patient is located.
- Ask the clinician or platform about HIPAA/security: do they sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), and do they use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video/text? Ask for a privacy policy.
- Ask about emergency/crisis procedures (what happens if you’re suicidal or need urgent care), prescribing practices (who can prescribe meds and how), cancellation/fees, and whether they carry professional liability insurance.
- Search independent sources: Psychology Today, GoodTherapy, Zencare, or state board discipline pages. Read reviews but treat them cautiously.
What to check on the licensing board record
- License status: active vs lapsed/expired
- License type and expiration date
- Any disciplinary actions, sanctions, or malpractice findings
- Where the license is valid (state-by-state)
Red flags
- Refuses to give a license number or won’t say where they’re licensed
- Claims to be “licensed online” without any state license
- Requests payment only via gift cards, crypto, or other nonstandard methods
- Guarantees cures or offers extremely fast “cures”
- No written informed consent, no crisis plan, or uses an unsecure video platform
Short script to ask a prospective therapist “Can you tell me your full name, professional degree, license number, and the state(s) where you are licensed? May I have time to verify that with the state licensing board? Also, do you sign a HIPAA BAA for telehealth, and what is your crisis plan if I need urgent help?”
Specific services/directories (names + why)
- Psychology Today — large directory of therapists with filters (specialty, insurance, telehealth); useful starting point to find clinicians who list credentials.
- GoodTherapy — directory that emphasizes ethical practice and requires clinicians to meet standards before listing.
- Zencare — vets therapists (video interviews, verified licenses) and is helpful if you want a screened clinician quickly.
- Open Path Collective — vetted low-cost therapists (sliding scale) if cost is a concern.
- Teladoc, Amwell, MDLive — established medical telehealth companies that provide psychiatric and behavioral-health visits and typically work with insurance; good for medication management/telepsychiatry.
- BetterHelp, Talkspace — widely used online therapy platforms that connect you to licensed counselors and are convenient for messaging/teletherapy; check whether they will sign a BAA or accept insurance if that matters to you.
If you want, tell me which therapist or platform you’re considering and your state; I can look up how to verify that license or point you to the exact board lookup page.