How to Start Online Therapy in Arizona

Why many Arizonans choose online therapy

Arizona is a big state, and getting to an office can mean a long drive, a lost lunch hour or a babysitter. Video therapy lets you meet from home or any quiet, private place. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that virtual visits do not require travel, may reach people who live in remote areas or cannot drive, and can be effective for conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD.

This guide walks through the steps, using the official pages of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and the Arizona Legislature for the rules. It is general information as of October 2026, not legal advice.

Step one: be in Arizona during sessions

Arizona's rule turns on where the client is. The Board's telehealth rule, R4-6-1106, applies to anyone who provides counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy by telehealth to a client located in Arizona.

Your location matters at every session, not only when you sign up. The rule says that a provider seeing a client located outside Arizona must follow the laws and rules of the place where the client is. If you travel in the summer or for work, tell your therapist before the session so you can plan.

Step two: choose a therapist licensed in Arizona

Under the same rule, a person providing these services by telehealth to a client located in Arizona must be licensed by the Board, be competent in providing behavioral health services by telehealth, and make sure telehealth is appropriate for the client's needs. There is a narrow exception for providers licensed in another state, limited to ninety days in a calendar year.

You can check a license yourself. The Board's Directory and Verifications Search page links to its public search of behavioral health professionals. Ask the therapist for the name they are licensed under and their license type, then look them up.

Step three: sort out insurance or self-pay

Arizona law, including A.R.S. 20-1057.13, requires state-regulated health plans to cover health care services provided through telehealth if they would cover the service in person for a member receiving it in Arizona. A deductible, copay or coinsurance for telehealth may not exceed the amount for the same service in person, and a plan may limit coverage to its network except in an emergency.

Your own costs depend on your plan. Call the number on your card and ask about outpatient mental health visits by video, your share of the cost, and whether a provider is in network. Self-pay is another option if you prefer not to use insurance.

Step four: what your first video session looks like

Arizona's rule asks a therapist working by telehealth to go over the limits and risks of telehealth with you and document them, including confidentiality risks of electronic communication, the chance of a technology failure, emergency procedures when the therapist is unavailable, and local emergency contacts or services. At each session, the therapist records how you met and verifies your physical location.

So expect a few practical questions early on, such as where you are right now and who to contact in an emergency. They are routine and a sign the therapist is following the rules.

1. 1Pick a private spotA room with a door that closes, or a parked car, works. Headphones keep the therapist's side of the conversation private.
2. 2Check your deviceA phone, tablet or computer with a camera is enough. Charge it and test your camera and sound a few minutes early.
3. 3Bring your questionsJot down what has been hard lately, what you hope will change, and anything you want to ask about how therapy works.

How we can help

Locascio Wellness is an all-virtual practice, and clients must be physically located in Arizona during each session. We match you with a therapist licensed in Arizona. In Arizona, therapists on our team work with anxiety, depression, ADHD and career counseling.

Here is how starting works. Book a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page or call 267-573-9817. Our administrative team verifies your insurance, and self-pay is available; see insurance and fees. You then book a time directly from your therapist's online calendar, and many therapists offer evening and weekend appointments. Sessions are by secure video and in English.

Our online therapy in Arizona page has more. Online therapy is for ongoing care, not emergencies. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911; Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services. Arizona's Department of Economic Security also lists the Arizona Statewide Crisis Hotline at 1-844-534-4673 (HOPE). Taking the first step is often the hardest part, and it is a hopeful one.