Where do I have to be located for a telehealth session?
You must be physically located in New Jersey during the session. By NJ state law, NJ-licensed therapists can only see clients who are in NJ at the time of the appointment.
Telehealth · NJ statewide
Therapy from the couch. Same therapist, same care, your wifi.
All of our clinicians are licensed in New Jersey and offer secure video sessions alongside in-person. Whether you're 5 minutes from one of our offices or two hours away, you can work with the same person from week to week.
Why virtual works
Less commute. Same depth.
The research is clear at this point: for most concerns, telehealth therapy is just as effective as in-person. The thing that matters most — the relationship between you and your therapist — doesn't change because there's a screen between you.
What does change:
- No commute, no parking, no waiting room.
- You can be in a setting that already feels safe.
- You can keep the same therapist if you move, travel for work, or come down with the flu.
- Sessions become easier to keep — which is the single biggest predictor of progress.
All 18 of our therapists offer telehealth.
SAME TEAM · SAME CARE
What you need
The setup is simpler than ordering takeout.
Four things, that's it.
🏠
A private spot
Somewhere you won't be overheard. A bedroom, a parked car, a back office — whatever works. Headphones help.
📱
A device
Phone, laptop, tablet — anything with a camera and microphone. Most clients prefer a laptop, but it's your call.
🌐
Decent wifi
Anything that streams video is plenty. A wired or 5G connection is more reliable than older home wifi if you have the option.
⏱️
About 50 minutes
53 for individual, 60 for couples or family. Block a little extra to settle in beforehand and decompress after.
The tech
Secure video, no app required.
Before your first session, your therapist will email you a secure video link from our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. You click the link a couple of minutes before session time, allow camera and mic access, and you're in. No app to download. No account to create.
The platform we use is encrypted end-to-end and built specifically for behavioral health practices — not a repurposed consumer video tool. It works on every modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) and on iOS and Android.
If you have tech trouble at the start of a session, just call the office and we'll either troubleshoot or move you to a phone session for that day — no penalty, no missed-session fee.
The fine print, plainly
You need to be physically in NJ during your session.
Our clinicians are licensed in New Jersey, which means — per state law — we can only provide care to clients who are physically located in NJ at the time of their session. Your home address being in NJ isn't enough; if you're on a work trip in Florida during a Wednesday afternoon, that session would need to be rescheduled.
If you split your time between states (school, snowbird life, frequent travel), tell us at intake and we'll figure out what's workable. We'd rather plan around it than learn about it mid-session.
For families
What about kids?
Kids ages roughly 12 and up usually do well in telehealth — same as adults. They often actually prefer it. For younger kids, it depends on the kid: some can focus, lots can't. In-person tends to work better for play-based work with kids 5–11. Use your judgment, and we'll guide you if you're not sure.
Either way, parents are involved at every age — we coordinate with you on goals and bring you in for parent sessions.
What about couples?
Couples therapy works on telehealth if both partners are in the same room with one device. (Trying to do couples work with each partner on a separate screen rarely lands.) Many couples like the convenience — especially if one of you travels a lot for work.
Let's set you up.
Two minutes, real human matches you, first session within a week. Same therapist whether you ever step into an office or not.
Match me for video sessions
In short
Quick answers about telehealth
Is telehealth as effective as in-person therapy?
For most concerns — anxiety, depression, life transitions, couples work — research shows telehealth is as effective as in-person therapy. Some specialties like play therapy for young kids and certain EMDR work are better in person.
Does insurance cover telehealth at Ellie NJ?
Yes. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and Optum/UnitedHealthcare all cover telehealth therapy in NJ at the same rate as in-person sessions.
What platform do you use for telehealth?
We use HIPAA-secure video platforms (Doxy.me or our EHR's built-in telehealth). You'll get a link before each session — no app download required.
Can I switch between in-person and telehealth?
Yes. You can mix and match based on your week. Many clients do in-person sessions when convenient and telehealth when life gets busy.