Important: Our therapists are currently licensed and supervised to routinely provide telehealth services to clients who are physically located in Hawaiʻi. If you or another therapy participant will be located outside Hawaiʻi, please let us know before scheduling. Additional review may be required, and services may not be available unless the treating therapist has verified legal authorization to practice in that jurisdiction.

Telehealth Therapy in Hawaiʻi

Convenient, Secure, and Compassionate Online Therapy

Telehealth Therapy Throughout Hawaiʻi

At Akua Family Therapy, we are committed to making quality mental health care accessible to individuals, couples, and families across the Hawaiian Islands.

Using a secure HIPAA-compliant video platform, our therapists can meet with clients from the comfort and privacy of their own homes, offices, or other appropriate locations within the State of Hawaiʻi.

Telehealth allows many clients to receive the same compassionate care they would receive in our office while reducing travel time and increasing scheduling flexibility.

We Currently Provide Telehealth Services Throughout Hawaiʻi

Our therapists may provide telehealth services to clients who are physically located within the State of Hawaiʻi at the time of their appointment.

This includes residents and visitors who are physically present in Hawaiʻi during their session.

Why Does Physical Location Matter?

Many people assume that because therapy takes place over the internet, a therapist can legally provide services anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, that is not how professional licensing laws work.

Marriage and Family Therapists are licensed by individual states and jurisdictions. In most situations, therapists may only provide telehealth services in jurisdictions where they are legally authorized to practice.

As explained in the AAMFT Best Practice Guidelines for Telehealth in Couples and Family Therapy:

"When a session involves multiple clients participating from multiple geographic locations, the therapist is bound to the laws of all client & therapist locations at the time of service."

Because laws vary between states and countries, therapists must verify that they are legally authorized to provide services wherever clients or therapeutic participants are physically located.

Our Current Practice Policy

At this time:

✅ We routinely provide telehealth services when all therapeutic participants are physically located within the State of Hawaiʻi.

If one or more participants will be located outside Hawaiʻi, additional review is required before services can be provided.

Unless the treating therapist has verified that they are legally authorized to practice in the jurisdiction where each client or therapeutic participant is physically located, telehealth services cannot be provided.

Traveling During Therapy?

If you are planning to travel while receiving therapy, please let your therapist know before your appointment.

Even temporary travel may affect whether we can legally continue telehealth services.

Examples include:

• Vacation

• Business travel

• College attendance

• Military travel

• Extended stays with family

• Relocation

• International travel

Your therapist will review whether services may continue during your trip or whether alternative arrangements should be made.

Couples and Family Therapy

When providing couples or family therapy, the physical location of every therapeutic participant matters.

For example:

• One spouse in Hawaiʻi and one spouse in California

• Parent in Hawaiʻi and adult child in Washington

• Family members joining from multiple states

• Participants joining from another country

These situations often require additional legal review before services can begin or continue.

International Telehealth

Requests involving participants outside the United States require additional review.

Different countries regulate psychotherapy differently. Before services can be provided, our therapists must determine whether telehealth is legally permissible in the country where the participant is physically located.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that services can continue during international travel.

Before Your First Appointment

As part of our intake process, we will ask:

Will you or anyone who may participate in therapy be physically located outside the State of Hawaiʻi during any telehealth sessions?

If yes, we may need additional information before scheduling services.

Our Commitment

Our goal is never to create unnecessary barriers to care.

Rather, we are committed to protecting our clients by providing services ethically, safely, and in compliance with applicable professional licensing laws.

If we are unable to legally provide services in your location, we will do our best to assist you in identifying appropriate resources whenever possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I continue therapy while I'm on vacation?

Maybe. It depends on where you are traveling and whether your therapist is legally authorized to practice in that jurisdiction. Please notify your therapist before traveling.

I live in another state. Can I receive therapy from Akua Family Therapy?

Possibly, but only if your treating therapist has verified that they are legally authorized to provide telehealth services where you are physically located. Otherwise, we will help you locate an appropriate provider.

What if my spouse lives in another state?

Because couples and family therapy may involve multiple jurisdictions, we review these situations individually before scheduling.

What if I move away from Hawaiʻi?

If you permanently relocate outside Hawaiʻi, we will discuss whether therapy can legally continue. If not, we will work with you to transition your care to a qualified provider in your new location whenever possible.

Why do you ask where I am physically located at every telehealth appointment?

Professional licensing laws generally apply based on a client's physical location at the time services are provided. Confirming each participant's location helps ensure that therapy is delivered in compliance with applicable legal and ethical requirements.