Is Online Therapy Actually Secure? What You Need to Know About Telehealth Privacy

You're thinking about starting online therapy. You've heard it's convenient, effective, and saves you the drive to an office. But then a question pops up: Is this actually secure?

That's a smart question to ask. You're going to share deeply personal things in therapy. You deserve to know that your sessions are private, legally compliant, and protected by the same standards as in-person care.

At Aspire Counseling, we take telehealth security seriously. This post walks you through exactly what we do to keep your online therapy safe, private, and legal.

What platform does Aspire Counseling use for online therapy?

We use Zoom for Healthcare, which is specifically designed for medical and mental health appointments. This is not the same as regular Zoom. Zoom for Healthcare comes with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) that makes it HIPAA-compliant and appropriate for therapy sessions.

This means your video sessions are encrypted. Your personal health information is protected. And we've signed legal agreements with Zoom that hold them accountable for protecting your privacy.

If Zoom isn't working for any reason on a particular day, we can use Google Meet as a backup platform. We have the same level of security measures in place with Google.

Why did Aspire Counseling choose Zoom for telehealth?

We chose Zoom after trying several different platforms, including the video system built into our electronic health record (EHR). Here's what we learned: people already have enough to figure out when they're starting therapy.

Most of our clients are already familiar with Zoom. They've used it for work meetings, doctor's appointments, or calls with family. That familiarity matters when you're already feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

We don't want technology to be another barrier between you and getting help. So we picked the platform that's both secure and easy for most people to use.

Starting therapy is hard enough. The video platform shouldn't add to your stress.

What makes Zoom for Healthcare different from regular Zoom?

Regular Zoom is great for work meetings and happy hours with friends. But it's not designed for healthcare. Zoom for Healthcare includes specific features that protect medical information and meet HIPAA requirements.

Here's what makes it different:

Encryption: All video and audio in your session is encrypted end-to-end. That means only you and your therapist can access the content of your session.

Business Associate Agreement (BAA): This is a legal contract that makes Zoom responsible for protecting your health information according to HIPAA standards. Regular Zoom doesn't include this.

No recordings or transcripts without permission: Your sessions aren't automatically recorded or transcribed. If you and your therapist ever decide recording would be helpful, that's your choice to make together.

Waiting rooms: Your therapist controls when you enter the session, so no one else can accidentally join your appointment.

Secure data storage: Any data related to your session is stored according to healthcare privacy standards, not just general business standards.

How does Aspire Counseling follow state licensing laws for online therapy?

This is where many online therapy platforms cut corners. We don't.

Every therapist is only licensed to practice in specific states. At Aspire Counseling, our therapists are licensed in Missouri. That means we can provide online therapy to you when you're physically located in Missouri.

Also, all of our therapists take specific trainings on how to ethically, legally and effectively provide telehealth counseling. This actually isn’t required. However, it’s a step we decided to take as a practice to ensure our clinicians are giving the best possible care.

But what happens if you're traveling?

What if I'm traveling and want to keep my therapy appointment?

This comes up more than you might think. Maybe you're visiting family over the holidays. Or you're on a work trip. Or you're staying with friends out of state for a few weeks.

You might want to keep your regular therapy appointment during that time. That makes sense. Therapy provides support, and sometimes you need that support most when you're traveling.

Here's what we do: We check the specific licensing laws for the state where you'll be physically located during the session.

Some states allow us to see you for a limited number of sessions while you're visiting. Other states don't. It varies by state, and the rules change sometimes.

We don't guess. We don't assume. We look it up every single time.

If we're legally allowed to meet with you while you're in that state, we'll schedule the appointment. If we're not, we'll talk about other options. Maybe we can wait until you're back in Missouri. Maybe we can adjust your appointment schedule.

What we won't do is break the law or put your care at risk.

Why do licensing laws matter for online therapy?

You might be thinking, "It's just a video call. Why does it matter what state I'm in?"

Here's why: Therapists are licensed by states to ensure they meet that state's standards for education, training, ethics, and ongoing professional development. Those licenses exist to protect you.

When a therapist practices in a state where they're not licensed, several things can go wrong:

Your insurance might not cover the session. If something goes wrong in your care, you might not have the same legal protections. The therapist might not know that state's specific laws about reporting requirements or mandatory notifications.

At Aspire, we follow these laws because we respect the system designed to keep you safe. Even when it's inconvenient. Even when clients are disappointed that we can't meet while they're out of state.

We'd rather be the practice that follows the rules than the practice that cuts corners.

What other security measures does Aspire Counseling use?

Beyond Zoom for Healthcare and licensing compliance, we take several other steps to protect your privacy:

Secure electronic health records (EHR): We use a HIPAA-compliant EHR system to store your treatment notes and information. These systems are specifically designed for healthcare and include multiple layers of security.

Staff training: Every member of our team receives regular training on HIPAA compliance and privacy protection. From our clinical director to our intake coordinator, everyone understands their role in keeping your information safe.

Limited access: Only the people directly involved in your care have access to your information. Your therapist's notes aren't sitting where anyone at the practice can read them.

Secure communication: When we email you, we're careful about what information we include. Appointment reminders don't include details about why you're coming to therapy.

Business Associate Agreements with all vendors: Any company we work with that might handle your information signs a BAA. This includes our billing platform (Thrizer), our EHR system, and our video platforms.

What should I do to keep my online therapy sessions private?

We handle security on our end, but there are things you can do on your end too.

Find a private space: Choose a room where you can close the door and won't be interrupted. Let family members or roommates know you need privacy during your appointment time.

Use headphones: This keeps your therapist's voice from being overheard by others in your home.

Check your internet connection: A strong, stable connection helps prevent disruptions. If possible, use WiFi rather than cellular data for more reliable video quality.

Log out of other accounts: Close other programs and tabs on your computer during your session. This reduces the chance of notifications popping up or someone else accessing your device.

Don't record sessions: It might be tempting to record sessions to review later, but this creates a security risk. Those recordings could be accessed by others. If you want to remember something important, take notes after your session instead.

What if I have concerns about online therapy privacy?

If you have specific concerns about online therapy security, bring them up during your free consultation or your first session. Your therapist wants to hear what you're worried about.

Sometimes people have concerns based on past experiences with technology. Maybe your computer got hacked once. Maybe you've had your identity stolen. Those experiences make it harder to trust online platforms, and that makes sense.

Your therapist can walk you through exactly how we protect your information. They can answer specific questions. And if online therapy still doesn't feel right for you after that conversation, we also offer in-person appointments at our offices in Lee's Summit and Columbia, Missouri.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Yes. Research consistently shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for most concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and OCD.

At Aspire Counseling, we use the same evidence-based approaches in online sessions that we use in person. That includes EMDR for trauma, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.

The research is clear: what matters most is the quality of the therapeutic relationship and the therapist's training, not whether you're in the same room.

How do I get started with secure online therapy?

If you're ready to try online therapy with Aspire Counseling, here's what happens next:

Call us at 573-328-2288 or visit our website at aspirecounselingmo.com. Our intake coordinator will ask you a few questions to understand what you're looking for and match you with the right therapist.

We'll verify that you're located in Missouri. This ensures we're legally able to provide care.

You'll receive a link to complete intake paperwork through our secure patient portal. This paperwork includes information about privacy, consent for telehealth, and how we protect your information.

Before your first session, you'll receive an email with your Zoom link and instructions for joining. The same link works for all your future appointments with that therapist.

During your first session, your therapist will review privacy, confidentiality, and any questions you have about the online format.

Online Therapy Throughout Missouri

At Aspire Counseling, we provide online therapy to clients throughout Missouri. Whether you're in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, or a small town in rural Missouri, we can work with you.

We also have in-person offices in Lee's Summit and Columbia if you prefer face-to-face appointments or want to switch between online and in-person sessions.

Our therapists are trained in evidence-based treatments for anxiety, trauma, OCD, depression, and stress. We work with teens, college students, and adults.

To get started, call us at 573-328-2288 or reach out to us online. We're here to help.

About the Author

Jessica Oliver, LCSW, is the founder and Clinical Director of Aspire Counseling in Missouri. She established the practice in 2017 with a commitment to ethical, evidence-based care and rigorous attention to legal and privacy standards. Jessica specializes in trauma treatment using EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and she's passionate about making high-quality mental health care accessible through both in-person and secure telehealth services. She personally researches and implements all security protocols and licensing compliance measures at Aspire to ensure clients receive care that meets the highest professional and legal standards.