We're Expanding: Licensed Therapists From Every State Can Now Join StartHere.care

When we launched StartHere.care, we started in Michigan. That was intentional. We wanted to build something that actually worked—for one state, one community—before trying to scale it.

Michigan is still our home. Our clients are here. The therapists who believed in us early are here. That hasn't changed and it's not going to.

But here's what we kept hearing from those same Michigan clients: "I can't find someone who specializes in what I need."

The Problem We're Solving

Michigan ranks 38th nationally for access to mental health care.¹ That's not because we don't have great therapists. We do. But there are gaps. Specific specialties, certain populations, particular therapeutic approaches. Sometimes the right fit just isn't available in-state, especially in rural areas or for less common needs.

Meanwhile, telehealth has fundamentally changed what's possible. A licensed psychologist in Colorado or a licensed counselor in Ohio can legally serve a Michigan client through interstate practice agreements like PSYPACT and the Counseling Compact. The legal framework exists. The technology exists. What was missing was a platform that connected these dots safely.

What's Changing

Starting today, licensed therapists from any state can join StartHere.care. Here's how it works:

• You submit your license for any state where you're actively licensed
• We verify it, automatically for Michigan and Ohio, manually reviewed for other states
• You get matched with clients in states where you're authorized to practice
• Clients only see therapists who are legally authorized in their state. No exceptions.

That last point matters. Our matching system checks state authorization before anything else. A therapist licensed only in California will never be matched with a Michigan client. The safety gate is absolute.

What This Means for Michigan Therapists

More options for clients is good for everyone, including Michigan therapists. Here's why:

Shorter wait times bring more people into therapy. When a client can't find availability, they often don't try again. Every client who gives up is a client who might have eventually found their way to your practice through a referral, a friend's recommendation, or a return visit. A healthier pipeline benefits the whole ecosystem.

Specialization becomes a strength. If you're one of three EMDR specialists in your area, more clients seeking EMDR can find their way to Michigan—and to you—through a broader network. Out-of-state therapists filling general availability gaps means specialist Michigan therapists get more of the referrals that match their expertise.

Referrals work both ways. Our peer referral system lets therapists refer clients to colleagues when they're not the right fit. A broader network means better referral options for everyone.

This isn't about replacing Michigan therapists. It's about making sure that when a Michigan client needs help, they can actually find it.

How We Verify Out-of-State Licenses

For Michigan, we auto-verify through the LARA licensing database in real time. For Ohio, we verify through the Ohio eLicense portal. For psychologists in PSYPACT member states (43 states and counting), we verify APIT credentials through the official PSYPACT registry.

For all other states, our team manually reviews license submissions. It's not as fast as auto-verification, but it's thorough. We'd rather take an extra day than let an unverified provider onto the platform.

What's Next

We're starting where we've always started: with what Michigan clients need. As we learn what works and what doesn't, we'll keep expanding carefully. If you're a licensed therapist in any state and you want to reach clients who are actively looking for help, we'd love to have you.

And if you're a Michigan therapist who's been with us from the beginning: thank you. We built this for your clients. That's still true.

Join StartHere.care or learn more about how it works.

— Jeff

Sources

1. Mental Health America, "2024 State of Mental Health in America" — Michigan ranking for access to care.