Texas · Telepsychiatry
Best Telepsychiatry Practices in Texas (2026)
Disclosure: Willow & Stone publishes this guide and lists its own practice first. The other practices are independent, and we have no affiliation with them. Their details come from their own websites as of September 2026. Please confirm credentials, fees and availability with each practice directly.
← All guides · By the Willow & Stone team · Updated September 2026
Key Takeaways
- Telepsychiatry is only possible while you are physically located in a state where your clinician is licensed, so check that before you book.
- Telepsychiatry options range from large in-network platforms to small statewide practices; the biggest differences are visit length, who you see, and how you pay.
- Talkiatry, LifeStance, Thriveworks, TelepsychHealth and Lyte all state on their own sites that they take insurance in Texas.
- Willow & Stone is listed first because we publish this guide. It offers longer integrative visits by telehealth statewide and in person in Arlington; insurance is accepted for Texas patients only.
- Some practices do not prescribe controlled medications such as stimulants or benzodiazepines by telehealth. Ask before you book if that matters to you.
Texas is big enough that the nearest psychiatric appointment can be a day's drive away, and in the cities the wait can be just as long. Telepsychiatry closes much of that gap: you can be evaluated, get a diagnosis and have prescriptions sent to your pharmacy without leaving home. But "online psychiatry" covers very different models, from national platforms with thousands of clinicians to single-clinician practices. This guide compares six options that serve Texans and explains what each one actually offers.
How we put this list together
This list is published by Willow & Stone, and we put our own practice first. It is a self-ranked guide, not an independent rating. We have no relationship with the other practices listed.
In September 2026 we read each practice's own website and kept only those that clearly state they provide psychiatric care (evaluation and medication management, not only therapy) to patients in Texas. Several well-known platforms were left out because their sites blocked our checks or did not confirm psychiatric care in Texas. We did not use reviews or outcome claims.
After the first entry, practices are ordered from the broadest national reach to the most local. The criteria below are the ones we applied, and you can verify each of them yourself.
- The practice's own site confirms psychiatric care (prescribing clinicians) for patients located in Texas.
- Clinician types are stated: psychiatrists (MD/DO), psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants.
- Insurance participation or self-pay is explained on the site.
- The site explains how a first visit works and what the visit format is.
- Any limits that affect fit, such as age range or controlled-medication policies, are stated or can be asked about.
At a glance
| Practice | Where / format | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Willow & Stone Integrative Mental Health | Arlington office + telehealth statewide; also NM, FL, AK, AZ, CO | Texans who want longer telehealth visits, one consistent clinician, and a root-cause approach that includes labs. |
| 2. Talkiatry | Online nationwide, including Texas | Insured Texans, including families with children, who want a match with an in-network psychiatric clinician. |
| 3. LifeStance Health | In-person clinics across Texas + telehealth | People who want the option of in-person visits, therapy and testing in the same group, with broad insurance coverage. |
| 4. Thriveworks | Online and in-person in Texas | Adults who want insurance-based medication management with fast scheduling and the option of therapy. |
| 5. TelepsychHealth | Online only; serves Texas among 10 states | Adults and older adults, including Medicare patients, who want a psychiatrist-led online practice. |
| 6. Lyte Psychiatry | Telehealth statewide in Texas + office in Pantego (DFW) | Texas adults and adolescents who want a local practice with both video and in-person visits. |
1. Willow & Stone Integrative Mental Health
Arlington office + telehealth statewide; also NM, FL, AK, AZ, CO · Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Willow & Stone sees patients in person at its Arlington office in the DFW area, and delivers the rest of its care by secure video. You book a complimentary discovery call or an initial consultation, complete intake forms through the patient portal, and then join a HIPAA-compliant video visit from your phone, tablet or computer with no software to download. Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy, and messages between visits go through the secure portal.
What sets the practice apart from most telehealth platforms is visit length and continuity. The first appointment is a 90-minute integrative psychiatric evaluation, follow-ups run 25 to 50 minutes, and you see the same clinician, Dr. Stacey Forbes, at every appointment. The plan can include pharmacogenomic testing and functional lab work (thyroid, nutrients, inflammation, hormones) that is coordinated remotely and reviewed over video.
Insurance is accepted for Texas patients, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, UMR and Cigna, depending on your plan. Outside Texas the practice is direct-pay and provides a monthly superbill. Office hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central, with evening and weekend times available on request.
- 90-minute integrative evaluation by video
- Medication management with the same clinician every visit
- Remote pharmacogenomic and functional lab testing
- Sunday-Thursday hours; evenings and weekends on request
Best for: Texans who want longer telehealth visits, one consistent clinician, and a root-cause approach that includes labs.
Worth knowing: A single-clinician practice, so availability is more limited than on a large platform. You must be in one of the six licensed states during each visit.
2. Talkiatry
Online nationwide, including Texas · Psychiatrists, PMHNPs and therapists
Talkiatry is a national online psychiatry practice whose Texas page says all care happens by secure video and that its clinicians are in-network with major insurers. The Texas page names Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Christus Health Plan, Cigna and ComPsych among the plans it takes.
You start with a free online assessment and are matched with a clinician licensed in Texas. According to the Texas page, first appointments last 60 minutes and follow-ups are typically 30 minutes. Talkiatry offers adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry; its site mentions children's care for ages 5 to 18. Its clinicians include psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists can recommend or refer to therapy as part of a plan.
Talkiatry's strength is scale combined with insurance: if you want an in-network psychiatric clinician quickly and a 30-minute follow-up suits you, it is a straightforward option.
- 60-minute first visit, ~30-minute follow-ups
- Adult and child/adolescent psychiatry
- In-network with major insurers
- Free online matching assessment
Best for: Insured Texans, including families with children, who want a match with an in-network psychiatric clinician.
Worth knowing: The Texas page does not mention a cash-pay option; its model is built around insurance.
3. LifeStance Health
In-person clinics across Texas + telehealth · Psychiatric clinicians, psychologists and therapists
LifeStance is a national outpatient mental health group. Its Texas page says it has 512 providers in 33 Texas locations, including Austin, Carrollton and Alamo Heights, and offers both in-person care and telehealth, including online psychiatry and virtual therapy.
The page lists more than 38 in-network insurance plans in Texas, and self-pay is listed too. Beyond psychiatric medication management, LifeStance's Texas services include psychological testing and a range of therapy types, and the page lists Spravato/ketamine and TMS among its services. It also runs group programs available in all Texas cities, such as an adult ADHD group.
The advantage of a hybrid group is flexibility: you can start online and switch to an office visit, or see a therapist and a prescriber in the same organization.
- Online psychiatry and therapy
- 33 Texas clinic locations (per its Texas page)
- Psychological testing
- Spravato/ketamine and TMS listed for Texas
Best for: People who want the option of in-person visits, therapy and testing in the same group, with broad insurance coverage.
Worth knowing: A large organization; your experience depends on the individual clinician. Check which services your nearest clinic actually offers.
4. Thriveworks
Online and in-person in Texas · Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs)
Thriveworks offers psychiatry and medication management in Texas, both online and in person. Its psychiatry page features PMHNPs, including one based in Houston, and states that its Texas psychiatric providers serve adults aged 18 to 64 and 65 and older.
Thriveworks says it accepts more than 360 insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and United Healthcare, and that appointments are often available the same or next week. You can book through its online provider finder or by phone.
Because Thriveworks also provides therapy, it can be a practical choice if you want counseling and medication management from one organization.
- Medication management by PMHNPs
- Online or in-person visits
- 360+ insurance plans
- Online provider finder
Best for: Adults who want insurance-based medication management with fast scheduling and the option of therapy.
Worth knowing: Its Texas psychiatry page describes adult care (18+) only.
5. TelepsychHealth
Online only; serves Texas among 10 states · Bruce Bassi, MD, MS (board-certified psychiatrist); PA-Cs; LPC-S
TelepsychHealth is an online-only practice founded by Dr. Bruce Bassi, MD, MS, a board-certified psychiatrist, with psychiatric physician assistants and a licensed professional counselor supervisor on its team. It is based in Florida and serves Texas among ten states.
The Texas page lists medication management, individual and group therapy, and specialized evaluations for adults and older adults. You complete intake forms online, with no in-person visit required, and prescriptions go electronically to your local pharmacy. The page says it is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Humana and Medicare, that self-pay rates are available, and that most patients are seen within a week.
The page also states that the practice does not prescribe controlled stimulants or benzodiazepines such as Adderall or Xanax. That is a clear policy, and it is worth knowing before you book.
- Medication management and therapy online
- Medicare and major commercial plans in Texas
- Self-pay option
- No controlled stimulants or benzodiazepines
Best for: Adults and older adults, including Medicare patients, who want a psychiatrist-led online practice.
Worth knowing: Does not prescribe controlled stimulants or benzodiazepines, so it will not suit someone whose treatment depends on them.
6. Lyte Psychiatry
Telehealth statewide in Texas + office in Pantego (DFW) · Akinwande Akintola, MD (medical director); Toyin Awe, PMHNP-BC; LPCs
Lyte Psychiatry is a Texas practice with a clinic at 2900 West Park Row Drive in Pantego, between Arlington and Fort Worth, and telehealth throughout the state. Its medical director, Dr. Akinwande Akintola, MD, is described as dual board-certified in adult and child and adolescent psychiatry; the team also includes a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and licensed professional counselors.
Lyte treats adults and adolescents for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar and other mood disorders, sleep problems and more. The site says it is in-network with major plans including BCBS, Cigna, UHC/Optum and Aetna, that most new patients are seen within one to two business days, and that typical insured copays run $0 to $30.
For families in North Texas, the combination of statewide video visits and a local office for in-person care when needed is the main draw.
- Telehealth anywhere in Texas
- In-person care in Pantego
- Adult and adolescent psychiatry
- Counseling with LPCs
Best for: Texas adults and adolescents who want a local practice with both video and in-person visits.
Worth knowing: In-person visits are only in the DFW office; confirm adolescent age ranges and plan participation directly.
Which telepsychiatry model fits you?
If your main goal is to use your insurance and be seen soon, the large platforms (Talkiatry, LifeStance, Thriveworks) are built for that, and each publishes the plans it accepts. If you want a psychiatrist-led practice and do not need controlled medications, TelepsychHealth is explicit about its policies. If you want a local practice with an office you can visit, Lyte covers North Texas.
If you have been through short visits before and want more time and a single clinician who looks at labs, sleep, nutrition and medication together, an integrative practice like Willow & Stone is a different kind of fit. NIMH says virtual care can be effective for anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and PTSD, and it points to practical drawbacks: you need reliable technology and a space where you will not be overheard.
Whatever you choose, have a private space, a stable connection and your medication list ready for the first visit. And remember that you must be physically in a state where your clinician is licensed each time you connect.
Common Questions
Can a telepsychiatry practice prescribe medication in Texas?
Yes. Licensed psychiatric clinicians can evaluate you and send prescriptions electronically to your pharmacy. Some controlled medications carry extra federal or state requirements, and some practices choose not to prescribe them at all. See how telehealth psychiatry works.
Do I have to be in Texas during the visit?
Yes. Psychiatric care can only be provided when you are physically located in a state where the clinician holds a license. Willow & Stone's clinician is licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, Arizona and Colorado.
Does Willow & Stone take insurance?
For Texas patients, yes: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, UMR and Cigna, depending on your plan. Outside Texas, care is direct-pay with a monthly superbill. Details are on our pricing page.
What are Dr. Forbes's credentials?
Dr. Stacey Forbes is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Texas nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose and prescribe. Our article on PMHNPs and psychiatrists explains the difference.
Is telepsychiatry as good as in-person care?
NIMH says virtual care can be effective for conditions including anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and PTSD. It is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
Sources
- NIMH: What Is Telemental Health?
- NIMH: Mental Health Medications
- NIMH: Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider
- Talkiatry: Psychiatrists in Texas
- LifeStance Health: Mental health clinics in Texas
- TelepsychHealth: Online psychiatrist in Texas
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