6 Ways a Therapy Website Can Support Your Practice
The world has undoubtedly become more digital after the COVID era with tools like QR codes, Telehealth, and Virtual Meetings. Not to mention the rapid emergence of AI that is changing nearly every landscape. This makes having a clear, effective, and user-friendly website even more essential.
I’m a bit biased since I design websites for a living. But I’m also a consumer who relies on quality business sites to navigate life. The key is to create an online space that helps visitors quickly access your service. For individuals with mental or physical health struggles, an efficient and easy-to-navigate website is crucial.
While there are lots of reasons to invest in a super awesome website for your therapy practice, I’ve narrowed it down to these six:
1. It’s a digital business card that clients won’t throw away.
It’s no secret that smartphones have replaced many of the paper resources we used to rely on, like MapQuest, Photo Wallets, and Business Cards, if you’re old enough to remember these things. Since the Yellow Pages no longer arrive on our doorsteps, we need a way to find contact information.
Clients can easily find that information by way of your website. And if you’d like to be extra helpful (and kinda fancy), you can apply links to your contact details that open straight to a visitor’s phone, email, or maps!
And hey, if you still like handing out printed cards for fun, go for it and do both!!
2. It’s a resource center for your clients.
Every therapist I’ve ever known has a trunk full of books and a long list of websites, podcasts, and documentaries they are eager to share. I have a notes section on my phone where I’ve kept all my current and former therapists’ suggestions. I agree there is value in requiring the client to follow through and be accountable. However, it doesn’t hurt to make that step a little bit easier when they’re already in the middle of a struggle.
Your website can also be a tool for those rare occasions when someone is in a life-threatening situation. Having easy-to-access emergency numbers could save someone from harming themselves or others.
Plus, your website is an excellent place to showcase your work if you like to write or create video content.
3. You can support those not ready for in-person therapy yet.
Seeking mental health support often happens in baby steps. Society has come a LONG way in breaking down the stigma, but we know it still exists. And even if it is acceptable, plenty of barriers continue to make it difficult for people to land themselves on your comfy couch.
Speaking from personal experience, it took me several years of getting secondhand therapy from my friends before I took the plunge myself. I noted all the tools and guidance their therapist had shared, but even with the privilege of good insurance, access to childcare, a flexible schedule, and a supportive spouse, it still took me a long time to call. And when I finally began working with her in 2017, it changed my life.
Weekly therapy is by far the most effective way to heal, but for some, it’s not that easy. And not everyone has vulnerable friends with therapy experiences to share. If you can plant a seed via your website, that could be the key to someone’s eventual success.
4. You can answer questions without making a single phone call.
How many times have you received a voice message from a potential client asking about one of the following:
Insurance
Availability
Schedule
Location
Services
Specialties
Etc
Have you found yourself rushing to make a quick call back between sessions, only to learn you aren’t a good fit for that person? Why not let your website answer those calls (or emails) for you? This is a huge time saver for you, but it also helps potential clients and prepares them for what to expect from working with you.
5. Use it to automate scheduling and payment.
Many therapists use HIPPA-compliant sites like Simple Practice and Sessions Health to manage their clients and appointments. Adding a link to your scheduling platform on your website is super easy and creates a one-stop shop for clients to access resources and schedule appointments.
More efficiency = less headache for everyone!!
6. To grow your practice or access additional revenue streams.
Referrals will continue to be the most straightforward way to gain new clients, but your website is an extra tool to help qualify those referrals. Depending on how you use your site, you can reach new clients outside your circle of influence. Writing blogs, sharing on social networks, and collaborating with other therapists are a few ways new folks can learn about you.
Beyond booking more sessions, there are endless ways to reach more people via your website and grow your business. You could write and sell an e-book or design a workbook. You could use your site to promote special intensive sessions or group therapy events. Even if these activities aren’t on your radar now, building a solid foundation will at least give you the option down the road.
With all this said, deciding to create a website or hire a designer is not mandatory. I’m all about following your intuition and making the right decisions for YOUR practice, not someone else’s. Many therapists are happy with their current clientele and prosper with referrals alone. Heck, my own therapist has to turn people away!
And if you choose to get a website, there are no rules for how to use it! Here are a few ideas that range from super simple to robust:
Single landing page with your contact information
Single landing page with contact information and services provided
Multi-page site organized by services, resources, and contact information
Multi-page site with a blog page
Multi-page site with a blog, sales page, and event offerings
The fun begins once you’ve decided the best avenue for your practice! Will you DIY your site or get a little help from a web designer (like me 😉)? Here are a few options and tools to help you:
Have a CUSTOM-designed website built based on your unique needs.
Check out my PORTFOLIO to see recently designed therapy websites.
DIY your own website! I recommend using Squarespace as it’s great for small businesses.
Whatever you choose for your practice, I am behind you 100%. I’m beyond grateful for your work and the positive impact you’re making in the world. Keep up the good work!!
I’d love to learn about your business and discuss how I can support your goals!
