Marketing for therapists that stays calm, clear and ethical

A person searching for help usually types a short phrase into a search engine: a type of therapist, a concern, a city or simply "near me". They then compare a handful of listings on directories and practice pages. What they look for first tends to be practical: is this person licensed, do they work with what I am going through, can I meet them in person or online, do they take my insurance, and what does a session cost.

Your marketing has a simple job. Make sure those answers are visible on every page where someone meets your practice, and make it easy to send a first message.

A directory profile is often the first page a new client reads about you. On NearbyTherapy your listing already exists from your public NPI record. When you claim it, you add the details people filter by.

• A recent, friendly photo you choose
• The concerns and populations you work with, stated plainly
• The approaches you use and a sentence on what sessions with you are like
• Insurance plans you accept, or a clear note that you are out of network
• Your self-pay fee and whether you offer a sliding scale
• In person, online or both, and the states where you are licensed

A complete profile appears in concern, insurance and price filters, which unclaimed registry listings do not. Start on the claim your therapist profile page.

People rarely search for "therapist" alone. They search for a concern in a place, such as couples counseling in Houston or an anxiety therapist in Chicago. NearbyTherapy has city pages and concern pages that list claimed profiles first. On the Featured plan, your profile gets priority placement in your city and up to 5 nearby ZIP codes, and appears on up to 3 city and concern pages that you choose.

Choose the pages that match the work you actually do. A focused profile reads more honestly than one that lists every concern.

Unclear fees are one of the most common reasons people hesitate to make a first call. If you are in network with a plan, name it. If you are out of network, say whether you provide superbills and explain in one sentence what that means. If you have a self-pay rate, state it. People then contact you already knowing whether the practical side works for them, and your first calls are spent on fit rather than logistics.

Reaching out to a therapist can take courage, and many people contact more than one practice at the same time. A short, warm reply within a business day often matters more than any other step in this guide. Even if you have no openings, a brief reply with a referral suggestion is kind and leaves a good impression.

On NearbyTherapy every inquiry arrives by email. The Featured plan and above add an SMS alert and an inquiry inbox, so a new inquiry does not sit unread over a busy day.

Professional codes, including those of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, contain rules on advertising, accurate statements about credentials and the use of client testimonials. The APA code, for example, says psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients. State licensing boards may have their own rules as well.

• Describe your credentials exactly as licensed, without implying a license you do not hold.
• Avoid promises of outcomes or guarantees of results.
• Do not ask current clients for reviews or testimonials.
• Keep any client information out of your marketing.
• Read the current version of the code that applies to your license and your state board rules.

NearbyTherapy has no reviews or ratings on any profile, so your listing never puts you in the position of collecting them.

A practice website and a directory profile do different jobs. Your website tells your full story, while a directory places you where people are already comparing therapists nearby. Many therapists link the two, adding their profile address to their website, email signature and referral letters. If you do not have a website yet, a claimed profile can serve as a simple professional page, described on the therapist website page.

Every plan is a flat subscription with no per-client fee and no cut of your session fees. Yearly billing saves 50 percent.

See every detail on the therapist directory listing page.