Getting therapy clients online isn’t actually about fancy design or trendy aesthetics. It’s about making people feel safe enough to hit that contact button. And if we’re being honest, most therapy websites are doing the opposite.

Show Your Actual Face

Stop with the stock photos of meditation poses and zen gardens. Your potential clients need to see YOU. The real you, not some over-filtered LinkedIn headshot. I’ve looked at hundreds of therapy websites (because apparently that’s what I do with my time now), and the ones that will convert have photos that make you look like an actual human being who can handle real problems.

• Get a simple, professional headshot in clothes you’d actually wear to sessions
• Use the same photo across your website and professional profiles
• Skip the artsy black and white filter – people want to see who they’re actually meeting

Make Your Contact Info Obvious

Here’s what happens: Someone finally works up the courage to look for a therapist at 2AM. They find your website. They can’t figure out how to reach you. They give up. Don’t let that be your story.

• Put your booking link or contact form front and center
• List your insurance info clearly – no one wants to play detective
• Include your location and whether you offer virtual sessions
• Add your actual response time for inquiries

Write Like You Actually Talk:

I know you want to sound professional. But I’ve looked at so many therapy websites while building these templates that my eyes are starting to blur from all the “safe spaces” and “healing journeys.” Here’s the thing – your potential clients are real people having real problems, usually scrolling your site at 2AM when they can’t sleep. Talk to them like that.

• Instead of “I provide a safe space” just say “You can tell me anything. Seriously.”
• Skip “I facilitate personal growth” and try “I help you figure out why you keep dating the same terrible people”
• Ditch “evidence-based interventions” for “Here’s what actually works for panic attacks”
• Nobody knows what “optimal functioning” means. Try “I help you get your shit together at work”
• “Processing trauma” could be “Dealing with that thing that happened that you can’t stop thinking about”
• Instead of “mindfulness techniques” try “Ways to shut up your brain when it won’t stop spinning”
• Drop “therapeutic alliance” and just say “We’re in this together”
• Forget “holistic approach” – say “We’ll figure out what’s really going on, not just the surface stuff”
• “Specialized modalities” means nothing. “I have specific tools that help with anxiety” means everything

Skip the Mystery: Tell people exactly what they’ll get

Here’s something wild: Most people looking for a therapist have no idea what they’re actually going to get when they book a session. How much will it cost? Where is your office? Do you only do Zoom calls? Will insurance cover it? Instead of making them dig for this stuff, put it right up front like this:

I’m Sara Jensen. I help adults and teens in Denver navigate anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Be direct about what you offer – here’s an example:

• In-person sessions at my downtown Denver office
• Virtual therapy sessions anywhere in Colorado
• 15-minute free consultation calls to see if we’re a good fit
• Response to all inquiries within 24 hours
• Accepting Cigna, Aetna, and United Healthcare
• Self-pay options with sliding scale available

I believe therapy works best when you know exactly what you’re getting into. No mysterious processes, no therapy-speak, just straightforward support when you need it.

[Book a Free Consultation] [View Insurance & Rates]

Skip the Therapy-Speak

I’ve read enough therapy websites to know that most of them sound exactly the same. Skip the: “I provide a safe space for healing and growth”

• Write your copy like you’re explaining things to a friend
• Tell people exactly what you help with – specific problems, specific solutions
• Drop the clinical language unless you’re specifically targeting other therapists
• Share a bit about your approach without sounding like a textbook

The Technical Stuff That Actually Matters

Your website needs to work as well as you do. That means:

• Make it load fast – anxious people don’t wait for slow websites
• Ensure it works on phones – most people will find you there
• Keep your forms short – asking for life stories can wait until the session
• Make sure your booking system actually, you know, works

Listen, getting your therapy website right isn’t about following some magic formula. It’s about making it easy for people who need help to actually get it. Everything else is just noise.

Want help making this happen? My one-week custom web design service can get you there without the usual website headaches.

Or check out the Template Store – We have a template called Clarity that was built with therapists in mind, but all templates can be easily (drag & drop!) customized to fit your therapy practice.