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The Love, Happiness & Success For Therapists Podcast
How to Get More Therapy Clients
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Are you a therapist who wants more clients? This is a common challenge, especially in today’s therapy landscape. Potential clients have a lot of options when they’re searching for therapists — it takes an effective strategy to stand out from the crowd, communicate your value, and grow your caseload.
As an experienced therapist myself, and the founder of a group private practice that supports dozens of clinicians, I have a lot of thoughts on this subject. In this article, I’m going to lay out the essential steps to getting more therapy clients and building a thriving practice. If you’d prefer to listen, I’ve also recorded an episode of Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists on this subject. You can find it on this page, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
The Million-Dollar Question: How to Get More Therapy Clients?
If you’re like many therapists, you’ve likely asked yourself, “How can I get more therapy clients?” Well, you’re not alone. This is a common challenge, and today, we’re going to cover several key areas, including marketing strategies, networking, client retention, and the importance of a strong online presence. I know you, like all therapists, have tons of questions on this subject, so: Let’s dive right in!
Marketing Strategies for Therapists
“What are effective marketing strategies for therapists?”
First up, marketing. This is crucial for any private practice. One of the most effective tools in your marketing toolkit is SEO—search engine optimization. This is how people find your website organically online. By optimizing your site with relevant keywords, you can improve your visibility on search engines like Google.
Understanding SEO
“How to use SEO for my therapy practice?”
SEO might sound like a techy term, but it’s really about making your website more visible. When people search for terms like “how to get more therapy clients,” you want your site to pop up. How do you do this? By incorporating these keywords into your website content. This includes your blog posts, service descriptions, and even your homepage.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a big piece of the SEO puzzle. Writing blog posts or creating videos about common therapy topics can do wonders for your visibility and credibility. For example, if you specialize in anxiety, write about coping strategies, the latest research, or personal insights on the topic. This not only helps people find you but also positions you as an expert in your field.
Social Media: Friend or Foe?
“How to use social media to attract therapy clients?”
Ah, social media. It’s a love-hate relationship for many of us, isn’t it? Personally, I’m not a huge fan, but professionally, I get its importance. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn can be powerful tools for reaching a wider audience. The key is to share valuable content and engage with your followers. Show a bit of your personality—people want to connect with a real person, not just a professional profile.
However there are important ethical considerations for therapists in the social media space. I recorded a podcast episode about therapists on social media and I hope you check it out!
Building a Strong Online Presence
“How to create an engaging website for my therapy practice?”
Your website is your digital storefront, and it needs to be inviting and user-friendly. Make sure it clearly outlines your services, provides information about your background and approach, and makes it easy for potential clients to contact you or book an appointment.
Mobile Optimization
Remember, many people will be viewing your site on their phones, so make sure it looks good and functions well on smaller screens. Mobile optimization is crucial for keeping visitors on your site and reducing bounce rates.
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Networking and Referrals
“How to build a strong referral network?”
Networking can be one of the most effective ways to build your client base. Start with your colleagues. Make sure they know you’re accepting new clients and understand what you specialize in. Personal relationships are gold in this business.
Building a Referral Network
Think about professionals in your community who might refer clients to you. This could include doctors, school counselors, or even real estate agents and hairdressers. Yes, you heard that right—hairdressers! They often hear all about people’s personal lives and can be great referral sources.
You may also be thinking, “How to ethically ask for client testimonials?” But I have some bad news: It’s not ethical for therapists to solicit public reviews from current or former clients to to confidentiality restrictions, and the very real power dynamic which makes even asking for your client’s consent for public reviews more than a little cringey. De-identified and/or freely given public feedback? Green light!
Client Retention: Keeping Clients Happy
“How to retain therapy clients?”
Retaining clients is just as important, if not more so, than attracting new ones. Ask yourself, how can you improve client retention? How can you provide more value so clients want to stick around?
Providing Value
Clients should see substantial improvement within the first few sessions. If they’re not, it might be time to reevaluate your approach. Ensure that you’re providing real value and helping clients achieve their goals.
Creating a Welcoming Environment
Whether your practice is physical or virtual, create a warm and welcoming environment. Clients need to feel comfortable and safe with you. Follow-up between sessions, send appointment reminders, and make rescheduling easy. Flexibility in scheduling can also help—consider offering evening or weekend appointments to accommodate busy clients.
Specialization and Niche Marketing
“How to specialize or find a niche in therapy?”
Finding your therapy niche can set you apart from other therapists. Think about the types of clients you most enjoy working with or the problems you’re most passionate about. Tailor your marketing efforts to reach that specific audience.
Certifications and Continuing Education
“What continuing education opportunities can help me attract more clients?”
Continuing education can also help you stand out. Consider what additional certifications or training programs could make you more attractive to potential clients. This not only enhances your skills but also boosts your credibility. One powerful opportunity for many therapists is to become credentialed as a coach. If you’re interested in coaching certification grab my free two part training to learn more!
Practical Considerations: Setting Fees and Managing Your Practice
“How to set my fees as a therapist?”
Setting your fees can be tricky. You want to be fair to your clients while ensuring your practice is sustainable. Be transparent about your fees and what your services include. This builds trust and starts the relationship on the right foot.
You should also be thinking about whether or not you want to attract and cater to self-pay clients vs. a client base who’s session fees are covered by their healthcare. There are pros and cons to both, which I did a deep dive into in the episode, “Is it time to release the medical model?” and “Should I start a private practice?” Check them out to get clarity around the pitfalls and possibilities of each!
Practice Management Software
“What practice management software should I use?”
Choosing the right practice management software is crucial. It can save you time and reduce administrative burdens, but be cautious. Some software providers use deceptive marketing practices that could siphon clients away from your practice. Make sure you’re fully informed before making a choice. Check out my therapy EHR horror story for more on this important topic.
Join a Group Practice
If all this marketing talk is making your head spin, you might consider joining a group practice. At Growing Self, for example, we take care of the marketing, practice management, and client referrals, allowing our therapists to focus on what they do best—helping clients. If you’re thinking, “OMG yes please” right about now, here’s the link to learn more about our private practice opportunities.
Resources and Next Steps
I hope these tips give you a solid starting point for attracting more therapy clients. For more in-depth information, check out the resources available at growingself.com/therapists. You’ll find podcasts, videos, and articles that cover everything we discussed today and more.
Connect with Me
I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on LinkedIn (just search for Lisa Marie Bobby) and share your thoughts, questions, or pain points. What other topics would you like to see covered on the podcast? Let me know!
Conclusion
Thank you so much for joining me today. Remember, the key to connecting with more clients is to be authentic, provide value, and build strong relationships. If you found this helpful, please share it with a colleague, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and leave a comment. Let’s keep the conversation going!
Until next time, take care and keep striving for love, happiness, and success in your practice.
Xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
RELATED: How Therapists Can Succeed Financially, When Therapy Clients Refer Their Friends, A Guide for Therapists in Private Practice
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