7 SEO Tips to Help Therapists Get Found by Clients

## **Overview** Are you a therapist or counselor struggling to get more clients? Most of your potential clients will find you the exact same way: through a Google search. Someone types “anxiety therapist near me” and chooses from the handful of practices that appear on the map and the first page of results. Showing up there isn’t pure luck. It’s local SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and most of it is free and within your control when done efficiently. In two short videos ([part one](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdTxJPxjYrt/) and [part two](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdosL_lCY1f/)), Callum, our Head of Growth, shares seven tips you can act on this week. Here they are, with a little more detail on how to put each one into practice. But first, let’s look at what SEO really is.

## **What is SEO?** Search Engine Optimization, commonly known as SEO, is the work of making your website and online listings easy for search engines like Google to understand, trust and show to the right people. When done well, it brings potential clients to your practice without paying for ads. Local SEO focuses on searches with a location in mind, like “couples therapist near me”. It decides whether your practice appears in Google Maps and the local results, so for a practice that sees clients in person, it’s the best place to start. For a deeper look into the SEO basics, from keyword research to page speed, read our guide to [SEO for psychologists](https://www.carepatron.com/blog/seo-for-psychologists-how-to-maximize-its-use).

## **1. Claim Your Google Business Profile and Fill Out Every Field** Your Google Business Profile is the listing that shows up in Google Maps and local results, so it’s often a client’s first impression of your practice. Claim or verify your profile, then complete every field: name, address, phone, hours, website, description, photos and services. Google itself says businesses with complete and accurate information are more likely to show up in local search results.

## **2. Add Every Category and Service That Fits** Choose the most specific primary category for your practice, then add the additional categories that also describe what you do. Google recommends a few well-chosen categories rather than one for every service. Your service list is where every offering belongs: anxiety therapy, couples counseling, EMDR, telehealth sessions and so on. You can add custom services with a short description for anything Google doesn’t suggest.

## **3. Collect Google Reviews and Reply to Everyone** Reviews build trust with potential clients, and Google reads them too. Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help your local ranking, and replying shows you value feedback. In the US, the APA, ACA, NASW and AAMFT codes all bar soliciting testimonials from current clients, so check your own code and licensing board first. A low-pressure option is a “Review us on Google” link on your website or in your email signature.

## **4. Make Your Website Match Your Google Profile Exactly** Your practice name, address, phone number, hours and services should read the same on your profile and on your website. “Carepatron” in one place and “Careptron” in another may seem minor, but consistent details make it easier for Google, and clients, to trust that both belong to the same real practice. Check your directory listings too, and update everything at once when you move or change your hours.

## **5. Build a Page for Every Service You Offer** One “Services” page that lists everything is hard for Google to match to specific searches. Give each service its own page, such as “Anxiety Therapy in Reno, NV”, explaining who it’s for, how sessions work and how to book. This helps people in your area who search for that exact service find you, and if you’re the only practice in town with a page about that service, chances are they’ll find you first. Use words your clients use, such as “help with panic attacks”, alongside clinical terms like “CBT for panic disorder”.

## **6. Get Listed on the Big Therapist Directories** Create a profile on established platforms like Psychology Today and add your website address to each one. A link from another site to yours is called a backlink, and Google counts how many websites link to your business as part of how credible it is. Your professional association’s “find a therapist” directory and local community directories are worth adding too.

## **7. Add a “Get Directions” Button to Your Contact Page** It’s a quiet but powerful signal to Google that you’re a real local practice. Link the button to your Google Maps listing so clients can get directions in one tap, and show your full address beside it.

## **Your Local SEO Checklist** - Claim your Google Business Profile and fill out every field - Add your categories and list every service you offer - Make it easy to leave a review, and reply to each one without confirming client status - Match your name, address, phone, hours and services across your website and profile - Build a page for each service - List your practice on Psychology Today and other directories, with a link to your website - Add a “Get directions” button to your contact page

## **Turn More Searches into Booked Sessions** Getting found is step one. Step two is making it easy for a new client to book the moment they land on your profile or website. With Carepatron’s [online scheduling](https://www.carepatron.com/features/schedule), you can embed a booking button or calendar on your website, including on every service page you build. For a step-by-step setup, see the [Get your clinic found online playbook](https://www.carepatron.com/campaign/starting-out-playbook). Want more tips like these, made for therapists growing their practice? Follow us @Carepatron on all our social channels, or [try Carepatron for free](https://app.carepatron.com/Register).