Most therapist bio examples online are a few opening lines or a single sample written for one directory. If you're writing the About page of your practice website or filling in a directory profile this week, you need more: whole bios to measure yours against, a structure that answers what clients actually ask, and the rules on what a bio may claim. This guide has 10 complete bios by practice type and modality, a vague bio rewritten line by line, the ethics standards on credentials and testimonials, and a template you can copy one field at a time. It works the same way for counselor bio examples, "about me" pages and directory profiles.
Every therapist and practice in this article is invented. Any resemblance to a real person or practice is a coincidence. License and registration numbers are left as placeholders.
What clients look for in a therapist bio
There is little research on therapist bios themselves, and we found no study that tests which wording leads to more bookings. Treat any claim that one phrase brings in more clients as marketing. What research does show is useful anyway:
- Clients look for your experience and training, and often can't find it.In an online survey of 238 current and former therapy patients, recruited through German-language therapy platforms and forums, 106 had looked for information about their therapist, most of them online. Of the 74 who said what they looked for, 73% searched for the therapist's professional experience and 38% found it; 62% looked for a CV or professional development and 34% found it (Eichenberg and Sawyer, JMIR Mental Health, 2016). It's a small, self-selected sample, but the gap is plain: people want the facts a bio can give them.
- Experience and waiting time weigh on the choice.In a choice experiment with 1,575 German adults who had been in psychotherapy, the setting (individual or group) mattered most, followed by the therapist's professional experience, waiting time, how sessions were delivered and the therapist's gender (Lenz, König and Hajek, Psychotherapy Research, 2026). The choices were hypothetical and the health system differs from the US, but it supports two lines many bios skip: how long and where you've practiced, and when you have openings.
- Fit with what a client prefers matters after they book, too.A meta-analysis of 53 studies and more than 16,000 clients found that giving clients the kind of therapy they preferred was associated with fewer dropouts (odds ratio 1.79) and somewhat better outcomes (d = 0.28) (Swift and colleagues, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2018). Your bio is the first place a client can check fit, so describe how you work in terms they can compare with what they want: talking or skills, structured or open, practice between sessions or not, online or in person.
- What appeals to therapists may not appeal to clients.When 466 psychotherapy trainees and 969 laypeople filled in the same preferences questionnaire, the trainees preferred less direction from the therapist, more emotional intensity and more challenge than the laypeople did (Heinze and colleagues, Psychotherapy Research, 2023). Describe sessions from the client's side, not in the words you'd use with a colleague.
Your photo sits next to all of this. Our guide to therapist headshots covers the one study on photos in a mock therapist directory, plus light, framing and alt text.
How to write a therapist bio: six parts, in order
Every example below follows the same order. It answers the questions a person has when they land on your page, in roughly the order they have them.
- Who you help, in their words. Name the people and what they live with, the way they'd type it into a search box late at night: "can't stop worrying about work", not "generalized anxiety". Keep it to two or three groups. Test: after two sentences, can a reader say "that's me" or "that's not me"?
- How you work. Name your approach once, then say what it looks like in the room: how structured sessions are, whether there's practice between sessions, how you check that therapy is helping. Test: cover the name of the modality. Does the paragraph still tell a stranger what happens?
- What a first session is like. A first session is an unknown, and describing it makes booking easier to picture. Say what you'll ask, what they don't have to do yet, which forms come first and that you'll talk about fit. Our guides to the therapy intake form and informed consent cover what those forms hold.
- Credentials. The license title spelled out, the state or states, the license number if your board expects it in advertising, your degree and your trainings named exactly. Give experience as facts a client can check: years, settings, populations.
- Fees and insurance stance. Fee and session length; in network or not, and with which plans (or "listed on my Fees page"); superbills; a sliding scale if you offer one. If you see self-pay clients, your website also needs the good faith estimate notice (more in the ethics section). Our sliding fee schedule guide shows how to describe a sliding scale.
- How to book. One next step, how soon you reply and, if it's true, that you can't respond to emergencies.
An optional seventh part is one personal line: something true that tells a client who you are, like a hobby or why you chose this work. Leave out your family details, your own therapy history and your politics; they shift attention to you.
First person or third person?
Use first person ("I work with...") on your own website and on directory profiles. It reads like the start of a conversation, and it's how you'll actually talk to the person who books. Many bios open by speaking to the reader ("If your worry has started to shrink your life...") and then move to "I".
Use third person ("Dr. Castellano works with...") when someone else is speaking about you: a group practice's team page, a conference program, a podcast introduction, a press mention.
Pick one per bio and don't switch mid-paragraph. If you want a formal credentials line on a first-person bio, write it as a plain list (name, license, state, number) so it doesn't need a pronoun at all.
How long should a therapist bio be?
Directories, websites and team pages each give you different room. These are working ranges, taken from what the ranking guides recommend and what our examples need; no study we found compared bio lengths.
- A therapist bio for your website (About page):about 300 to 600 words. That's room for all six parts. Past that, move details to a fees page or a questions page and link to them.
- A directory profile:about 150 to 250 words, often split across the directory's own boxes. Directories set and change their own limits, so trust the counter on the field, not a guide. Many show only your opening lines in search results, so put who you help and where in the first two sentences.
- A group practice team page:100 to 200 words, usually third person, with a button to book that clinician.
- A social profile or email signature:one line with who you help, where, and a link to your site.
10 therapist bio examples by practice type
Examples 1 to 9 run about 180 to 250 words each: the core of an About page. On a website you'd add your photo and links to your fees and booking pages. They double as therapist about me examples for a solo practice site. After each one, a short list explains what it does that most bios don't.
1Trauma therapist using EMDR (website)
Maya Lindqvist is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who sees adults after trauma, in person and by video.
If something happened that your mind keeps going back to, through nightmares, a body that won't settle or a sense that you're always on guard, you're in the right place. I work with adults after car accidents, assaults, medical trauma and childhoods that didn't feel safe.
I use EMDR therapy along with other trauma-focused approaches. In EMDR, you hold part of a memory in mind for short stretches while following side-to-side eye movements or taps, and we pause often to check in. You set the pace, and you don't have to describe every detail out loud.
Our first session is about you, not the trauma. We'll talk about what brings you in, how you're sleeping and coping, and what you'd like to feel differently. Most people spend a few sessions building ways to calm their body before we work with any memory.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado (LPC [license number]) with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. I completed an EMDRIA-approved EMDR basic training and take part in ongoing consultation.
Sessions are 53 minutes, $160, in my Fort Collins office or by video for clients in Colorado. I'm out of network with insurance and can give you a superbill to submit for possible reimbursement.
Book a 15-minute consultation call on my booking page. I reply within one business day. I can't respond to emergencies; if you're in crisis, call or text 988.
Why it works:
- It opens with what the client lives with, in their words, instead of "I specialize in PTSD."
- It explains EMDR in one sentence a stranger can picture, and says "trained", not "certified".
- It answers the fear many trauma clients bring to a first session: having to tell the whole story.
2Couples therapist, Gottman-informed (website)
Daniel Reyes is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Oregon who works with couples.
You love each other, and the same fight keeps happening. Maybe it's money, chores, or one of you shutting down while the other pushes harder. Maybe there was an affair, or a baby, and since then you've felt like roommates. I work with couples of all kinds who want to stop circling and start talking again.
My approach draws on the Gottman Method, in which I've completed Level 1 and Level 2 training. Sessions are practical: we slow a real argument down, find the moment it goes off track and practice a different way through it. Expect short exercises to try at home.
We start with an assessment: one session together, one individual session with each of you, and questionnaires you each fill in online. Then I tell you what I see and we agree on goals. I won't take sides, and I'll tell you if I think something else, like individual therapy, should come first.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Oregon (LMFT [license number]) with a master's degree in couples and family therapy.
Sessions are 80 minutes, $190, in my Portland office or by video when you're both in Oregon. I don't bill insurance; ask your plan whether it covers couples sessions.
Book your first session together on my booking page, or send a question through the contact form. I reply within two business days.
Why it works:
- It names the training completed. "Certified Gottman Therapist" is a separate designation that comes at the end of the Gottman Institute's certification track, so a Level 2 therapist says "Gottman-informed" or names the levels.
- It describes what a session feels like (slowing a real argument down) instead of listing techniques.
- It answers a question many couples bring to the first call: will you take sides?
3Teen anxiety therapist using CBT (website for parents and teens)
Priya Raman is a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey who works with teens and their parents.
For parents: if your teen's worry has started to shrink their life, with stomachaches before school, skipped practices or hours of reassurance at bedtime, I can help you both. I work with teens 12 to 18 who have anxiety, panic attacks or social worries, and with their parents.
For teens: anxiety is loud, but it doesn't get to be in charge. We'll figure out what it's telling you, then practice doing hard things in small steps, at a pace you agree to. You'll leave with skills you can use in class, not just in my office.
I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including exposure, which means facing feared situations a little at a time with support. Most weeks include a small practice task. Parents join some sessions to learn how to support practice without adding pressure.
The first session starts with parents for about 20 minutes, then I meet your teen alone. I'll explain what stays private, what I share with parents, and when I'd have to share something to keep someone safe.
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey (LCSW [license number]) with a master's degree in social work and training in CBT for anxiety in children and teens.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $150. I'm in network with two plans, listed on my Fees page, and provide superbills for others. After-school times fill first; right now there's a short waitlist for 4 p.m.
Book a 15-minute call on my booking page (parents first, please). I reply within one business day.
Why it works:
- It speaks to both readers, parent first, because the parent usually books.
- It explains confidentiality in plain words. Rules on minors' consent and parents' access to records differ by state, so match this paragraph to yours.
- It's honest about the after-school waitlist, which saves everyone a disappointing first call.
4Grief counselor (website)
Ruth Calloway is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia who works with adults after a death.
Grief doesn't follow stages or a schedule. Maybe it's been two months, maybe ten years, and the people around you have stopped asking. I work with adults grieving a death, including sudden losses, the death of a child, and losses others don't always count, like a pregnancy or a parent you were estranged from.
In our sessions there's room to talk about the person who died, the relationship as it really was, and what life looks like now. I won't try to hurry you through grief or past it. Some people want to talk; others want practical help with sleep, anniversaries or going back to work. We'll do what's useful.
In the first session I'll ask about your loss and how you're getting through the days, and you can share as much or as little as you like. I'll also ask about sleep, eating and any thoughts of death, because many grieving people have them and it's all right to say so here.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia (LPC [license number]). Before private practice I spent eight years as a hospice bereavement counselor.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $140, in my Savannah office or by video for clients in Georgia. I keep a few reduced-fee places on a sliding scale; ask when you book. I'm out of network and provide superbills.
Book a first session directly on my booking page, or request a 15-minute call if you'd like to talk first.
Why it works:
- It names specific losses, including ones people feel they aren't allowed to grieve.
- "I won't try to hurry you" answers a common fear about grief counseling.
- Experience is a checkable fact (eight years in hospice), not "extensive experience".
5LGBTQ+ affirming therapist (website)
Sam Whitfield is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois who works with LGBTQ+ adults.
You shouldn't have to educate your therapist. I work with LGBTQ+ adults, including trans and nonbinary people, on anxiety, depression, relationships, family stress, coming out at any age, and the everyday strain of living in a world that isn't always safe.
Being affirming means specific things here. I'll ask your name and pronouns, use them, and keep them in your records. Your identity isn't treated as the problem, and we won't spend your sessions on the basics. If you're seeking gender-affirming medical care, I can talk through what a support letter involves and write one when it's appropriate.
My style is warm and collaborative, mostly talk-based, with tools from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) when they help. In the first session you can tell me what brought you here, ask me anything about how I work, and decide whether we're a fit.
Sam Whitfield (they/them), Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois (LCSW [license number]). I've worked with LGBTQ+ clients for nine years, first at a community health center and now in private practice, and I keep up regular training in affirming care.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $150, with a sliding scale down to $90 for a set number of clients. I'm in network with one plan, listed on my Fees page.
Book a 15-minute consultation on my booking page. I reply within one business day.
Why it works:
- It defines "affirming" by things a client can check (names, pronouns, records), not by the word alone.
- It answers a practical question this audience often has: support letters.
- It doesn't disclose the therapist's own identity. That's a personal choice, not something a bio owes anyone.
6Faith-integrated counselor (website)
Grace Holloway is a licensed professional counselor in Texas who offers Christian counseling to clients who want it.
If your faith matters to you and you want a counselor who will welcome it into the room, rather than treat it as a symptom, I'd be glad to work with you. I see adults and couples dealing with anxiety, depression, strain in a marriage, and questions about faith itself, including doubt.
I'm a Christian, and I offer Christian counseling to clients who ask for it: we can pray, look at scripture, or talk about how your beliefs shape what you're going through. That part is always your choice. If you'd rather keep faith out of sessions, or you hold a different faith or none, I'll follow your lead. My job is to help you toward your goals, not mine.
The rest is careful, standard counseling: cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals, and structured communication work for couples. In the first session we'll cover what brings you in, your goals, and how much you'd like faith to be part of our work.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas (LPC [license number]) with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP-accredited program.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $130, in my Tyler office or by video for clients in Texas. I don't bill insurance but can give you a superbill. Ask about my sliding scale.
Book a first session or a 15-minute call on my booking page.
Why it works:
- Faith integration is the client's choice, in line with the ACA Code's standard on not imposing a counselor's own values (A.4.b).
- It welcomes doubt and other faiths without weakening the offer for clients who want faith in the room.
- The first session explicitly asks how much faith to include, so nobody is surprised.
7Telehealth-only therapist licensed in two states (website)
Elena Marsh is a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey who sees clients only by video.
I work with adults whose jobs have taken over: nurses, teachers, lawyers, parents juggling both, anyone whose stress follows them to bed. If you're running on empty, can't switch off or dread Sunday evenings, therapy can be one hour a week that's about you.
All sessions are online by secure video. I'm licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, so I can see you when you're in one of those states at the time of the session. If you'll be traveling or moving, tell me first, because I may not be able to meet while you're elsewhere.
I use cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in a practical, structured way. We'll set goals in the first session, and most people leave it with one small thing to try that week. Before we meet, you'll fill in intake and consent forms online, including a telehealth consent.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania (LPC [license number]) and New Jersey (LPC [license number]), with 11 years of experience, most of it in employee assistance programs.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $150, with evening times Monday to Thursday. I'm out of network and provide superbills. All you need is a private room and a phone or computer with a camera.
Pick a time on my booking page. I reply to messages within one business day.
Why it works:
- It says where the client has to be, not just where the therapist is licensed. Licensing for telehealth generally depends on where the client is during the session, so that's the fact a client needs.
- It tells people what to do before they travel.
- It explains the practical setup for someone who has never had a video session.
8New associate under supervision (California, website)
Jamie Ortiz is a registered associate marriage and family therapist in California, employed by a group practice and seeing clients under supervision.
If you're in your twenties or early thirties and feeling stuck, between school and a career, in a relationship that keeps going sideways, or carrying anxiety nobody at work can see, I'd like to help. I work with young adults and with couples early in their relationships.
I'm newer to the field, and I'll be clear about what that means. I bring recent training and close attention, and I meet regularly with my clinical supervisor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to review my work. At our first session I'll explain how supervision works and what it means for your privacy.
My style is warm and direct. I draw on emotionally focused and cognitive behavioral approaches from my training, and every few weeks we'll check together that therapy is helping.
Jamie Ortiz, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT [registration number]. Employed by Willowmere Counseling Group. Supervised by [supervisor's name], LMFT [license number]. Master's degree in counseling psychology.
Because I'm an associate, my fee is lower: $90 for a 50-minute session, in Willowmere's Sacramento office or by video for clients in California. Willowmere is in network with two plans, listed on its Fees page.
Book a 15-minute consultation on my booking page. I reply within two business days.
Why it works:
- It uses the full title and registration number and names the employer. California's advertising rule requires registrants to include all three, and it bars the abbreviation "AMFT" unless the full title appears too (16 CCR 1811).
- It turns "new" into something specific and honest instead of hiding it.
- It raises supervision and its effect on privacy up front. The ACA Code asks supervisees to disclose their status and how it affects the limits of confidentiality before providing services (F.5.c). Check your own board's rules for associates and interns.
9Psychologist on a group practice team page (third person)
Dr. Nina Castellano is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts on the team at an invented group practice, Calder Street Psychology.
Dr. Nina Castellano is a licensed psychologist who helps adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and health anxiety: the urge to check, clean or ask for reassurance again and again. She uses exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy in which clients face feared thoughts and situations in planned steps while practicing not doing the compulsion.
Her style is calm and plain-spoken. The first appointment is a 90-minute assessment that includes standard OCD questionnaires. At the end, she explains what she sees and what treatment would involve, including roughly how often you'd meet. Some ERP sessions happen outside the office, where the triggers are.
Dr. Castellano holds a PhD in clinical psychology and is licensed in Massachusetts (license [number]). Before joining Calder Street Psychology, she spent six years at a hospital-based anxiety clinic.
Sessions are 53 minutes, $220; the assessment is $330. Calder Street Psychology is out of network and provides superbills. To book, use the Book with Dr. Castellano button or call the front desk. New client inquiries get a reply within one business day.
Why it works:
- Third person reads naturally on a team page, where the practice is speaking about its clinicians.
- "Dr." goes with a doctorate in the field she practices in. Using a title or degree in a misleading way is exactly what the ethics codes rule out (APA 5.01, ACA C.4.d).
- It explains ERP in one sentence, including the uncomfortable part, so the right clients book and the rest aren't surprised.
10The same trauma bio, cut for a directory
Here is example 1 at directory length, about 110 words. The first two sentences carry who and where, because many directories show only the opening lines in search results.
Nightmares, a body that won't settle, always being on guard: if something happened that you can't put down, I can help. I work with adults after accidents, assaults, medical trauma and difficult childhoods, in Fort Collins and by video across Colorado.
I use EMDR therapy and other trauma-focused approaches. You set the pace, and you won't have to describe every detail out loud. Our first sessions focus on sleep, coping and calming your body before we work with any memory.
Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado. EMDR trained (EMDRIA-approved basic training). Sessions $160, out of network, superbills provided.
Book a 15-minute consultation through my website. I reply within one business day.
Why it works:
- The website version's explanations shrink to one line each, and the directory profile sends readers to the website for the rest.
- The credentials and fee become a plain list, which fits a small box.
- It still answers the fear about the first session.
Before and after: rewriting a vague therapist bio
Here's a bio built from phrases that appear on a great many therapist profiles. Nothing in it is false, and that's part of the problem: it would be just as true for almost anyone.
Welcome! I am a licensed therapist with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, couples and families. I use an integrative, client-centered, evidence-based approach tailored to each client's unique needs, drawing on CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, psychodynamic and solution-focused modalities. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, grief, life transitions, self-esteem and stress. I believe everyone deserves a safe, nonjudgmental space to heal and grow. Together we will help you become the best version of yourself. Contact me today to begin your journey!
What's wrong with it:
- "Welcome!" spends the opening line, the one a directory shows in search results.
- Three client groups and eight specialties tell a reader you're for everyone, so you aren't clearly for them. The ACA Code also asks counselors to practice only within the boundaries of their competence (C.2.a); a long list invites the question.
- Six named modalities, none explained. Each name implies training. If you list EMDR or DBT, you should have the training to back it; the ACA Code asks counselors to "accurately describe their continuing education and specialized training" (C.4.a).
- "A safe, nonjudgmental space" is what nearly every therapist says they offer. It doesn't help anyone choose.
- "Become the best version of yourself" drifts toward a promise of results, which the NASW Code includes among the representations that must be accurate (4.06(c)).
- What's missing: the state, the license title, online or in person, what the first session is like, the fee, insurance, how soon you reply and how to book.
The same invented therapist, rewritten:
Do you lie awake replaying conversations, or feel flat and tired even after a full night's sleep? I work with adults in Arizona who live with anxiety or depression, often alongside a demanding job or caring for family.
Sessions with me are practical. We use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to notice the thoughts and habits that keep you stuck, and you'll try small changes between sessions. I'll ask for your feedback often, and if something isn't helping, we'll change it.
In our first session we'll talk about what's going on, what you want to be different and whether I'm the right fit. If I'm not, I'll help you find someone who is.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona (LPC [license number]) with ten years of experience, first in community mental health and now in private practice.
Sessions are 50 minutes, $140, in my Tempe office or by video for clients in Arizona. I'm in network with two plans, listed on my Fees page, and provide superbills for others.
Book a first session or a 15-minute call on my booking page. I reply within one business day.
The rewrite is longer, about 190 words to the original's 85, and every added sentence answers a question a client has. It drops five modalities the therapist doesn't actively use and the populations she doesn't focus on.
Seven sentence-level rewrites
- "I provide a safe space." Instead: "You can come in without knowing what to say; I'll ask questions to get us started."
- "I'm passionate about helping clients reach their goals." Instead: "I help new parents find time for sleep, friends and themselves again."
- "I use an eclectic approach." Instead: "Most sessions mix talking through your week with one practical skill to try before next time."
- "I specialize in anxiety." Instead: "I work with adults whose anxiety shows up as panic attacks, constant what-ifs or avoiding things they used to enjoy."
- "Certified in EMDR" (after basic training only). Instead: "Trained in EMDR (EMDRIA-approved basic training)."
- "I will help you heal." Instead: "We'll work toward the changes you choose and check together whether they're happening."
- "Contact me to schedule." Instead: "Book a 15-minute call on my booking page; I reply within one business day."
Ethics and accuracy: what your bio can claim
A bio is advertising, and the codes treat it that way. The APA Ethics Code lists "directory listings" among the public statements its standards cover (APA Ethics Code, 5.01). For a fuller walk through the ACA Code for private practice, see our ACA Code of Ethics guide.
Credentials and training
- Claim only what's current and earned."Counselors claim only licenses or certifications that are current and in good standing" (ACA C.4.b). Counselors state their highest earned degree in counseling or a closely related field and don't call themselves "Dr." in a counseling context when their doctorate is in an unrelated field (C.4.c, C.4.d) (ACA Code of Ethics).
- Accuracy covers more than titles.The NASW Code says representations of "professional qualifications, credentials, education, competence, affiliations, services provided, or results to be achieved" must be accurate, and that social workers should "claim only those relevant professional credentials they actually possess" (NASW Code of Ethics, 4.06(c)). APA 5.01(b) covers training, experience, competence, degrees, credentials, services, fees and "results or degree of success".
- Trained is not certified.EMDRIA's certified-therapist badge "is for use only by EMDRIA Certified Therapists" (EMDRIA). The Gottman Institute's certification track is "a rigorous 2-year program for licensed mental health professionals" that follows the training levels (The Gottman Institute). Say exactly what you completed.
- Your state may require specific wording.California's Board of Behavioral Sciences, for example, requires LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and associates to include their name as filed with the board, their license or registration title and their number in any advertisement, and registrants must also name their employer (16 CCR 1811). Check your own board's advertising rules.
- Link your board."Counselors who offer distance counseling services and/or maintain a professional website provide electronic links to relevant licensure and professional certification boards" (ACA H.5.b). A link under your credentials line does it.
- You're responsible for what others write about you.If a marketer or directory editor writes your bio, the ACA Code asks you to make reasonable efforts to ensure statements made by others about you are accurate (C.3.c), and NASW 4.06(c) asks you to correct inaccuracies by others.
Testimonials and reviews
- ACA C.3.b:counselors who use testimonials "do not solicit them from current clients, former clients, or any other persons who may be vulnerable to undue influence," and they discuss the implications with clients and get permission for any testimonial.
- NASW 4.07(b):no soliciting testimonial endorsements from current clients or others vulnerable to undue influence, "including solicitation of consent to use a client's prior statement".
- APA 5.05:"Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence."
Many therapists leave testimonials off their bio and site entirely. Some state boards add their own limits, so check yours. Don't put client stories in a bio either, even disguised. If someone leaves a public review, be careful replying: confirming that a person is your client can itself be a disclosure. Our marketing guide covers reviews in more detail.
Outcomes, values, fees and states
- No promised results.Leave out success rates and "you will feel better in eight sessions". Describe what you work toward together.
- Specialties within your competence.The ACA Code asks counselors to practice within the boundaries of their competence, based on education, training, supervised experience and credentials (C.2.a). List the areas you're trained and experienced in, not every area you'd accept.
- Faith and values.The ACA Code asks counselors to be aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and to avoid imposing them on clients (A.4.b). A faith-integrated bio should make integration the client's choice, as example 6 does.
- Self-pay clients.If you see uninsured or self-pay clients, federal rules require information about the availability of a good faith estimate to be "prominently displayed" on your website, among other places (45 CFR 149.610). Put the notice on your fees page and link to it from your bio.
- Telehealth and states."The ability to deliver health care services across state lines varies based on state regulations," and HHS tells providers to verify the patient's location before an appointment (HHS, Licensing across state lines). Name the states where you can see clients, as example 7 does.
Make your bio accessible
"Counselors who maintain websites provide accessibility to persons with disabilities" (ACA H.5.d). The Justice Department's guidance describes how businesses open to the public can make their websites accessible as the ADA requires (ADA.gov, Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA). For a bio, that comes down to a few habits, most of them from the W3C's writing tips:
- Plain words and short sentences. Many readers skim, often on a phone. One idea per sentence, and no clinical terms without a plain explanation beside them.
- Spell out abbreviations once. "Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)", then "LPC". Screen readers read "LPC" as letters, and many clients don't know what it means.
- Real text, never text in an image. Screen readers can't read words inside an image, the words blur when enlarged, and search engines can't read them as text.
- Alt text on your photo. Something like "Maya Lindqvist, a therapist with shoulder-length gray hair, smiling in her office." The W3C's alt text decision tree helps with the other images on your site.
- Link text that says where it goes. "Book a 15-minute call", not "click here".
- Captions and a transcript for an intro video, if you have one.
- Access details clients need: level or ramped entry, parking, an elevator, whether you offer sessions by video or phone, the languages you work in, and how to ask for an accommodation.
Then read the bio aloud. If you stumble, a reader will too.
A therapist bio template to copy
Copy this into a note and fill in one field at a time. Not every field ends up in every bio; the directory version uses fewer.
And the same fields as sentence starters, one per line:
Where your bio goes on a TranqBay practice website
TranqBay is practice software for therapists in private practice, with a practice website, online booking and video sessions in one account. If you write your bio with the six parts above, each one has a place on the site. Here's what practice.tranqbay.health shows:
- Template sites for invented therapists, including a couples therapist, a trauma therapist, a child and family therapist and a grief counselor. Each has About, Sessions & fees and Questions in its menu, and a button near the top to see available times or book. Open one next to your draft to see how much text a first screen really holds.
- The opening is a short note in the therapist's own voice: a few sentences on who they work with and how sessions run, online or in person. Your "who you help" and "how you work" sentences belong there; the rest goes in your About section.
- The page is built from sections: an introduction, "My approach", services, questions and a closing invitation. Your first-session paragraph fits the questions, and your next step fits the closing invitation.
- Your profile details stay connected to the site. When you switch to a different design, they come with you, and your website, booking page and client sign-in show your name and photo.
- Your booking page lists each service with its own length and fee. You can confirm each booking yourself or let clients book straight away, and ask new clients to start with a consultation. Keep the fee and "how to book" lines in your bio the same as what a client sees when they book.
- The first session your bio describes can work as written. You can send forms from TranqBay's library of ready-made templates (intake, consent to treat, telehealth consent, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and others); the client fills them in online and the answers wait with the session.
- Video sessions are end-to-end encrypted, and TranqBay's Business Associate Agreement applies when you accept the Terms, with no separate document to sign.
For the rest of the site around your bio, see our therapist website examples (six invented sites with a page-by-page checklist) and the scorecard in best therapist websites.
Frequently asked questions about therapist bios
How long should a therapist bio be?
About 300 to 600 words for a website About page and about 150 to 250 for a directory profile, split across its boxes. These are working ranges, not research findings. Put who you help and where in the first two sentences, because directories often show only the opening lines.
Should a therapist bio be in first or third person?
First person for your own website and directory profiles; third person for a group practice team page, a conference program or a press mention. Don't switch within one bio.
What should you not include in a therapist bio?
Credentials or certifications you don't hold, modalities you aren't trained in, promised results or success rates, client stories or solicited testimonials, and personal details that move the focus to you, like your own therapy history or family. Also leave out "Welcome!" as an opening line.
Should I put my fees in my bio?
Yes, or link to a fees page from it. The fee, the session length and your insurance stance are among the first things a person needs before booking. If you see self-pay clients, the good faith estimate notice belongs on your website too.
Can I use client testimonials on my therapist website?
The ACA, NASW and APA codes all bar soliciting testimonials from current clients and others vulnerable to undue influence, and the ACA Code bars soliciting them from former clients too. Some state boards add limits. Many therapists leave them off entirely.
How do I write a bio as a new therapist or associate?
Use your full title and registration number, name your supervisor and employer if your board requires it, and describe your training and settings specifically. Be open about being newer and about supervision, as example 8 does. If your fee is lower as an associate, say so; it's useful for clients to know.
Should my directory profile and website bio say the same thing?
They should agree on every fact: license, states, fees, insurance, formats and openings. The directory version is shorter and points to your website for the rest.
How often should I update my therapist bio?
Whenever a fact changes (fees, insurance panels, openings, new training, a new state license), and read it through at least twice a year. A bio that says "accepting new clients" when you have a waitlist costs trust.
How personal should a therapist bio be?
One or two true sentences are enough: why you do this work, or something you do outside it. Personal details are optional; your identity, faith or history are yours to share or keep private.
Write yours this week
Copy the template, fill in the fields, then write six short paragraphs in the order above. Read it aloud, check every credential against your license and training certificates, and cut a directory version from it. Ask a colleague who isn't a therapist to tell you, after one read, who you help and how to book.
When the bio is ready, it needs a home clients can book from. Open a template site on practice.tranqbay.health to see how an About section, a fees page and a booking page fit together around a bio like yours. If you're deciding whether to join, this page explains how joining TranqBay works.
Sources
Research 4Associations 3Regulations 2HHS 1emdria.org 1gottman.com 1Federal 1w3.org 2
Research4
- 1Eichenberg C, Sawyer A. Do Patients Look Up Their Therapists Online? JMIR Mental Health, 2016 (PMC)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4901188/
- 2Lenz L, König HH, Hajek A. Preferences for treatment and provider characteristics in outpatient psychotherapy: a discrete choice experiment. Psychotherapy Research, 2026 (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42138021/
- 3Swift JK, Callahan JL, Cooper M, Parkin SR. The impact of accommodating client preference in psychotherapy: a meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2018 (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30091140/
- 4Heinze PE, Weck F, Hahn D, Kühne F. Differences in psychotherapy preferences between psychotherapy trainees and laypeople. Psychotherapy Research, 2023 (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35847994/
Professional associations3
- 5American Counseling Association, 2014 ACA Code of Ethics (A.4.b, C.2.a, C.3.b, C.3.c, C.4.a to C.4.d, F.5.c, H.5.b, H.5.d)counseling.orghttps://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
- 6National Association of Social Workers, Code of Ethics, section 4 (4.06, 4.07)socialworkers.orghttps://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English/Social-Workers-Ethical-Responsibilities-as-Professionals
- 7American Psychological Association, Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (5.01, 5.05)apa.orghttps://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Laws and regulations2
- 8California Code of Regulations, Title 16, section 1811: Advertising (Cornell LII)law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/16-CCR-1811
- 945 CFR 149.610: good faith estimates for uninsured or self-pay individuals (eCFR)ecfr.govhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G/section-149.610