Search for therapist websites examples and you mostly get design portfolios, website builder reviews and agency pages. They show what a site looks like. They rarely explain why a page works for the person deciding whether to book, or what a therapy website needs that a bakery's doesn't: a crisis line, a clear fee and insurance stance, the states you're licensed in, and a note on what your contact form collects.
This article does that. Below are six example therapist websites, one for each common kind of practice, with the copy for the first screen, the pages each one needs and what each does well. After them you'll find a page-by-page checklist, the ethics and legal points that generic website advice skips, a homepage template you can copy, and the most common mistakes.
Every practice and therapist in this article is invented. We don't feature real therapists' websites: they didn't agree to be examples, and a screenshot tells you less than the reasons behind it. If you'd like to see a working template next to these descriptions, practice.tranqbay.health shows full template sites for invented therapists and the booking steps their clients go through.
What every good therapist website does
Someone on a therapy website is usually asking two questions: is this the right person for me, and can I take the next step without it being hard? A site that answers both does seven jobs.
- It says who it's for on the first screen. Not "Welcome to my practice." Name the people you see and what they come in with: "Therapy for adults who feel anxious at work" or "Couples therapy in Austin, in person or by video." A visitor should know within a few seconds whether they're in the right place.
- It shows the person. A recent, natural photo, your name, your license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, psychologist) and two or three sentences on how you work, in plain words. Clients choose a person more than a list of methods.
- It's clear about money. Your fee and session length, whether you're in network with any insurers, whether you give superbills for out-of-network claims, and, if you see self-pay clients, the good faith estimate notice (more on that below).
- It makes booking one obvious step. One button with the same words everywhere ("Book a consultation" or "View available times"), visible on the first screen and again at the end of every page. If you confirm each request before it's booked, say so.
- It says where you practice. Your office address with parking or transit notes and, for video sessions, the states you're licensed in. Clients generally need to be in one of those states during the session.
- It gives a crisis line. A short note that you can't respond to emergencies, with 988 and 911, in the footer and on the contact page.
- It respects privacy. A contact form that asks for little, a privacy policy people can find, and no advertising trackers on the pages where people book or sign in.
Good therapist website design serves those seven jobs. Text large enough to read on a phone, strong contrast, one button color, and photos of you and your real office do more than any color palette. Many people will see your site on a phone first, so check every page there before you publish.
Six example therapist websites, and what each does well
All six practices are invented. Each one shows the first screen, the pages it needs and the details that make it work for its clients.
1A solo trauma therapist in Ohio
An LPCC who works with adults after trauma, using EMDR and trauma-focused CBT, in an office in Columbus and by video anywhere in Ohio.
First screen:
- Headline: "Trauma therapy for adults in Columbus and across Ohio"
- Line under it: "A steady, unhurried place to work through what happened, at a pace you set."
- Button: "Book a 15-minute consultation"
- Beside it: a relaxed photo of the therapist in her office
Pages: Home, About, How trauma therapy works here, Fees and insurance, Questions, Contact.
What it does well:
- It's calm by design. No graphic images, no long list of traumatic events, no words like "broken" or "damaged".
- It explains what the first three sessions look like, so no one fears being asked to tell their whole story on day one.
- It says, in one line, that the client can pause or stop any exercise. For many trauma clients, control is the first thing they look for.
- The crisis note sits in the footer of every page, because some visitors arrive on a bad night.
- It says plainly that video sessions are for clients who are in Ohio at the time of the session.
2A couples therapist in Austin, Texas
An LMFT who sees couples in person and by video in Texas, with 50- and 80-minute sessions.
First screen:
- Headline: "Couples therapy in Austin for partners who keep having the same fight"
- Line under it: "Practical, honest sessions in person or by video anywhere in Texas."
- Button: "See available times"
Pages: Home, About, How couples therapy works, Sessions and fees, Questions, Book.
What it does well:
- It speaks to both partners and never casts one of them as the problem.
- Its questions page answers the real hesitations: "What if my partner isn't sure about coming?", "Will you take sides?", "Do you see couples who are thinking about separating?"
- It lists both session lengths with their fees, so the longer session is no surprise.
- The booking form asks only for the person booking. The other partner's details come later, at intake.
- It names the therapist's training accurately ("trained in emotionally focused therapy") without implying a certification she doesn't hold.
3A child and family therapist outside Chicago
An LCPC in the western suburbs who sees children from 4 to 12 and teenagers, using play therapy with younger children and talk therapy with teens, plus parent sessions.
First screen:
- Headline: "Therapy for kids, teens and the parents who love them"
- Line under it: "Play for younger children, conversation for teens, and practical ideas for home."
- Button: "Book a parent consultation"
Pages: Home, About, Working with children, Working with teens, For parents, Fees, Questions, Contact.
What it does well:
- It's written to parents, who are the ones booking, while the teen page has a short section a 15-year-old could read without rolling their eyes.
- It explains in general terms what she shares with parents and what stays between her and a teenager, and says the details are in the consent paperwork. (If you're writing that paperwork, see what to include in a therapy intake form.)
- It shows photos of the real playroom, so a nervous child can see it before the first visit.
- The first step is a parent-only consultation, which matches how most child therapy starts.
- It covers the practical questions parents ask: after-school appointment times, parking, and that for separated parents she'll ask about custody and consent at intake.
4An LCSW who takes insurance in North Carolina
An LCSW in Raleigh, in network with several insurance plans, who sees adults with depression, burnout and big life changes.
First screen:
- Headline: "Therapy in Raleigh for depression, burnout and big life changes"
- Line under it: "In network with [your plans]. Self-pay and superbills available."
- Button: "Request an appointment"
Pages: Home, About, Insurance and fees, Questions, Contact.
What it does well:
- Its insurance page names each plan, explains how to check benefits (call the number on the card and ask about outpatient mental health coverage, deductible and copay) and says what happens if a plan isn't listed.
- It shows the self-pay fee as well, with the good faith estimate notice for clients who won't use insurance.
- It explains the late cancellation policy in plain words, including that insurance usually doesn't pay for missed sessions.
- It's honest about availability ("evening times have a waitlist"), which saves everyone a disappointing first call.
5A telehealth-only counselor licensed in two states
An LPC licensed in Colorado and Arizona who works only by video with adults who have anxiety and OCD.
First screen:
- Headline: "Online therapy for anxiety and OCD, for adults in Colorado and Arizona"
- Line under it: "Video sessions from wherever you're comfortable, as long as you're in Colorado or Arizona during the session."
- Button: "View available times"
Pages: Home, About, How online sessions work, Fees, Questions, Book.
What it does well:
- It puts the location rule at the top of the page and again on the booking page, instead of burying it in the FAQ.
- It explains the practical side of video therapy: what you need (a private room, headphones, a steady connection), how to join, and what happens if the call drops.
- It shows available times with the time zone named, which matters because Colorado and most of Arizona are an hour apart for much of the year.
- It lists the license number for each state in the footer.
- It tells clients what to do if they move or travel out of state: the sessions may need to pause, and the therapist can help find someone local.
6A small group practice in Seattle
Four clinicians: two LMHCs, an LICSW and a psychologist, seeing adults, couples and teens.
First screen:
- Headline: "Therapy in Seattle for adults, couples and teens"
- Line under it: "Four therapists, one place to start. Tell us what's going on and we'll suggest who fits."
- Main button: "Find the right therapist"
- Second link: "See who has openings"
Pages: Home, Our therapists (one page each), Who's right for me, Fees and insurance, Questions, Contact.
What it does well:
- Its "Who's right for me" page groups clinicians by what clients come in with (anxiety, couples, teens, grief), not by credentials most clients don't know.
- Each clinician has a page with a photo, license, specialties, fee and whether they're taking new clients.
- It has one starting point, so a client who can't decide isn't stuck choosing between four bios.
- Fees differ by clinician, and the site shows each one.
- It says who answers messages and how soon ("within one business day").
What the six have in common
Each one names its clients and its location in the first screen. Each shows a real person, explains money plainly and offers one next step. None relies on stock photos, and none makes promises about outcomes.
A page-by-page checklist for your therapy website
Use this list for a new site or to check the one you have. Most solo practices need five or six pages; a longer site isn't a better one.
Home
- Who you help, where, and how (in person, video) in the first screen
- One booking button, repeated at the end of the page
- Your photo and name
- Three or four lines on what working with you is like
About
- Your name, license type and state, and license number if your board expects it in advertising
- Training and approach in plain words
- Who you work best with, and when you'd refer someone elsewhere
- One or two lines that sound like you
Services and fees
- Each service with its length, format (in person or video) and fee
- Insurance: which plans you're in network with, or that you're out of network and give superbills
- A sliding scale, if you offer one
- Your cancellation policy
- The good faith estimate notice, if you see self-pay clients
Questions
- What happens in the first session
- How long therapy usually lasts with you
- Insurance and payment
- Confidentiality basics
- Cancelling or rescheduling
- Whether you prescribe medication (and who you refer to if not)
Booking or contact
- Real available times, or a short form
- What happens after someone books or writes, and how soon you reply
- A line asking people not to include health details in the form
- The crisis note
Privacy
- A privacy policy that says what the site collects and who processes it
- Your Notice of Privacy Practices, if HIPAA applies to your practice
Footer, on every page
- Name, license and office address, or "video sessions for clients in [states]"
- Crisis line: call or text 988, or call 911
- Links to the privacy policy, Notice of Privacy Practices and good faith estimate notice
The rules generic website advice leaves out
A therapy website is advertising for a licensed health professional, so it has rules most website guides never mention. These are the ones that come up most. Your state board and payer contracts may add more.
Testimonials and reviews
"Add testimonials" is standard website advice, and therapists need to be careful with it. The ACA Code of Ethics says counselors who use testimonials "do not solicit them from current clients, former clients" or anyone vulnerable to undue influence (ACA Code of Ethics, C.3.b). The NASW Code of Ethics, standard 4.07(b) says the same for current clients and anyone vulnerable to undue influence. Many therapists leave client testimonials off their site entirely and build trust with a clear About page, a description of the first session and their credentials instead. If a client posts a public review, be careful how you reply: confirming that someone is your client can itself be a disclosure.
Credentials and claims
List only licenses and certifications that are current, and describe your training accurately. The ACA code asks counselors to identify their credentials in a way that is not "false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent" (C.3.a), and NASW standard 4.06(c) asks social workers to represent their qualifications and "results to be achieved" accurately. In practice: write "trained in EMDR" if you're trained but not certified, don't call a master's-level license "Dr.", and don't promise outcomes.
The good faith estimate notice
If you see clients who are uninsured or paying for themselves, the No Surprises Act rules require you to tell them they can get a good faith estimate of expected charges. That information must be "prominently displayed (and easily searchable from a public search engine)" on your website, in your office and wherever scheduling happens (45 CFR 149.610). CMS publishes guidance and resources for providers. A short notice on your fees page, linked from the footer, covers the website part.
Your Notice of Privacy Practices
If HIPAA applies to your practice and your website describes your services, the HIPAA Privacy Rule says you "must prominently post" your Notice of Privacy Practices on the site and make it available through it (45 CFR 164.520(c)(3)). A footer link to the notice is the usual way to do it.
Contact forms, tracking and privacy
Two things matter most.
First, what your forms collect. HHS says covered providers may email patients if they apply reasonable safeguards, such as limiting the information sent by unencrypted email (HHS FAQ on email with patients). On a website, that means a contact form that asks for a name, a way to reply and a preferred time, plus a note asking people not to describe their health concerns there.
Second, what your trackers collect. HHS guidance on online tracking technologies explains that analytics or ad tracking on a booking page can send appointment details and IP addresses to the tracking vendor, and that a vendor receiving protected health information needs a business associate agreement (HHS, Use of Online Tracking Technologies). In June 2024 a federal court set aside one part of that guidance: that HIPAA applies when a tracker links someone's IP address with a mere visit to a public page about health conditions or providers. The rest remains on the HHS page, including what it says about booking, client login and telehealth pages. The simple rule: keep advertising pixels off your booking, intake and client login pages, and use only tools that will sign a business associate agreement where client information flows.
Telehealth and state lines
In general, what counts is where the client is during the session, not where you are. HHS's telehealth guidance lists the ways to practice across state lines (a full license, temporary practice rules, compacts and registrations) and suggests verifying the client's location before each appointment (telehealth.hhs.gov). Your website should name the states you can see clients in, in the first screen if you work mostly by video.
Crisis information
Put a short crisis note in the footer and on the contact page: you can't respond to emergencies, and anyone in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. It costs one line and it matters most to the visitor who needs it.
Accessibility
The ACA code says counselors "who maintain websites provide accessibility to persons with disabilities" (H.5.d), and the Justice Department's guidance on web accessibility covers businesses open to the public. The basics are within reach for any practice: alt text on photos, enough color contrast, text people can enlarge, captions on videos, and a site that works with a keyboard.
A homepage template you can copy
Fill in the brackets, cut what you don't need and keep the order. The order follows the questions a visitor asks: am I in the right place, who is this, what is it like, what does it cost, how do I start.
Write your headline last. Once the rest is done, it's easier to see the one sentence that sums it up.
Template or custom design?
Therapy website templates and custom designs can both work. The choice depends on time and what you need the site to do.
- Choose a template when you want to be live soon, your practice is solo or small, and you'd rather spend your time on the words than the layout. Pick one built for therapists, so the sections (fees, questions, booking) are already there.
- Choose a custom design when you have a group practice with several clinicians, a strong brand you already use elsewhere, or needs a template can't meet, like several locations or programs.
- Either way, the words do most of the work. A plain template with a clear first screen and honest fees serves clients better than a beautiful site that never says who it's for.
- Before you commit, check how booking works, whether the tools on your booking pages will sign a business associate agreement, and how easily you can edit the site yourself.
Common therapist website mistakes
- A first screen about you instead of them."Welcome, I'm a licensed therapist with 15 years of experience" says nothing about who you help.
- No fees.Some visitors leave rather than email to ask. If your fee varies, give a range or your standard rate.
- Jargon."Integrative, client-centered, evidence-based modalities" means little to someone looking for help. Say what a session is like.
- Several competing buttons.Call, email, form, book, newsletter. Pick one main next step.
- Stock photos.A real photo of you, even a simple one, builds more trust than a candle and a pebble.
- A form that collects too much.Name, a way to reply and a preferred time are enough for a first contact.
- No location or license states.Especially for video therapy, people need to know whether they can book you at all.
- Ad trackers on booking pages.Keep them off anywhere client information is entered.
- An outdated site."Accepting new clients" when you've had a waitlist for months costs you goodwill.
How this works in TranqBay
TranqBay is practice software for therapists in private practice: a practice website, booking, video sessions, notes and payments in one account. You can see all of this on practice.tranqbay.health, which shows previews of full template sites for invented therapists and the booking steps a client goes through.
- Designs made for therapy practices.There are more than 11 designs. The previews include sites for a couples therapist, a trauma therapist, a child and family therapist and a grief counselor.
- The sections from the checklist above.The previews follow much the same order: your name and credential with a menu (About, Sessions & fees, Questions); a first screen with a headline, a line about who you see and buttons to view available times and read about your approach; an about section in your own voice; your sessions with their length and fee; a short "Before we meet" questions section; and a closing invitation to find a time to talk.
- Edit in plain words.You can describe a change, such as a new section or a warmer tone, see a preview and apply it.
- Your own web address.Start on a yourname.tranqbay.care address or, depending on your plan, use your own domain.
- Booking on your terms.You set your hours, services and fees, and either confirm each booking yourself or let clients book straight away. Busy times in a connected Google Calendar aren't offered, reminders go out by email, and new clients can start with a consultation if you like. Clients pay by card when they book or once you confirm.
- Keep the site you have.If you already have a website, you can add booking to it with one line of code on most website builders.
- Video sessions under your name.Sessions run in the browser at your own web address and are end-to-end encrypted.
Before you put client information into any system, you can read TranqBay's Business Associate Agreement.
Frequently asked questions about therapist websites
What should a therapist website include?
At least: who you help and where, your photo, name and license, how you work in plain words, your fees and insurance stance, one clear way to book, the states you can see clients in, a crisis line, and links to your privacy policy and, where they apply, your Notice of Privacy Practices and good faith estimate notice.
Do I need a website if I'm listed in therapist directories?
Directories help people find you. Your own site is where you control the details: your full approach, your fees, your questions page and your booking. Many therapists use both and link their directory profiles to their site.
Should I put my fees on my therapy website?
Most clients want to know the cost before they reach out, and some leave rather than ask. If you see self-pay clients, you also need the good faith estimate notice on your site. Listing your standard fee and any sliding scale is the simplest way to answer both.
Can I put client testimonials on my therapy website?
Be careful. The ACA and NASW codes of ethics bar soliciting testimonials from current clients and others vulnerable to undue influence, and the ACA code extends that to former clients. Many therapists leave testimonials out and let the About page, credentials and a description of the first session do the work. Check your own board's advertising rules too.
Does my therapy website need to be HIPAA compliant?
Pages that only describe your practice don't hold client information, but any place where clients book, send messages, fill in forms or sign in does. Use tools that will sign a business associate agreement there, keep ad trackers off those pages, and post your Notice of Privacy Practices if HIPAA applies to you. This article isn't legal advice; check with your attorney or compliance advisor.
How many pages does a therapist website need?
Five or six is enough for most solo practices: Home, About, Services and fees, Questions, Contact or Book, and a privacy page. Group practices add a page per clinician.
Should I use a template or hire a designer?
A template built for therapists is usually the faster path for a solo or small practice. A designer makes sense for a group practice, an established brand, or needs a template can't meet. Either way, your words matter more than the layout.
Before you build or redesign
Pick the example above closest to your practice, copy the homepage template and fill it in before you think about colors or fonts. Then run your draft against the checklist and the rules section. A clear first screen, honest fees and one next step will carry a simple design a long way.
If you'd like to see how those pieces look in a finished site, look at the designs on practice.tranqbay.health: you'll find full template sites for invented therapists and the booking steps your clients would go through. If you're deciding whether to join, this page explains how joining TranqBay works. And if your next job is the paperwork behind the booking button, read what to include in a therapy intake form, or browse more articles for therapists.
Sources
Regulations 2CMS 1HHS 3Associations 2988 Lifeline 1Federal 1
Laws and regulations2
- 145 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
- 245 CFR 164.520: notice of privacy practices (eCFR)ecfr.govhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.520
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services3
- 4HHS Office for Civil Rights, Use of Online Tracking Technologies by HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associateshhs.govhttps://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/hipaa-online-tracking/index.html
- 5HHS, Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit health care providers to use email with their patients?hhs.govhttps://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/does-hipaa-permit-health-care-providers-to-use-email-to-discuss-health-issues-with-patients/index.html
- 6HHS, Licensing across state lines (telehealth.hhs.gov)telehealth.hhs.govhttps://telehealth.hhs.gov/licensure/licensing-across-state-lines
Professional associations2
- 7American Counseling Association, 2014 ACA Code of Ethics, standards C.3.a, C.3.b and H.5.dcounseling.orghttps://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
- 8National Association of Social Workers, Code of Ethics, standards 4.06 and 4.07socialworkers.orghttps://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English/Social-Workers-Ethical-Responsibilities-as-Professionals