“Does my therapy website have to be calm and relaxed, or can it have bold and bright colors that reflects who I am as a therapist?” An answer from a designer
I did not intentionally niche to therapy website design. In fact, when I set out to be a designer, I had no niche at all. This was over 13 years ago: imagine me as a baby designer, setting her course in the world, and just starting to make Squarespace websites for anyone to feel it all out. I ended up with therapists mostly because my incredible client Erin from Avalon Therapy loved her site so much, she told 5 friends. And then those 5 friends told 5 friends. And so on and so forth. Next thing I knew, over 50% of my portfolio was incredible therapy website design that fulfilled me so much.
But here’s the thing: I got all of those therapy website design referrals because I design therapist websites with bold authenticity, which means colorful and bright.
Erin’s website isn’t traditional. It’s full of warm texture, highly specific stock photography curation, and tons of her personality mixed in. We made some bold gold patterns and her logo is just soft enough to feel relaxed and gentle, but still has her personality so clearly present.
Being bold is about having personality, not about using loud colors. I have worked with tons of therapists and each therapy website is so vastly different from the other ones I’ve done, I’m constantly amazed at how people’s personalities shine through.
Jennifer’s Site is the perfect example. Bold, fun, energetic!
Here’s 3 reasons why you should design your therapy practice website with your heart in mind, instead of trying to make it waves, blues, and cool colors
Reason 01: Humans respond to humans, and if your therapist website reflects who you are, you’re more likely to get folks who are attracted to you.
“I am looking for the right fit client, not just any client.”
Sound familiar? That’s because every therapist ever says that. Every single person I work with is also trying to find not just clients to fill their caseload, but also that are perfect fits. You’ve got a specialist as a therapist, so why are you casting a broad net? By focusing in on colors and fonts and imagery that reflects who you are 100%, you will get people who are attracted to that. And if they’re not? Then they’re not your audience!
Casting too broad of a net can feel really safe. After all, if you make your website really neutral, then no one is going to reject you for your personality. It can feel completely vulnerable to have yourself so vivid and out on display especially when you’re trying to sell a service, which is therapy, after all. Still: being brave and letting yourself be completely reflected is one of the best ways to get clients that really see you and are ready to work with you.
Avalon Pyschotherapy in Atlanta
Reason 02: There are still a million cool, calm, ocean-wave-and-calm-skies therapist websites out there
Even though I’ve done dozens of bold, colorful therapy websites myself, there are still probably hundreds that are chill, relaxing websites. Pretty much every therapist prior to the year 2020 had a similar website. You can picture it in your head: it’s got stock photos of happy people (or stock photos of anxious people, either way, they look very cheesy), it has either clouds or ocean waves, and it’s definitely not bold at all. It’s safe, relaxing, and calm. This is amazing for a LOT of my clients and for a lot of people! If you are a completely calm person, this will still be the best fit for you.
But if you’re not? If you’re a radical, bold, vivid, and bright personality: then a relaxing website is just not for you, my friend! You’ll stand out so much more in the sea of waves (haha, get it?) if you lean into bright color and exactly who you are.
Reason 03: Your clients are getting smarter, more focused and more savvy. A unique brand is going to attract them more.
Your therapist clients are now wary. I’m one of them. We know the therapy terms now: EMDR, IFS, brainspotting, therapy-speak. We aren’t being connected to therapists because they’re down the street any more: we’re actively hunting them. And we can see from a mile away if your website feels like a stock website or a run-of-the-mill brand. We want to know that you see us, that you get us.
And the best way to do that is to have a brand that captures your personality 100% and that is eye-catching, memorable, and lines up with what your specialties, niches, and modalities are.
This also aligns with having a website design that goes beyond bright colors, and also captures the vividness of specialties. Anxiety. Brainspotting. Adult children of emotionally immature parents. There’s a whole palette of specific therapy modalities and specialties now, so having a brand that aligns with them wholly is more important now more than ever.
In Conclusion, your therapy website should be 100% aligned with you: whether that means bold, blue, bright, or white.
What is YOUR authentic personality? Is it to have lots of oranges and bold colors? Is it gentle pastels? Is it a cool green look? As long as you are communicating who you are, that’s going to speak the loudest.
Reach out for website and brand design today, and let’s get clarity around your online presence.
