How to Get More Therapy Clients in 2024-2025: surefire strategies
2024 has a been a pivotal year for the mental health space. The therapy boom we've experience during the Covid-19 pandemic has come to an end. What's more, the rising living costs have pushed many people to reconsider their need for therapy services.
All this has contributed to the dwindling caseloads experienced by many practice owners since the end of 2023. If you've seen a change in your client roster too, you may be wondering what you could do to get back on track.
And although we can't go back to the scheduling book of the pandemic years, there are still many strategies you can use to get more therapy clients this year. After spending years working with therapists on marketing their practice, here's my recommendation on how you can get more therapy clients right now.
Use online platforms that help you attract Insurance clients
A vast majority of therapists fill their initial caseload with insurance clients. For many, the insurance model works long after the first couple of years in business. despite the lower reimbursement rates, being an in-network therapist offers stability and a secure income.
If that's the model that you've chosen for your practice, you can prevent the slow months for your practice by making sure clients can always find you. With so many options to access care online being created, you'll need to become more visible than before. To maximize your visibility, make sure to list your practice in the usual directories, like Psychology Today, Good Therapy, etc.
But besides that, you can list your practice on platforms that help you with insurance reimbursement like Headway and Alma.
Not only will a platform like Headway* will help you get reimbursed quicker, it will also allow you to run your entire practice from the platform. And if you're new, they promise to help you with credentialing in as fast as 30 days.
If you're curious to try it out, you can do it here for free.
How to get more private pay therapy clients
If you want to get more private pay therapy clients in 2024-2025, you'll need to get proactive. With the above mentioned options for accessing mental healthcare, you'll need to build a strategy for attracting private pay clients who can afford your fees.
Crafting a marketing strategy that includes multiple elements like: PR, outreach, content and social marketing will help you consistently generate new inquiries and referrals. To succeed, your marketing strategy should take into account:
The type of people you're trying to attract (your ideal client).
Your niche and main message.
Your resources: current marketing resources, finances, your time, etc.
The channels you'll use to promote your practice.
Putting this strategy together is not a quick exercise, it requires thought and a process in place. If you need help, download the guide below to help you get started.
Developing a strong online presence
When you start going through the process of putting a marketing strategy for your practice, you'll find that one of the first things you'll need to do is build a website.
A website is the most important part of your online presence but it's the not the only thing that will help you be found online. If you want to be seen, use all the platforms available to you. Make sure that you appear on:
Social media platforms where your target audience hangs out.
Professional directories that attract people searching for therapy.
Local directories that list small businesses.
Other people's articles that talk about your specialties.
Podcasts that your ideal clients are listening to.
Being present on different online platforms will you pop up in people's searches. What's more, it will position you as a serious and trusted professional.
Utilizing social media for therapy marketing
Despite some clinicians' aversion to social media, these platforms can be a powerful tool to attract new clients. That said, it's important to remember that social media marketing is a long-term strategy that requires patience and discipline.
If you want to get started, first pick a platform that you like best and fits your audience. After you zeroed in on a platform, you can start learning about it as much as possible. Pay attention to:
The platform's influencers
The most popular content
Your colleagues and competitors activities
Local and professional groups
And start adding value where you can by commenting and posting with your point of view and helpful information. The beauty of social platforms is the casual and fleeting aspect to the conversations.
In addition to posting and commenting, take the time to improve and optimize your profile by adding your:
A clear bio
A link to your website
A quality profile picture
A branded banner
A "call to action" for people to take to find out more about you
Building credibility through testimonials and reviews
Many therapists admit that the best referrals come from existing or past clients. That's because a happy client who's experienced your service is the best person to vouch for you.
Testimonials work in the same way. People put a lot of stock in online reviews and other people's experiences with a provider. Just consider your own behavior when searching for a company or a service near you. Do you check the reviews before you make the decision?
My guess is yes. Your future clients will also trust that you'll be a better choice for them after they read positive reviews about your practice. Here are the best ways to get positive reviews and testimonials for your website in an ethical way:
Ask another provider who often refers to you to leave a testimonial on your professionalism.
Ask your supervisor to leave a review.
Add a link to your Google Business Profile reviews section to you email signature.
Add a space for a testimonial in your process for transitioning out of therapy for your clients to fill.
Once you receive your review or a testimonial, answer it in a polite and professional way. It's equally important to show that you address each testimonial with care, even the ones that you may not like.
Creating valuable content for your therapy website
Your website is most valuable when it can be discovered. SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of populating your website with valuable information that helps it show up in search results.
SEO is an integral part of your online presence and your digital strategy. To be successful with SEO, you'll need to keep your website dynamic by creating fresh and valuable content.
This content can take the form of blog posts, articles, videos, or educational resources that address the specific concerns and challenges faced by your target audience and ideal client.
Consistency is key in this process and building a content library will take time. But with time, the investment in creating this content will continue to attract new people to your website long after you've written each article.
Networking and collaborating with other professionals
So far we've been focusing on your digital marketing strategy, but offline marketing can be a significant source for referrals as well.
Focusing on networking, collaborations with other providers, and strategic partnerships can be an effective way to expand your reach and attract new therapy clients. You can reach out to other therapists via listserv or directly to build new relationships. Or, use the old fashioned phone call to contact medical providers and cultural organizations to create partnerships.
Another way to network, is combining your online and offline efforts. Building new relationships online can lead to a phone call or even an in-person meeting. LinkedIn is the optimal platform to try this out. Here's what I would recommend doing:
Identify the people who would be good referral partners for your practice.
Send them a connection request with a personalized message.
Offer a mutually-beneficial relationship.
Suggest to connect in person.
Offer an idea for collaboration.
Networking doesn't need to be complicated. It's about connecting with the right person at the right time. And your networking strategy is about creating opportunities for connection.
Implementing effective email marketing campaigns
Unfortunately email marketing is a highly under-utilized strategy for therapists in private practice. But email marketing is one of the most effective ways to establish trust and connect with your potential clients long after they've left your website.
It can be a highly effective way to nurture relationships with potential and existing therapy clients. To do that, you can welcome and tell people about your practice, offer valuable insight, and keep on top of their minds.
Email marketing allows you to show up in people's inboxes and keep their attention for a longer time than on social media platforms and Google searches. Additionally, you can automate your emails so that they keep showing up in your potential clients' future.
Including email marketing in your overall strategy will allow you to:
Turn your website traffic to email subscribers.
Remind people about your practice for when they're ready to start therapy.
Attract new clients through consistent reminders about your services.
And the best part about email marketing is that it doesn't require a big financial investment at all. All you need is a subscription to an email marketing service and the time to write your emails.
And if you need help getting started, you can hire a professional to help you set up and automate your email marketing campaigns.
Conclusion
Attracting cash paying clients to your therapy practice in 2024 and 2025 requires a multi-faceted approach that combines proven marketing strategies with a deep understanding of your target audience. Focusing on just one marketing channel or just paying for ads is no longer an option if you want to build a sustainable pipeline of quality leads.
By implementing all the strategies listed in this article, you'll be able to reach and engage with future clients where they are. By taking action today, you will build a solid foundation for your future.
