Therapist Website SEO Checklist
If you want your private practice to show up on Google, this therapist website SEO checklist will walk you through exactly what to optimize.
A beautiful website is not enough. Without SEO, potential clients won’t find you.
Use this checklist to improve visibility, authority, and bookings.
1. Choose the Right Keyword for Each Page
Every page should target one primary keyword.
Examples:
- anxiety therapy in [city]
- trauma counseling for adults
- couples therapy in [city]
Avoid targeting multiple unrelated keywords on one page.
2. Add Your Keyword to the First Sentence
Your primary keyphrase should appear naturally in:
- Page title
- First paragraph
- At least one H2 heading
This signals relevance to Google.
3. Optimize Your Title Tag and Meta Description
Your SEO title should:
- Include your keyword
- Be compelling
- Stay under 60 characters if possible
Meta description:
- Include keyword
- Add related phrases
- Encourage clicks
4. Create Individual Service Pages
Each service deserves its own optimized page.
Do NOT list all services on one generic page.
Google ranks depth, not summaries.
5. Add Internal Links
Link between related pages.
For example:
👉 Read our guide on how to design a website for a psychology private practice LEARN MORE HERE
Internal links improve crawlability and distribute authority.
6. Use Authoritative Outbound Links
Link to reputable sources like:
- American Psychological Association
- National Institute of Mental Health
This improves credibility and topical trust.
7. Optimize Image SEO
Rename image files:
therapist-website-seo-checklist.jpg
Use descriptive alt text:
Therapist website SEO checklist for private practice marketing
Compress all images for speed.
Visual Example: Optimized Therapist Homepage Structure
Use clean sections:
- Headline with keyword
- Services preview
- About snippet
- Testimonials
- CTA button
- Footer with location info
8. Improve Page Speed
Slow websites lose rankings and clients.
- Compress images
- Use caching
- Minimize plugins
- Choose quality hosting
Mobile Optimization Example
Over 60% of searches happen on mobile.
Buttons should be:
- Large
- Easy to tap
- Clearly visible
9. Add Local SEO Signals
Include:
- City + state in title tags
- Address in footer
- Google Business Profile
- Embedded map
Local intent drives therapy bookings.
10. Add FAQs for SEO
FAQs help capture longtail searches and featured snippets.
Add at least 3 per page.
FAQs
What is SEO for therapists?
SEO for therapists is the process of optimizing a private practice website so it appears in search results when people look for therapy services.
How long does therapist SEO take?
Typically 3–6 months for measurable improvement, depending on competition and domain authority.
Do therapists need a blog for SEO?
Yes. Blogging builds authority, increases keyword coverage, and improves long-term rankings.
