Marketing 101 for Therapists

The last thing we want to think about is marketing. As a therapist it can be awkward and uncomfortable. But one thing we need to learn is how to get clients. Read on to learn more about how to develop a solid marketing strategy.

So you studied hard, have completed 3,000 hours, and passed your exam. Congratulations! You are licensed. You might decide to work at a job, but if you decide to venture into your own business into private practice, there is one thing that they don’t teach you in school: marketing. There are many aspects and approaches to marketing from making connections with other professionals to building an online presence. It’s important to remember that each avenue of marketing you take could turn into potential clients.

Taking steps toward private practice can be overwhelming, and making sure you take proper steps is essential. Read more about the private practice checklist here.
Other essential steps when it comes to marketing is to identify your niche and your ideal clients. It’s important for a marketing strategy to first identify these points and then base your marketing on them.
Say your niche is anxiety and your ideal clients are young adults in college. You essentially want to focus all your marketing materials, online content such as ads or website descriptions toward your ideal clients. And how do I do that you ask?

You present a problem, and provide a solution.

“But we aren’t in the business of giving solutions!” you say. And to that I say “Reframe! We are in the business of offering a speciality which can lead to relief, hence a solution.”

If your niche is anxiety, then you will be able to explain (I hope) what it feels like to have anxiety. Afterall, a speciality means that you can identify, know what you are treating, how to treat it and what you can offer to help.

Here are some questions to think about when developing a marketing strategy and focus:

1. Identify your niche and ideal client. What is your speciality and who do you want to work with? Who do you like working with the most and what problems are you passionate about?

2. Think of your ideal client and describe their main problem in detail. What do they struggle with on a daily basis? What types of issues do they struggle with? What are the fears or mindsets that keep them stuck in the problem? What are their barriers to getting help for the problem?

3. How can you help your client? Describe a solution to their problem. What can you offer them that is unique to you as a therapist? Is it your style as a therapist? Your modality? Experience and training?

These are just some questions to answer to hone in on your marketing focus. There are many aspects and ways to market yourself. Check out more articles on therapist marketing strategies such as making a website, creating an online presence, using social media, and networking with others.

When it comes down to it, therapy is an intimate experience where its effectiveness is based on the strength of the connection to another human being. If you can show that you know the client’s true human experience and connect with them through your marketing content, then you deserve an A+ in marketing 101.