Therapist Website Design: Building Trust While Protecting Privacy
Mental health practices face unique web design challenges. Your potential clients are often at their most vulnerable when searching for help. They might be searching from work computers, shared family devices, or in moments of crisis. A therapist website needs to build trust quickly, communicate your approach clearly, and protect privacy at every step.
I've built websites for wellness practitioners including the Korawells clinic. The considerations go beyond standard healthcare compliance into sensitive UX decisions that affect whether someone feels safe enough to reach out.
Why Therapist Websites Need Special Attention
Privacy Concerns Are Amplified
Unlike a dentist or dermatologist visit, seeking mental health care still carries stigma. Your website visitors may not want their browsing history to reveal they looked at your "anxiety treatment" page. They may be hiding their search from a spouse, employer, or family member.
This affects design decisions most web designers never consider: Browser history visibility: Page titles show up in browser history. "Depression Treatment | Dr. Smith Therapy" broadcasts what they were researching. Generic titles like "Services | Dr. Smith" protect privacy better.
Social sharing previews: If someone accidentally shares a link, Open Graph metadata controls what displays. Carefully crafted previews avoid embarrassing exposure.
Form autofill risks: Browsers cache form inputs. If a client fills in "trauma history" on their work computer, that text could autofill on other sites. Disabling autocomplete on sensitive fields prevents this.
Analytics tracking: Standard Google Analytics collects IP addresses and page views. That data combined with visits to your "PTSD treatment" page creates Protected Health Information under HIPAA. Google won't sign a BAA. You need privacy-first alternatives.
Trust Building Is Different
Therapy requires vulnerability. Potential clients need to trust you before they've ever met you. Your website is often their first impression, and they're evaluating: Do I feel safe with this person? Clinical, cold websites trigger defensive responses. Warm, human design encourages connection.
Does this person understand my situation? Generic stock photos of "diverse people looking happy" feel hollow. Authentic representation of your actual practice, approach, and specialties builds credibility.
Is this practice legitimate? Credentials matter. Licensing, certifications, and professional affiliations reassure visitors they're not dealing with an unlicensed "life coach" claiming to treat mental illness.
Will my information be protected? Visible privacy commitments, secure connection indicators, and professional design signal that you take confidentiality seriously.
HIPAA Compliance for Therapists
Every licensed mental health provider in the US is a HIPAA covered entity. Your website must protect any PHI it touches. The penalties are severe: up to $68,928 per violation with annual maximums exceeding $2 million.
What Creates PHI on Therapist Websites
Contact forms asking about symptoms, reasons for seeking therapy, or specific mental health concerns create PHI the moment they're submitted.
Intake forms collecting health history, medication lists, or previous treatment information are obviously PHI.
Appointment scheduling that includes reason for visit or connects patient identity to appointment times.
Client portals providing access to session notes, treatment plans, or secure messaging.
Analytics data combining IP addresses with visits to condition-specific pages (depression, anxiety, trauma, etc.).
The Minimum Compliant Stack
| Component | Non-Compliant Example | Compliant Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Forms | Standard WordPress forms, Wix forms, Squarespace forms | Jotform HIPAA, HIPAAtizer, Hushmail forms |
| Scheduling | Calendly free, Acuity basic | Jane App, SimplePractice, IntakeQ |
| Client Portal | Custom without BAA | TherapyNotes, SimplePractice, Jane App |
| Analytics | Google Analytics, Meta Pixel | Plausible, Fathom (no PHI collected), or PostHog with BAA |
| Personal Gmail, standard Outlook | Google Workspace with BAA, Paubox, Microsoft 365 with BAA | |
| Hosting | Shared hosting, Wix/Squarespace | HIPAA Vault, Healthcare Blocks, or compliant cloud config |
Solo Practitioner Compliance Costs
Many therapists operate solo practices with limited budgets. Here's what compliant web infrastructure actually costs monthly: Minimal approach ($170-250/month):
- Hosting: $150-200 (HIPAA Vault or Healthcare Blocks starter)
- Forms: $9-30 (Jotform HIPAA tier)
- Analytics: $0-19 (Plausible or Fathom, no PHI = no BAA needed)
- Email: Already covered if using EHR-integrated email
Practice management approach ($150-300/month):
- SimplePractice or Jane App: $69-99/month (includes scheduling, portal, forms, telehealth)
- Hosting for marketing site: $50-100/month (can be standard if no PHI collected)
- Analytics: $0-23
The practice management approach often makes more sense. SimplePractice or Jane App handles scheduling, intake, client portal, secure messaging, and telehealth video. Your public website becomes purely marketing with no PHI touchpoints, simplifying compliance significantly.
The Korawells Approach
When I built the Korawells wellness clinic website, we deliberately architected the site to minimize compliance burden while maintaining full functionality.
The architecture:
- Public website runs on Railway with a custom CMS I built. No patient data ever touches this infrastructure.
- Contact form uses Jotform's HIPAA-compliant tier with signed BAA. Form submissions go directly to Jotform's compliant servers.
- No Google Analytics. The public site collects no identifiable data.
- All form fields have autocomplete disabled to prevent browser caching of sensitive inputs.
- Booking and client management happen through the clinic's separate practice management system.
ADA and WCAG compliance:
Beyond HIPAA, the Korawells site was built to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. This matters for wellness practices because many clients may be dealing with conditions that affect how they interact with websites. The implementation includes proper heading hierarchy for screen readers, sufficient color contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for body text), keyboard navigation for all interactive elements, focus indicators that are clearly visible, and alt text for all images. The May 2026 HHS deadline for Section 504 compliance makes this non-optional for practices receiving federal funds, but good accessibility benefits all visitors regardless of regulatory requirements.
Responsive design:
The site works seamlessly across all devices. Many potential clients research therapists on their phones during lunch breaks or late at night on tablets. The responsive implementation uses fluid typography that scales appropriately, touch-friendly navigation and buttons, optimized images that load quickly on mobile connections, and layouts that adapt naturally from phone to desktop without compromising readability or functionality. Google's mobile-first indexing means responsive design also directly impacts search visibility.
The design approach:
The site communicates warmth and professionalism without the clinical coldness typical of medical websites. The wellness focus required balancing approachability with credibility. Custom animations create a memorable experience while fast load times ensure accessibility for visitors on slower connections.
The result: a website that converts visitors into inquiries while maintaining privacy and accessibility at every touchpoint.
Design Principles for Therapist Websites
Communicate Your Approach, Not Just Your Services
Potential clients aren't just looking for "a therapist." They're looking for a therapist whose approach resonates with them. Your website should answer: - What's your therapeutic orientation? (CBT, psychodynamic, humanistic, integrative)
- Who do you work with best? (specific populations, age groups, presenting issues)
- What's the experience of working with you like?
- What do you believe about therapy and change?
This isn't about lengthy text. It's about authentic voice and clear positioning throughout the site.
Make Contact Easy and Safe
Every barrier to contact loses potential clients. Common friction points: Required phone calls: Many anxious clients prefer email or form submission first. Requiring a phone call to get started loses them.
Complex intake forms upfront: Asking for detailed history before any conversation feels invasive. Gather basic contact info first, save comprehensive intake for after initial engagement.
Unclear next steps: What happens after they submit a form? When will they hear back? Setting expectations reduces anxiety.
Visible only contact info: Some visitors need time. Provide downloadable resources, newsletter signup, or other ways to stay connected without immediate commitment.
Avoid Design Patterns That Undermine Trust
Stock photos of actors portraying patients: These feel fake and raise questions about confidentiality. Either use environmental photos (your office, your neighborhood) or abstract imagery.
Testimonials with identifying details: Even with consent, detailed client testimonials raise privacy concerns. If you use testimonials, keep them general: "After working with Dr. Smith, I feel equipped to handle challenges that once felt overwhelming."
Aggressive conversion tactics: Countdown timers, scarcity messaging, and pushy popups undermine the trust-based nature of therapeutic relationships.
Outdated design: A website that looks like it was built in 2010 signals neglect. If you don't maintain your website, will you maintain the therapeutic relationship?
Accessibility Matters for Mental Health
Mental health websites serve populations with higher rates of certain disabilities: Depression affects motor function: Tasks that seem simple can feel insurmountable. Complex navigation, multi-step forms, and endless scrolling create barriers.
Anxiety amplifies frustration: Slow-loading pages, confusing interfaces, and unclear expectations trigger stress responses. Simple, predictable UX reduces anxiety.
Trauma affects attention and memory: Survivors may struggle with long-form content, complex navigation, or overwhelming visual stimulation. Clean, calm design with clear hierarchy helps.
Medication side effects: Many psychiatric medications cause cognitive fog, vision changes, or tremors. Accessible design (sufficient contrast, larger click targets, clear typography) accommodates these effects.
The May 2026 HHS deadline for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance applies to any healthcare provider receiving federal funds. Even if you don't take Medicare/Medicaid, accessibility improves experience for all visitors and reduces lawsuit risk. For more on accessibility requirements, see my healthcare website design guide.The Technology Behind Privacy-First Therapist Websites
Why I Build on SvelteKit
For healthcare projects, I use SvelteKit rather than WordPress or React-based frameworks. The technical advantages align with therapist website needs: Smaller bundle sizes: A typical SvelteKit site ships around 42KB of JavaScript compared to 120KB+ for other frameworks. Faster loads mean better experience for visitors on mobile or slower connections.
Server-side rendering: Content appears immediately without waiting for JavaScript to initialize. No "frozen" page states that confuse visitors.
No plugin vulnerabilities: WordPress sites require constant plugin updates and security patches. Every plugin is a potential attack vector. SvelteKit eliminates this exposure.
Custom CMS integration: I build content management directly into the application. No separate admin domain, no third-party CMS vendor with BAA requirements, no API calls sending content through external services.
Privacy-First Analytics Alternatives
If you want analytics on your therapist website, here are compliant options: Plausible or Fathom provide privacy-focused analytics without collecting personal data. No BAA required because they don't capture IP addresses or create PHI. Simple, affordable ($9-19/month), and perfectly adequate for most therapy practices.
PostHog offers GA4-level features with product analytics, session recordings, and feature flags. They offer a BAA for healthcare clients, but even without one, PostHog works fine on marketing sites that don't collect PHI. Best for practices wanting detailed analytics comparable to Google Analytics.
No analytics on form pages: The most conservative approach uses analytics only on marketing content (blog, about page, service descriptions) and excludes pages with contact forms or appointment booking.
What a Therapist Website Project Looks Like
Discovery
We discuss your practice, ideal clients, therapeutic approach, and how you want to be perceived. I need to understand: - Your specialties and populations served
- Your practice structure (solo, group, telehealth-only, hybrid)
- Current client acquisition channels
- Technical requirements (scheduling integration, client portal, telehealth)
- Budget and timeline constraints
Architecture
Based on discovery, I determine the technical approach: - Where will PHI live? (practice management platform vs. website)
- What forms need HIPAA-compliant handling?
- What analytics approach makes sense?
- Do we need CMS for content updates?
- Integration points with existing systems
Design
Visual design that communicates your approach: - Color palette and typography that reflect your practice personality
- Layout and hierarchy optimized for your key user journeys
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Accessibility baked into every element
Development
Custom build on SvelteKit: - Performance-optimized, fast-loading pages
- Forms integrated with compliant handlers
- CMS for content you need to update regularly
- Thorough accessibility testing
Launch and Training
- Documentation of privacy architecture
- Training on content management
- Ongoing support options
Ready to Build a Therapist Website That Works?
I work with therapists, counselors, psychologists, wellness coaches, hormone optimization experts, and longevity practitioners across the US, Canada, UK, and Australia who want websites that build trust, protect privacy, and convert visitors into clients. My approach: get the compliance right from the start so you can focus on your practice.
Transform your website into a revenue-generating asset
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Frequently Asked Questions
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If your contact form asks about reasons for seeking therapy, symptoms, or mental health concerns, that's PHI. Most therapist websites have at least minimal compliance requirements. The safest approach: use compliant form handlers even for basic contact forms.
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Their built-in forms aren't HIPAA compliant, and they won't sign BAAs for standard plans. You can use them for a pure marketing site if all patient communication happens through a separate compliant platform like SimplePractice. But you lose design flexibility and still need to manage two systems.
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Never use identifying details without explicit written consent. Even with consent, detailed testimonials can discourage potential clients who worry about their own privacy. Consider anonymous testimonials focused on outcomes rather than specific details.
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Calendly's free and standard plans are not HIPAA compliant. Their enterprise plan ($15,000+/year) can be configured for compliance with BAA. For most therapists, practice management platforms like Jane App or SimplePractice provide better value with integrated scheduling, intake, portal, and telehealth.
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This is a practice decision, not a technical one. Arguments for: reduces tire-kickers, attracts clients who can afford you, demonstrates transparency. Arguments against: loses people who might have stretched for you, limits flexibility for sliding scale. No wrong answer.
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Content-wise: update bio and services when they change. Add blog posts if you maintain a blog (inconsistent blogging looks worse than no blog). Technically: security updates as needed, design refresh every 3-5 years. Ensure your practice management platform and form handlers stay current with compliance requirements.