Therapists in private practice are NOT just therapists but also business owners. And let’s face it, the business side of things can often feel like a necessary evil. After all, as therapists, we’re trained to help, not to market or manage a practice. Among the many tasks that might feel overwhelming but is extremely crucial to the success of your practice – is to acquire new clients. This task can especially seem gargantuan when you are a newbie. Whether you are new or a pro, therapist directories are here to help you drive traffic. These directories are the top search engine results when someone is looking for “therapists near me” or “psychologists near me”. And having a profile on these directories can help re-direct this traffic to your practice.
But there are just so many of these directories. So, which ones should you really list on? Our team has meticulously reviewed a wide range of directories to bring you a curated list of the most valuable ones. We will continue updating this blog as we find more worthy directories. So before we start, you might want to bookmark this article.
Let’s go.
Psychology Today – The OG
The first one to make to our list is the good old Psychology Today. It continues to be the most established directory for therapists. Based on our discussions with practitioners listed on PT, having a profile on PT can fetch you 1-5 referrals per month. One of the key factors to success on Psychology Today—and on other directories as well—is the quality and relevance of the content in your profile, including the perfect headshot. It’s crucial to include the right keywords that align with your specialties. One quick tip to succeed on PT is to be a specialist rather than a generalist. Be specific about your area of expertise, and avoid trying to present yourself as an expert in all domains. Further, once you sign up on PT, you also get to flaunt your ‘Verified by Psychology Today’ badge.
On the negatives, there are some therapists who have complained about majority of referrals being fake, reduction in referrals as time goes by and poor user experience of website.
Overall, with its current pricing at $29.95/month, Psychology Today is definitely worth a try!
Open Path Collective – The Non-Profit
While some for-profit directories follow some shady practices, we find Open Path Collective a breath of fresh air. It is a unique directory that focuses on providing affordable mental health services. It connects clients with therapists who offer reduced fees for those in need.
Open Path Collective is winning hearts on internet and has gained a lot of public support.
To succeed on Open Path, your pricing strategy is the key. This platform is particularly effective in two scenarios:
- If you have open slots and are willing to offer them at a lower price point.
- If you are generally fully booked but motivated by a desire to give back to the community.
With a one-time, lifetime membership fee of US$65, and the joy of giving back to the community, I would definitely recommend Open Path.
APA Psychologist Locator – The New & Reputable
Yes, the American Psychological Association has its own official directory. They launched it during the pandemic years, to provide a trusted, practical tool for those searching for psychological telehealth services.
APA licensed psychologists can create their profile for free. While the APA Psychologist Locator is free for APA members, it does require active membership, which costs a base rate of $247 annually. As of 2024, creating a profile is still in BETA, so perhaps APA is still ensuring their tech works right.
We are not sure if you would get clients directly from them as of now but since APA’s website has massive credibility, it would definitely get authoritative backlinks to your own website. This would boost the SEO of your own website. So if you already hold an active membership of the APA, there’s nothing to lose, so we recommend you list on APA Psychologist Locator.
Mental Health Match – The Old but New
Mental health Match has recently upgraded their website. Although there were a few glitches with this revamp, which led to drop in referrals for therapists, but that seems to have been corrected now.
In their new website, instead of a direct search, they take clients through a series of questions and assessments to understand what they need. Based on this screening, they match the clients to the appropriate therapists.
They offer first 60 days free and then charge $24.97 plus taxes per month.
While their can be a few hiccups with technology upgrade, such upgrades are usually beneficial. Beyond that, their team is quite pro-active in addressing concerns on social media. So we do recommend trying out Mental Health Match.
Therapy Den – The one we can’t really decide on!
This “was” one of the very well-intentioned directories which we loved. We resonated with their belief in inclusivity and representation at every level.
TherapyDen emphasizes diversity and social justice, offering a space for therapists who focus on marginalized communities like LGBTQ+ issues, racial trauma, or other specific populations. With its 140+ filters, including specific issues, identities, and types of therapy, TherapyDen makes it easier for clients to find exactly what they’re looking for, and for therapists to connect with clients who need their unique expertise. This matching makes sure that referrals are more aligned to the services you offer.
They have an interesting pricing. You can choose create a free profile or opt for their Premium Subscription. With their premium subscription, you’ll get twice the amount of views and twice the amount of client referrals. The premium subscription comes at $30 per month.
But more recently, there has been quite a negative sentiment about Therapy Den. From complaints about deleting the free profiles, spam, questions about Therapy Jeff, selling out the directory, questionable business practices and unreasonable push to sell merchandise.
So given its reputable legacy and the current issues, we are quite undecided about listing on Therapy Den. They still have the free option on their website, so perhaps you can give it a try!
Wrapping Up – Do Not Forget the Local Directories
In addition to the directories we’ve covered—Psychology Today, Open Path Collective, APA Psychologist Locator, TherapyDen, and Mental Health Match—we’ve also explored others like Monarch by Simple Practice, Being Seen, Good Therapy, Zencare, and Theravive etc. However, we haven’t found these to perform as well in terms of generating referrals. That said, there are niche directories that cater to specific mental health issues, inclusivity, or regional focus, such as Therapy for Black Girls, which are definitely worth considering.
While we didn’t include niche directories in our main list, we strongly recommend seeking out directories that align with your area of expertise or target a specific local audience. These niche or regional directories can offer a noteworthy boost to your practice, often at a relatively modest cost. Finding the right fit could be the key to expanding your reach and connecting with clients who truly need your services.
As therapists, it’s essential to recognize that understanding business practices can have a significant impact on the success of your private practice. By educating yourself on topics like marketing, client acquisition, and directory optimization, you can expand your reach and grow your client base more effectively. At PsyPack Assessments, our mission is to support your journey, not just in providing powerful assessment tools but also in offering valuable business insights through our blogs and newsletters. We’re committed to being a part of your growth every step of the way.