The Counseling Practices Growing on Google All Do These Things — Here's the Full Playbook
Every resource you need to build ethical, effective search visibility for your counseling practice — from your Google Business Profile to HIPAA-compliant marketing — organized in one place.
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Quick answer
What SEO resources exist specifically for counselors and therapy practices?
This hub covers every dimension of counselor SEO: local search optimization, HIPAA-compliant marketing, GBP setup, directory citations, audit frameworks, checklists, and ethical review management. Each resource addresses counseling-specific constraints — including ACA ethics guidelines and state licensing rules — rather than generic small-business SEO advice.
Key Takeaways
1Counselor SEO has unique constraints — ACA ethics, HIPAA, and state board advertising rules all affect what you can say and how you solicit reviews
2Local search visibility (Google Maps, Psychology Today, TherapyDen) drives the majority of new client inquiries for most private practices
3A complete approach covers your website, your Google Business Profile, your directory citations, and your content — not just one channel
4SEO for counselors takes time — most practices see meaningful movement in organic rankings within 4–6 months, depending on market competition
5Ethical visibility is possible — the goal is helping the right clients find you, not aggressive marketing that conflicts with professional obligations
6This hub routes you to the right resource for your specific goal, whether that's diagnosing a problem, implementing a fix, or understanding benchmarks
Start with the SEO Audit Guide. It helps you identify the specific gaps in your current visibility before you invest time or money in fixes. If your website is already in reasonable shape and you just need a task list, go directly to the Counselor SEO Checklist instead.
Yes — the Local SEO for Counselors guide covers Google Business Profile optimization, counseling directory citations (Psychology Today, TherapyDen, GoodTherapy, AAMFT), NAP consistency, and how to manage reviews within ACA ethics guidelines. Pair it with the GBP-specific guide for full implementation detail.
The HIPAA-Compliant Marketing for Counselors guide is the dedicated resource for this. It covers what the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR §164.508) and ACA Code of Ethics Section C.6 say in an advertising context. It's educational content — not legal advice — and recommends verifying obligations with your licensing authority and a qualified attorney.
The Counselor SEO Statistics and Benchmarks page aggregates data on local search behavior, ranking timelines, and directory traffic patterns. It includes methodology notes and a clear disclaimer: benchmarks vary significantly by market, practice size, and service mix. Use it for directional context, not guarantees.
The Hiring an SEO Agency for Your Counseling Practice guide covers what to ask during evaluation, red flags that suggest an agency doesn't understand mental health marketing constraints, and how to structure an engagement. The Cost and ROI guide gives you budget and timeline context to set realistic expectations before you start.
This hub page is designed for exactly that. It explains the four-layer framework (local search, website authority, compliance, and trust signals), routes to every specific resource, and provides situation-based guidance. For a deeper single read, our complete guide to SEO for counseling practices covers the full approach end to end.