You’ve finally taken the plunge and hired a professional website designer for your private practice website. Here are a few tips for making the most of this relationship so that you get a website that resonates for you.
I’ve been designing websites for therapists since 2011, and I’ve learned that the best results come from a simple combo: clear communication + thoughtful collaboration. If you want a website that resonates with your voice, your values, and your ideal clients, here are a few tips for bringing out your designer’s best work.
Be Specific
Your website designer isn’t a mind reader—so the more specific you can be about what you like (and don’t like), the smoother the process will be.
Before starting a design, I often ask therapists what kinds of images they’re drawn to. You don’t need to have all your photos picked out, but it’s incredibly helpful to be precise. For example:
- “I like images that include staircases.”
- “I’m drawn to abstract, graphic imagery more than literal photography.”
That’s much easier to work with than: “I like landscapes.” (Landscapes can mean oceans, mountains, forests, fields, desert… everyone imagines something different.)
This also matters when you’re giving feedback on early design concepts. For instance, “Can you try a different font?” doesn’t offer much direction. Instead, try something like:
- “Could we try a handwriting-style font that feels more personal?”
- “Can we look at a bolder sans serif? This one feels a little too thin.”
The more clearly you describe what you’re responding to, the easier it is for your therapist website designer to translate your feedback into a strong solution.
Specificity doesn’t limit creativity—it actually expands it. Clear preferences give your designer a better foundation to explore options that fit you.
Give Examples
If you’ve seen websites you love—or even just parts of websites you love—send them over.
It doesn’t have to be a therapist’s site. A yoga studio, a photographer, a restaurant… inspiration is inspiration. What helps most is naming what you like about it:
- Is it the layout and spacing?
- The color palette?
- The typography?
- The calm, grounded vibe?
- The way the content is organized?
Examples are one of the fastest ways to get you and your designer aligned.
Be Clear About Who You Are Marketing To
A lot of therapists worry that choosing a niche will exclude potential clients. But in practice, clarity usually creates connection.
When you market to “everyone,” your message can get vague—and your website ends up feeling generic. When you speak directly to your best-fit clients, your site gets a clearer voice and a stronger emotional pull.
From a design standpoint, focus also helps your designer make more intentional visual decisions. A clear audience can guide everything from imagery and colors to layout and tone.
Have Some Content Ready Before Starting the Design Process
You don’t need every word of your website finalized before design begins. But having some draft content—especially a rough homepage—can make a big difference.
Even a first draft helps your designer:
- get a feel for your voice and tone,
- choose imagery that supports your message,
- and create layouts that match your content length (instead of guessing and redesigning later).
Think of it as giving your designer the “ingredients” they need to cook.
If you approach the process as a collaboration—where your clarity meets your designer’s expertise—you’ll get a website that not only looks beautiful, but also feels like an authentic extension of your practice.
Jennifer Breslow is a therapist and graphic designer who has been designing websites, logos and printed marketing materials for therapists since 2011. She offer tips for putting your best self forward online to attract the clients you most want to work with.
