How to Write the Perfect Therapist Bio
Whether writing your first bio for the new job you just landed or you’re a seasoned therapist who’s updating their Psychology Today, it’s always helpful to have some strategies under your belt to craft the best bio possible to connect with your ideal client. Let’s take a look at a few questions you can ask yourself to help make the bio writing process easier for yourself.
Identify your ideal client
First of all, identify who your ideal client is. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine what they want to hear from a therapist they’re scoping out. Take some time to jot down their needs, their struggles and the solutions they may be looking for. Your bio should directly speak to your client’s challenges and letting them know how you’re going to help them.
While you may worry about narrowing your audience down to your ideal client, it’s important to remember that when you market to everybody you’re actually marketing to nobody. When you work with clients who align with your expertise and approach, you're more likely to achieve successful outcomes. Satisfied clients are more likely to refer others to your practice, leading to organic growth.
Humanize yourself
“In my twenty plus years of practice, I have realized that what we value as clinicians is not necessarily the same thing as what those who are considering our services value.”
– Dr. Julie Hanks, Licensed Therapist and Business Consultant
According to Dr. Julie Hanks, LCSW, who wrote an article for Psych Central titled 3 Things Potential Clients Really Want to Know, listed 3 questions that prospective clients want answered:
Do I like them?
Can I trust them?
How can I help them?
You don’t need a long list of qualifications in your bio — you need to humanize yourself and make sure that your clients know they’ll be treated with compassion and empathy. By ensuring that you answer these 3 questions in your bio, you can help prospective clients sift through all of the therapists they may be vetting and land on a decision of who they want their therapist to be.
Leave clinical jargon at the door
Literacy statistics place most Americans reading at an 8th grade reading level. This means you should keep your bio simple, readable and free of any clinical jargon. Remember that this is not a Cover Letter for a job nor the place to brag. For some potential clients, this may be their first time going to a therapist.
Focus on your specialization(s)
You don’t need a laundry list of 50 of your specializations that you are comfortable with—instead focus on what you really are an expert in. Do you want to work with victims of domestic abuse, do you want to counsel families, or do you want to help people break the cycle of addiction? Did you do a research study on a specific subject matter and you are now incorporating your findings into your sessions? Whatever your specialization is, whatever area of counseling you’re really passionate about—lean into that.
Let your voice shine through
Lastly, let yourself be present within your bio. Make sure your voice is coming through loud and clear so that clients can get a feel for who you are. Including a short video clip introducing yourself can be extremely helpful. Mentioning your hobbies outside of work also can establish connection. Talk about yourself, but as it relates to your clients.
In conclusion
Creating a well-written and carefully thought out bio is a must for therapists looking to connect with the right clients. Start by getting into your ideal client's shoes and figuring out what they really need. Forget the fancy lingo and instead focus on being relatable and trustworthy. Remember, it's not a job application or a place to show off – it's where you can show your human side and connect with potential clients. Let your personality shine through. In the end, your online bio is your ticket to building trust and forming real connections with the people who need your therapy services.