Prosper in Private Practice

Private Practice Marketing in 2026: How Therapists Can Be Found Without Burning Out on Social Media

Claire Feldman

The private practice landscape has changed. Quietly, steadily, and in ways that many therapists are feeling but haven’t quite named yet.

In this episode, I talk through what marketing a therapy practice realistically looks like in 2026, and why so many of the strategies that worked ten or even five years ago no longer hold in the same way.

Drawing on insights from a recent Open House event, I explore how client search behaviour has shifted, what clients are actually doing when they look for a therapist now, and why so many therapists feel exhausted trying to keep up with social media expectations that were never designed for them in the first place.

We look at:

  • How online therapy changed the competitive landscape, and why clients now search far beyond their local area
  • Why directories alone are rarely enough anymore, even though they still have a place
  • What clients are really responding to when they land on a therapist’s website
  • Why clear, human, client-centred language matters more than professional polish or long lists of credentials
  • How Google search still drives most therapy enquiries, and what that means for your website
  • Why SEO blogs work when they answer real client questions, not professional interests
  • How tools like ChatGPT are beginning to influence how people look for therapists, and what helps you show up in those recommendations
  • The role of FAQs, niche clarity, and simple site structure in future-proof visibility
  • Why social media is better treated as a secondary trust-building tool rather than your main marketing strategy
  • What sustainable marketing looks like if you only need a small, steady caseload

This is a grounded conversation about marketing that prioritises capacity, clarity, and long-term visibility over trends, performance, or constant output. Especially relevant if you work online, want to attract self-funding clients, and are tired of feeling like you “should” be doing more on Instagram.

If you want structured, ongoing support with your website, messaging, SEO, and future-proof visibility, you can explore the Prosper in Private Practice Hub here:

https://www.prosperinprivatepractice.com/prosper-in-private-practice-hub

It’s designed for therapists who want calm, sustainable growth, without turning themselves into content machines.