Website Builder for Therapists & Counselors
TL;DR
Therapists and counselors (solo practitioners or small practices) who need a professional website but don't have technical skills or much time have specific requirements that general website builders often ignore. Below you'll find what your therapy website needs in 2026, why HIPAA compliance matters even for basic sites, and how to get online quickly. Bottom line: Solo can get you a professional therapy website in under an hour through AI-assisted setup, but you'll need to handle HIPAA-compliant forms through a third-party service—we'll show you exactly how.
Why therapist & counselor websites have specific challenges
Therapy websites face hurdles that general business sites don't. There's the trust factor—potential clients are often in vulnerable states when searching for help, so your site needs to convey safety, professionalism, and warmth without feeling clinical or intimidating. Research shows that therapy websites need to strike a careful balance between professional credibility and approachable warmth, using calming colors and clear, jargon-free language.
Beyond aesthetics, therapy practices face strict compliance requirements. The HIPAA compliance update deadline of February 16, 2026 means any website collecting patient information—even through a simple contact form where someone might share their mental health concerns—needs specific security measures. Many therapists also need to display licensing information clearly, maintain client confidentiality in testimonials, and ensure their sites meet accessibility standards that are often state-mandated for healthcare providers.
What a therapist & counselor website needs in 2026
| Must-Haves | Nice-to-Haves | Therapist-Specific Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| • Clickable phone number • Email contact • Office address/service area • Hours of operation • Secure contact form • About page with credentials • Service descriptions • Mobile-responsive design • SSL certificate | • Blog for SEO • Online scheduling link • Resource library • FAQ section • Insurance information • Intake form downloads • Crisis resources • Newsletter signup | • License numbers displayed • HIPAA-compliant forms • Accessibility compliance • Consent-documented testimonials • Privacy policy • Professional headshot • Therapeutic approach • Specialties listed • Decolonized language |
According to therapy website experts, these elements work together to establish expertise and improve search visibility while maintaining the trust and compliance standards essential for mental health practices.
HIPAA compliance: What you actually need to know
If your website collects any patient information—including through a basic contact form where someone might share their mental health concerns—you need HIPAA-compliant systems. The February 16, 2026 deadline applies to solo therapists, not just large practices.
Solo, like most website builders, doesn't offer a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for HIPAA compliance. This means you can't use Solo's built-in contact forms for collecting sensitive health information. The fix is straightforward: use Solo to build your professional website, then embed a HIPAA-compliant form from services like SimplePractice, JotForm's HIPAA plans, or Cognito Forms. These services will sign a BAA and handle the secure transmission of patient data. You paste their embed code into Solo's custom code section (available on Pro plans at $20) and you're compliant. This approach is actually more secure than trying to make a general website builder HIPAA-compliant.
Why Solo works for solo therapist & counselor practices
Solo's AI-assisted setup understands therapy practices. When you describe your practice during onboarding—"I'm a licensed therapist specializing in anxiety and trauma for young adults"—Solo generates appropriate sections like Services (with your specialties), About (prompting for credentials), and Contact information. The AI produces professional, warm copy that avoids clinical jargon, though you'll want to review and personalize it.
For busy therapists, the main advantage is speed. Solo generates a complete multi-page website in under an hour, with sections specifically structured for therapy practices. At $20 (Pro plan, billed annually), you get custom domain connection, SSL security, and the ability to embed HIPAA-compliant forms. The visual editor lets you adjust colors to calming palettes recommended for therapy sites without any coding.
What Solo doesn't do: it won't handle appointment booking natively (you'll link to your existing system like SimplePractice), won't generate HIPAA-compliant forms (embed from third parties), and won't automatically write blog posts after initial setup (the blog feature is optional and you write posts yourself). For most solo therapists who just need a professional presence online quickly, these limitations aren't dealbreakers.
Comparison with alternatives
| Feature | Solo | Squarespace | SimplePractice Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0 (Free) $20/mo (Pro) | $16/mo (Personal) $23/mo (Business) | $29/mo (included with practice management) |
| AI Website Generation | ✓ Full site from business description | ✗ Templates only | ✗ Templates only |
| Time to Launch | Under 1 hour | 3-5 hours | 1-2 hours |
| HIPAA-Compliant Forms | ✗ Use third-party embed | ✗ Use third-party embed | ✓ Built-in with BAA |
| Booking Integration | Link to external | Third-party widgets | ✓ Native scheduling |
| Custom Domain | ✓ Pro and above | ✓ All paid plans | ✓ Included |
| SEO Tools | ✓ Basic on-page | ✓ Comprehensive | ✓ Basic |
| Best For | Quick professional site, external tools | Design control, time to build | All-in-one practice solution |
Getting started: a 5-step checklist
- Prepare your practice information before starting. Gather your license numbers, credentials (degrees, certifications), a professional headshot, your therapeutic approach in plain language, and a list of specialties or populations you serve. Having these ready will make Solo's AI generation much more accurate on the first pass.
- Sign up for Solo and describe your practice clearly. Use natural language like "I'm a licensed clinical social worker specializing in anxiety, depression, and life transitions for adults and teens. I use CBT and mindfulness approaches." The AI will create appropriate service pages and about sections from this context.
- Review and customize the generated content. Solo's AI drafts professional copy, but you need to personalize it. Add your unique voice, specific therapeutic approach, and any important practice policies. Pay special attention to your About page—research shows this is often the most-visited page on therapist websites.
- Set up HIPAA-compliant contact forms. Sign up for a HIPAA-compliant form service (JotForm HIPAA plans start at $39/month, Cognito Forms at $35/month). Create your forms there, get the embed code, and paste it into Solo using the custom code feature. This keeps patient communications secure and legally compliant.
- Optimize for local search before launching. Add your city and state to page titles and service descriptions. Set up or claim your Google Business Profile—this is often more important than your website for local visibility. Make sure your name, address, and phone number match exactly across your website, Google, and any therapist directories like Psychology Today.
Is Solo HIPAA-compliant for therapy websites?
No, Solo doesn't provide a BAA for HIPAA compliance. However, you can easily use Solo for your website and embed HIPAA-compliant forms from services like JotForm, SimplePractice, or Cognito Forms. This is actually a common and secure approach—build your marketing site on Solo, handle patient data through specialized HIPAA-compliant tools.
How much does Solo cost for a therapy practice website?
Solo offers a free plan for basic sites. Most therapists will want the Pro plan at $20/month (billed annually) or $25/month (billed monthly) to connect a custom domain and embed HIPAA-compliant forms. This is competitive with other builders and much faster to set up.
Can I display my therapy licenses and credentials on Solo?
Yes, Solo allows full customization of your About and credentials sections. During the AI generation process, it will create spaces for your qualifications, and you can add license numbers, certifications, education, and professional memberships in the visual editor.
Does Solo integrate with therapy practice management software?
Solo doesn't have native integrations with SimplePractice or similar tools. However, you can link to your online booking system and embed scheduling widgets using Solo's custom code feature (Pro plan and above). Most therapists find this sufficient for client scheduling needs.
How long does it really take to build a therapy website with Solo?
With your information ready, Solo's AI can generate a complete therapy website in 10-15 minutes. Plan another 30-45 minutes to customize the content, upload your photo, and set up embedded forms. Most therapists can launch their professional site in under an hour total.
Will Solo help my therapy practice show up in local Google searches?
Solo provides basic on-page SEO tools like meta descriptions and clean URLs. However, for therapists, your Google Business Profile is typically more important for local visibility. Solo makes it easy to ensure your NAP (name, address, phone) information is consistent, which helps with local SEO rankings.
Can I add a blog to share therapy resources and improve SEO?
Solo offers blog functionality, though availability may vary by plan. You can create posts manually (there's no ongoing AI writing assistant). Many therapists use blogs to share resources, discuss treatment approaches, and improve search visibility. Content marketing can be very effective for therapy practices.
What if I need help with website accessibility compliance?
Solo generates clean, semantic HTML that provides a good foundation for accessibility. However, as a therapist, you may have state-specific accessibility requirements. You'll need to ensure your content uses clear headings, alt text for images, and readable fonts—all of which you can control in Solo's editor.
