psychologist seo
Step-by-step SEO and online marketing to attract more clients and grow your practice
A hands-on SEO plan for psychologists: keyword research, local search, website pages that convert, content ideas, secure booking best-practices and monthly tasks you can implement this week.
How clients search for psychologists (and what that means for SEO)
Prospective clients search differently depending on intent. They might be looking for immediate help ("therapist for panic attacks"), a specialist ("child psychologist Melbourne"), or practical info ("how therapy works"). Match your pages to these intents and you'll rank and convert better.
- Informational queries: blog posts and FAQs (e.g. "what is CBT")
- Local intent: "psychologist near me", "psychologist [suburb]"
- Transactional/booking: "book psychologist", "telehealth psychologist" — pages should make booking easy
Build pages to serve each intent and link them logically (service pages -> related blog posts -> booking).
Keyword research: practical steps for busy clinicians
You don't need expensive tools to start. Use free tools (Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, Google Keyword Planner) plus a simple spreadsheet.
Step-by-step
- List core services: e.g. "child psychologist", "online therapy", "CBT for anxiety".
- Add local modifiers: append suburb/city names ("Sydney", "Melbourne", "near me"). Aim for a primary local keyword per service page.
- Check search intent: type keywords into Google — are results local clinics, directories, or articles? Match your page type.
- Create short and long-tail keyword sets: short (high volume): "psychologist Melbourne"; long-tail (high intent): "psychologist for social anxiety in [suburb]".
- Prioritise: start with 3–6 high-value phrases (a mix of local and service-specific) and build pages for them first.
Quick keyword template
Primary keyword: child psychologist [City]
Secondary keywords: child therapist near me, child counselling [suburb], psychologist for kids
Blog ideas: 7 signs your child may benefit from therapy; how to talk to your child about therapy
Target page intent: Local service + booking
On-page SEO checklist: exact edits that move the needle
Title tags & meta descriptions
Write page titles that include your primary keyword + location and keep to ~50-60 characters. Meta descriptions should summarise benefit and include a call-to-action (e.g. "Free 15-min consult").
- Example title: Child psychologist Melbourne — Dr. Jane Doe
- Example meta: Specialist child psychologist in Melbourne. Telehealth & in-clinic appointments. Book a free 15-min consult.
Headers & content structure
Use H1 for the page topic, H2 for subtopics. Keep paragraphs short and use bullet lists for symptoms, treatments and FAQs. Include your keyword naturally in H1 and H2s.
Images & alt text
Add photos of your clinic, therapist headshots, and calming therapy visuals. Use descriptive alt text: "Dr Jane Doe child psychologist Melbourne office".
Internal linking
Link service pages to related blog posts and the booking/contact page. Use descriptive anchor text (avoid "click here").
Privacy & ethics (important for clinicians)
Make privacy and confidentiality statements visible (footer + booking pages). Use secure booking solutions (HTTPS) and note if telehealth is compliant with local regulations. This builds trust and reduces bounce.
Service pages & location pages that convert
Each major service should have its own page (not just a single "Services" list). People searching for "CBT for panic attacks" should land on a page focused on that problem and the outcome you deliver.
Structure for a high-converting service page
- H1: Primary keyword + benefit (e.g. "CBT for Panic Attacks — Rapid Relief Strategies")
- Intro (50–80 words): Empathic opening, who you help, quick CTA (phone / booking link)
- Symptoms & who it's for: bullet list to match searcher's concerns
- Approach & what to expect: explain session length, telehealth options, evidence-based methods
- Outcomes / testimonials: short anonymised client quotes (with consent)
- FAQ: 5–8 practical Q&A aimed at common objections
- CTA block: Clear booking options and phone number
Location pages
Create a location page for each suburb you serve if you see clients from multiple areas. Keep unique content per page (avoid duplicate copy) — mention local landmarks, suburbs, and transport to help local relevance.
Google Business Profile, citations & reviews
Google Business Profile (GBP) checklist
- Claim and verify your GBP listing.
- Use your exact business name and address format across web citations.
- Choose accurate categories (e.g. Psychologist, Mental Health Service).
- Add services, hours, clear phone number and website link.
- Upload professional photos (profile + interior + team).
- Use posts to share blogs, availability or specials (e.g. "new telehealth slots").
Reviews that help rankings & trust
Reviews are a major ranking signal for local packs and strongly influence clicks. Create a gentle process for asking satisfied clients to review you (timing + script below).
Citations & directories
Consistent Name, Address, Phone (NAP) across key directories (Healthdirect, Psychology Today, Whitecoat, local directories) improves local SEO. Audit your listings annually.
Content strategy: topics that attract clients and build trust
Content positions you as a helpful expert. Aim for consistency: one well-researched piece per month is better than inconsistent posting.
Blog & resource ideas
- Condition-focused explainers: What is social anxiety? How therapy helps.
- Practical guides: Coping strategies for panic attacks, supporting teens with anxiety.
- Process & expectations: What to expect in your first session, telehealth guide.
- Success stories: anonymised outcomes and testimonials (with consent).
- Local content: Mental health resources in [City], referral pathways.
Content that converts
End each blog with a clear CTA: phone, booking link, free 10–15 minute consult. Add a small FAQ with schema to get rich results.
Technical SEO: quick wins for speed, mobile & security
Speed
- Use compressed images (WebP where possible) and set width/height attributes.
- Enable browser caching and gzip/brotli compression via your host.
- Limit third-party scripts (live chat, heavy widgets) that slow page load.
- Target sub-3 second mobile load; aim for 90+ on Google PageSpeed Insights where possible.
Security & mobile
- Always use HTTPS (SSL) — required for trust and rankings.
- Use responsive design and test on multiple devices.
- Ensure contact/booking forms are secure; avoid storing sensitive health data on forms if not compliant.
Technical checklist
- XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
- Robots.txt correctly configured
- Schema markup for Organization and LocalBusiness (see example below)
Example structured data for a clinic
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalBusiness",
"name": "Your Clinic Name",
"url": "https://yourclinic.com.au",
"telephone": "+61 4xx xxx xxx",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "123 Clinic St",
"addressLocality": "Suburb",
"addressRegion": "VIC",
"postalCode": "3000",
"addressCountry": "AU"
},
"image": "https://yourclinic.com.au/images/clinic.jpg",
"priceRange": "$$",
"description": "Registered clinical psychologist providing CBT, child therapy and telehealth."
}
Add this to your site head (or ask your developer). Correct schema helps Google understand your services and can improve visibility.
Tracking, conversion and a simple monthly SEO checklist
Must-have tracking
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for traffic and behaviour
- Google Search Console for search performance and index issues
- Call tracking or use a consistent phone number on your site and GBP
Conversion optimisation tips
- Prominent phone number in header and footer
- Sticky booking CTA on mobile
- Short contact/booking flow — fewer fields = higher conversions
- Use trust signals: registration, associations, testimonials
Monthly SEO checklist (30–60 minutes)
- Check Google Search Console for errors and performance trends
- Publish or update one blog post that targets a long-tail question
- Ask for one or two new reviews and respond to recent reviews
- Check page speed for your top landing pages
- Review booking funnel (test a booking to confirm it works)
Real-world example (how small changes generated more enquiries)
A two-therapist private practice implemented the following in 8 weeks:
- Created dedicated service pages for adult anxiety and child behaviour
- Optimised titles and meta descriptions for local keywords
- Claimed GBP, added photos, and encouraged reviews
- Published monthly blog posts targeting local queries
Result: 45% increase in phone enquiries and a top-3 local pack placement for two core keywords within 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before I see SEO results?
Can I advertise while I'm waiting for SEO to work?
Is it okay to post client stories or testimonials?
Do I need a blog?
Make your website work for your practice
If you'd rather focus on clients and leave the website to experts, Congero builds professional, local-SEO-ready sites in under 24 hours and handles unlimited updates for one predictable monthly fee.
Congero offers AI-driven websites, local SEO, hosting, domain and unlimited text-in updates for $49/month with no lock-in contracts. Perfect for busy clinicians who want results fast.
