What belongs on a website for psychotherapy and counselling
- A calm first impression. People looking for therapy are often tense. The home page says in two sentences who you help and how to reach you, with no loud images.
- Method and way of working. Which method you offer, how a session runs and how long it lasts. Clearly described, so nobody has to wonder beforehand what to expect.
- Costs and billing. Whether you bill health insurers, work privately or as a self-pay practice. For many people this question decides whether they enquire at all.
- Current waiting time. One sentence on the current situation, which you change yourself in the admin area. That saves you many calls that end in a refusal.
- First contact without hurdles. A short contact form or your phone hours. If you wish, we embed or link your existing online booking system.
- Qualification and licence. Licence (Approbation), training, memberships. Listed factually, as your professional law provides.
- Texts within advertising law. We write neutrally and respect the Medicinal Products Advertising Act and your professional law. There are no promises of cure on the page.
The pages we usually build
- Home page
- About me
- Way of working
- Costs & billing
- First conversation
- Contact & directions
- Legal notice
- Privacy
Common mistakes on today's websites
- The home page talks at length about your own career before it becomes clear which concerns the practice is for.
- The waiting time is nowhere, so people call who would not get a place for months.
- Wording such as 'healing' or guaranteed results, which is delicate under professional law.
What is special in law for psychotherapy practice websites?
Under § 1 of the German Psychotherapists Act (Psychotherapeutengesetz), the title Psychotherapeutin or Psychotherapeut is reserved for licensed (approbiert) professionals. If you work with a Heilpraktiker licence for psychotherapy, you call yourself Heilpraktikerin or Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie, on the website, in the page title and in the Google profile. Texts relating to complaints fall under the German Medicinal Products Advertising Act (Heilmittelwerbegesetz): no promises of cure, no guarantees of success. Pages on mental health topics should include a pointer to help in a crisis, such as the telephone counselling service Telefonseelsorge on 0800 111 0 111.
How does the move work for a practice?
We take over the texts and images of your current site, reorganise them and check professional title, mandatory details and advertising law along the way. Professional claims only go live after your approval. In the contact form we do not ask for health details as a required field. On websites our team has built for practices, we have for example checked the sources of a specialist text and removed a study that could not be backed up before the page went online.
Websites we've built
Frequently asked questions
Do you take the Medicinal Products Advertising Act into account in the texts?
Yes. We write factually, with no promises of cure and within your professional law. Before the site goes online, you read every text and approve it.
Can I update my waiting time myself?
Yes. In the admin area you change texts, images and pages yourself, including the waiting time note. We handle layout changes, and 10 minutes per month are included.
What does the website cost me per year?
Building costs nothing. You only pay for hosting with care, once a year, cheaper than today, as a final price. We invoice as a US company, so no VAT is added.
What happens if I give up the practice or want to switch?
There is no minimum term. The website is yours with source code, files and content, and you take everything with you at no charge.
Ready for a new website?
We're currently testing freeehouse with a first round of businesses. Claim your spot on the waiting list.