You’ve probably been told that if you get your website right such as add your keywords, write a few blogs, use the right hashtags then clients will find you.
But lately, you might have noticed something different. Your diary isn’t filling as easily. Your website traffic has dropped. Or maybe you’re showing up on social media and still hearing… silence.
You’re not doing anything wrong. The way clients find therapy has simply changed…completely.
The Change: clients aren’t searching for Therapy the way they used to
Clients are no longer typing “anxiety counsellor near me” into Google. They’re asking AI assistants like ChatGPT or Google’s new AI search for help:
“Who’s the best therapist for overthinking?”
“Find a trauma counsellor who works online.”
And these systems don’t just scan your website. They read everything about you online such as your website, your directories, your social media, your reviews and decide who feels trustworthy, consistent, and relevant.
That’s what I call your digital legacy.
It’s the full picture of how you show up online, and this is what helps you get found, remembered, and recommended by both humans and AI TODAY!
Why so many therapists are being left behind?
Most therapists are still:
- Relying on, or are still being taught old SEO tactics that no longer reflect how search actually works.
- Writing posts that sound like everyone else professional, but not personal enough for AI (or people) to recognise their uniqueness.
- Treating their website like a brochure or a list of credentials instead of a living, linked part of their digital ecosystem.
- Posting without purpose – focusing on likes or hashtags rather than building findability and authority.
- Spending time perfecting colours and logos while the words….the emotional, connecting language clients are searching for …. are missing.
And it’s not their fault. Therapists were never taught this side of business. or worse, the people teaching them about business and marketing are often basing it on what worked for them years ago, not on what’s actually working right now in a rapidly changing online world.
I know You trained to help people heal, not to navigate algorithms, AI assistants, and online optimisation, but this shift isn’t coming, it’s already here and happening today!
What’s working now in 2025 to market your Private Practice?
It’s not about just SEO anymore, it’s about AEO, GEO and AIO:
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation): how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI choose which therapist to recommend.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation): Ensuring content is rich and authoritative enough to be referenced in AI-generated summaries and recommendations.
- AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimisation): how your overall presence – from website to social media – is read, linked, and indexed by AI.
Therapists who adapt to this are already being found first are the ones getting messages like:
“You came up when I asked for help.”
They’re visible, relevant, and trusted because their online presence is connected, not scattered.
This is what I teach inside my Private Practice Marketing membership
My members are building their full digital legacy – learning exactly how to make their website, content, and online profiles work together so they can be found by AI and human search alike.
They’re not chasing algorithms. They’re creating meaningful, lasting visibility – the kind that brings the right clients straight to them.
And I want as many therapists as possible to benefit from this.
I’m opening my membership for one day only
Next month, I’ll be opening my membership for one day only before it closes again until 2026.
Because things in the online world are moving quickly and this is your time to get ahead of it.
So if you’re tired of feeling invisible online, confused by what’s changed, or ready to future-proof your private practice, this is your chance to step into what’s actually working now.
👉 Get on the waitlist here to be the first to know when doors open for that one-day access.
It’s not about being trendy or techy. It’s about being findable, trusted, and chosen by the clients who need you most.
And that starts with building your digital legacy.
Testimonials:
“I didn’t come to Mel because I couldn’t get clients… my practice was already full. I came to her because I knew absolutely nothing about marketing.” *Karolina Jurewicz – ADHD & Burnout Therapist
“Mel’s membership is so valuable to me, many marketing memberships don’t understand the nuance and ethical boundaries, but Mel understands this completely. If you feel lost in the business world – this is your sign to work with Mel, you won’t regret it” *Yasmin OḰeefe – Grief & Loss Psychotherapist
” Mel has a wealth of knowledge in marketing and I was amazed by the amount of individual attention within the membership setup, i definitely feel less isolated in the trials and tribulations of marketing” *Lii Brooke – Therapist to Late Diagnosed Autistic Professionals
Email me at mel@melanielaysolutions.com
Private Practice Marketing Coach for Counsellors and Therapists l Mel Lay 
Leave a comment