Your therapist or coach profile page plays an integral role in the matching process and is a great opportunity to build rapport with your matches as well as clients that find you organically on our website. Here are some recommendations on how to create a welcoming web page that resonates with potential clients and inspires follow-through. While these recommendations are focused on the MyWellbeing profile, the key insights also work for profiles you have on other sites.
How to craft your bio:
Aim for about 2-3 paragraphs
While you no doubt have plenty of helpful information to share, you don’t want to lose the reader’s attention with a bio that is very long.
Be personable!
We recommend writing in first person (using “I, me, my” in place of “they, their”) in an approachable way. Your bio should not read like a CV or resume.
Avoid using jargon
If you need to use jargon/technical language in your bio (like the names of specific therapeutic approaches or styles), please do your best to explain what you mean directly afterward so that prospective clients don’t get confused or intimidated by language they don’t understand. Think about how you would communicate about your work with someone brand new to therapy or coaching and write in that way.
Speak to the client’s needs while also sharing about yourself
You want the client to trust that you can help them and understand what working with you would be like. A good format to follow for your bio is:
- Who are the people that you usually work with and what are the life situations that they are going through when you begin working with them?
- What is your style and approach like? How do you show up “in the room”? What are the techniques that you use in your work and what is it like to work with you?
- Small tidbits about yourself that you are comfortable sharing that can help you feel relatable (information about your hobbies, location, pets, etc.)
- What are some of your past work experiences/credentials that can help clients understand why you are equipped to work with them? (years of experience, trainings, degrees, certificates, etc)
Feel free to include your website and/or calendar link at the end of your bio.
That way, those that find your page via our directory or Google are able to learn more about you.
**Note that this bio is different from the ‘welcome message’ you include in the “About You” section of the portal. Please make sure not to put the exact same message in each place.
Choosing a Headshot:
- Choose a photo that:
- Uses natural lighting.
- Is high-quality and clear and does not appear pixelated or blurry.
- Represents yourself in the same manner that you would appear in your sessions, such as attire and background.
- Is recent (within the past 5 years).
- Has a soothing and inviting background, rather than one that is busy and/or distracting. You may want to use a photo that was taken in your home office or outside on a clear day with minimal background noise.
- At least includes your shoulders (not a selfie-style close up) that is taken from a non-intimidating angle (try for one that’s at eye-level).
- Avoid using photos that:
- Were taken at night.
- Have harsh sunlight or shadows.
- Are blurry or pixelated.
- Are cropped (a photo in which you crop other people out of a group photo).
- Look like a selfie.
- Don’t look like you.
Highlighting Specializations:
- Choose up to 8 specializations that you want featured on your web page to help people understand what issue areas you are most expert working with. These should be specializations that you want to work with most in your practice. Think about your ideal client and what they might want to work on.
You can expand on some of these areas in your bio. For example, if you list ‘life transitions’ your bio can include what specific life transitions you enjoy helping your clients through.
Including Q&A Responses:
- We’ve learned from surveying prospective clients that these are all questions that they are interested in knowing more about when choosing a practitioner to work with.
- We recommend including at least 3 responses to questions on your web page (more is great, though!)
- Like in your bio, please make sure to use as little jargon as possible in your responses.
- Choose to include the questions that resonate with you most that you think will help you to show off what makes you unique.
- Choose to include questions that will help clients with their expectation setting, like: What are your policies around insurance? If I have never been to therapy/coaching before, what should I expect? Is there ever a time you would encourage me to graduate or stop sessions?
- Your responses should generally be about 3-6 sentences.
Use Testimonials to Increase Trust:
On your MyWellbeing web page you can include client and/or colleague testimonials. Either is helpful, so don’t worry if you do not have client testimonials to share. Ask one of your colleagues and share the kind words that they have to say about you with prospective clients.
After MyWellbeing has matched you with a client and they get the chance to learn about your work from you through your bio and the Q&A section, the testimonials add an additional layer of confidence that you’d be a good fit, increasing the likelihood that a client will reach out.
If you have any questions or want feedback on your MyWellbeing profile page, please contact [email protected]. We’ll be happy to help!
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