4 Ways to Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

More and more people are using their phones to search the internet.  By optimizing your online content for mobile devices, your clients can more efficiently access the information and services your therapy practice provides.  

It has been said that 2014 is the year of the mobile.  People are increasingly accessing online material from their phone, so it’s important that providers are aware that their content is being viewed through multiple channels.  But there are unique challenges that come along with this trend:  a website or blog can appear dramatically different on an iPhone or Android than on a computer screen.  Different features can get warped or skewed on a mobile device.  Thankfully, there are ways to make online content more efficient and accessible for cell-phone users.

Here are 4 ways to optimize your website and online content for mobile devices:

1)  Make a Separate Mobile Site

If you own a smartphone, you are probably familiar with how certain sites offer a version specific for phones.  For example, Facebook has a separate application (a cell-phone app) for mobile users.  It has slight modifications to make it easier to use than the normal site would be from such a small screen, but the general capability is still there.  Creating a separate mobile site will certainly require some tech-savvy skills, so as your therapy practice develops, you may want to consider hiring a web-developer to help you navigate some of the trickier aspects of web design.

2)  Simplify

The mobile version of your site should be very, very simple.  Clean, white space will help viewers not get overwhelmed by too many features.  Not everyone on the main version of your site should be displayed for cell phones users.  Using drop-down menus can help eliminate unnecessary distractions.

3)  Emphasize Prominent Information

Once you’ve decided what to cut out, you need to decide what elements of your original site to keep for your mobile site.  The name of your therapy practice, contact information, and a photo or logo should be very clearly displayed.  If someone has to hunt to find key information, he/she will likely exit your site very soon.  Emphasize your most important message in a clear and concise way.

4)  Provide Links to the Full Site

Although someone may first come across your online content while using a phone, users are more likely to fully interact and take advantage of services through the original site.  Remember that the mobile version is meant to serve as a mini format of your main website or blog.  The full site is the main attraction and ultimately where you want your viewers to go. Make sure to provide a link to redirect viewers to your full site.  

Do you have a mobile version of your website or blog?

How can you use these tips to make your online content more accessible for mobile users?

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Sources:

1)  Photo (c) Canstock Photo ID:  13124395

2)  "9 Tips for Optimizing Your Website for Mobile Users"

How to Build Trust with a Client Before the First Session

A strong online presence helps potentials clients trust you and choose you when they are ready for therapy. Clients sometimes have a hard time trusting a new therapist.  It’s understandable: who feels comfortable telling their innermost problems to a complete stranger?  But trust is a critical part of the client/ therapist relationship if any real progress is to be made.  Thankfully, there are ways to build trust before your client even walks in the door.

The best way to help your clients feel comfortable with you even before your first session is to establish yourself through your online presence.  Think of your website as your welcome sign.  This is a gateway for your potential customer to get to know you and understand what your practice is all about.  Your social media and web presence should display your professional accolades, but also should showcase you as a real, authenticate person.

Online Presence Builds Trust

There are multiple ways for readers to come across your material and get a sense of you who are.  Maybe a friend retweeted something of yours.  Maybe they saw a media interview you did or read a recent blog article on your private practice website.  Or maybe they found you organically through a Google search. Either way, you can make a significant impression by your online content.  Hopefully, readers will feel a connection to something you’ve written or said that will cause them to seek you out more.  In this way, they are learning to trust your opinion both as a professional and also as a person.

If and when someone does seek out your professional services, they feel more comfortable since they already know a good deal about you philosophy and therapy style.  This means you almost get to skip a step in therapy: the individual has already been introduced to you and likes you enough to have personally chosen you as his or her therapist.

Building Trust Takes Time

Creating a strong online presence to build trust with your clientele is a long-term strategy.  It won’t happen overnight.  You need to continually put work into creating content for your social media platforms, engage in the professional conversation, publish guest posts, etc. to build up that reputation.  I once had a customer who had heard me speak nine months earlier before she was ready to call and make an appointment.  It takes multiple exposure before someone decides to become a paying customer.

A relationship with a professional counselor is one of the most intimate relationships a person can have. An individual is very vulnerable as he/she shares deep struggles, insecurities, and pain.  Building trust and confidence is a critical part of therapy, and thankfully social media can facilitate the process.  Creating and maintaining a strong online presence can greatly contribute to your reputation as a credible professional and trustworthy confidant.

How do you build trust with potential (and existing) clients through your online presence?

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Building Your Private Practice In A Digital World: NASW Webinar Nov. 8

Let me show you how to build strong online presence to grow your private practice!

If you're not a social worker, you can stop reading now. I know social workers are supposed to be inclusive, but this is one small exception. This webinar is only open to social workers. If you are a social worker AND a  member of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) then I hope you'll join me for my first national webinar "Building Your Private Practice In A Digital World: Creating A Strong Online Presence For Your Practice" on Nov. 8.

Those of you who read my blog regularly already know that I am a social media junkie and technology nerd AND a social worker in private practice. I've combined these passions webinar designed to help private practice social workers present themselves well online and attract new clients. In this 90-minute webinar social workers will learn more about:

• Why online practice presence matters
• Which 2 key questions can guide you in developing your online practice presence
• The elements of an effective private practice website
• How to make it easier for potential clients to find your practice and become your clients (SEO)
• How to build an engaged social media following to build your practice

Webinar Details

Title: "Building Your Private Practice In A Digital World: Creating A Strong Online Presence For Your Practice".

Date: Thursday November 8

Time: 1-2:30 PM Eastern Time

Who: To participate you need to be a member of any NASW Specialty Practice Section. If you're not an SPS member you can join one for $35

Cost: FREE

CEU's: 1.5

Registration: Pre-register here

Trey Ratcliff via Compfight

Social Media Ethics (part 1): Digital Dual Relationship Dilemmas

photo credit: Eric Schwartzman

I’ve spent months writing about how to effectively use technology, and social media in particular, to build your private mental health practice. While the Internet has opened up exciting new ways for mental health therapists in private practice to market their practice, reach potential clients, and educate the public, it has also allowed for new ethical dilemmas.

When I first started practicing nearly two decades ago, I was concerned about my child being on the same soccer team as a client's child, or about running into clients at parties of mutual friends. The increasing Internet usage by therapists and clients alike has created new opportunities for dual relationships online. Over the coming weeks I'll be discussing ways to use social media ethically in the digital age.

Here are a just few examples of digital dual relationship dilemmas that therapists now face:

• “A former clients sent a ‘friend’ request on my personal Facebook page? Should I accept it?”
• “One of my clients is a friend of one of my family members on Facebook. I don’t want him to have access to my personal information, photos, etc. Is there anything I can do to protect my personal information?”
• “A client just posted a comment on my private practice Facebook page that reveals some clinical information about his symptoms. How should I handle this?”
• “A potential client sent me a direct message on Twitter inquiring about my therapy services. Is Twitter confidential? How should I respond?”
• “During an initial intake with a new client the client shared some grandiose facts about her successful work history and public accolades. Should I Google her name to see if what she’s reporting is true?”
• “I just saw that a client is following me on Pinterest. I’m not sure how I feel about her seeing boards about how I want to decorate my dream house.”
• “Should I enable or disable comments on my private practice website blog? I'm concerned that it may look like I'm encouraging clients to comment on my blog."

I want to hear from you...

Have you faced any of these situations in your clinical practice?

What are some ethical dilemmas you've come across since venturing into social media?

Do you have any specific questions or ethical concerns about the impact of your online activity and it's potential impact on the client-therapist relationship?

Paper Or Electronic? Why I'm Grieving My Paper Files

Call me a bad therapist. It wouldn't be the first time. But I write my case notes during sessions. It's not "writing" really. It's more like "jotting" a few important things down as I go. I sign and date the note at the end of the session and I'm done. Call me crazy, but I like to complete all work, notes, letter writing on behalf of the client during the session. I have resistance to adding and hour or so at the end of my day for case notes.

If you haven't been able to tell from past posts, I tend to be an early adopter when it comes to technology. I had a therapy website in the early 2000's. I've been on Facebook and Twitter for 4 years (which is a long time for the over 40 crowd). I love my iPhone and iPad. I developed an app. But, I haven't yet transition to electronic notes and health records, until now.

Starting today my therapy clinic is finally transitioning to an electronic records and practice management system. After a lot of research we decided to go with Care Paths.

For practical reasons it's a good move for us. Having opened a second location last Fall, it makes sense to use a web-based practice management and records system to have all records in one place, online.  I love that clients will be able to log in, fill out initial paperwork, print their own statements and forms to submit to insurance for reimbursement, or to check their appointment times. I like that we'll be able to sign notes electronically. Supervisors will be able to review and sign supervisee's notes online. I'm thrilled that we'll easily be able to fulfill request for records. As a director, I'm glad that I'll be able to easily audit case notes, outcomes reports, and files. It makes sense.

Yes, this is a good move but I am going to miss being done with my notes at the end of each session. I'm going to miss my own   handwritten visual reminders on case notes - my little arrows and stars highlighting something important. My handwritten signature will no longer matter. There are some things that you give up when you trade paper for electronic and I'm sad about that.

Do you still use paper files or have you transitioned to digital notes? Which program do you use and why? I'd love to hear your comments below.

photo credit: Cokul