Many obstacles can stand in the way of people getting mental health help. There is the still-strong social stigma that stops some people cold. There is the fear that they might have to go on medication indefinitely. Some people are skeptical and don’t believe that therapy will actually help them. And countless people are terrified of digging into their history and reliving long-past trauma.
These are real, legitimate struggles that people face.
But unfortunately, once someone is ready to get help, one of the biggest obstacles in the way of beginning mental health treatment is the act of actually finding a therapist. I mean, how do you find one? You might be too nervous to ask friends or family for recommendations. You don’t want to simply walk into a therapist’s office off the street. And while Yelp might be helpful for restaurant reviews, do you trust it for mental health assistance?
There’s got to be a better way.
And it was important to us at Owl Practice to help with this very serious problem.
We saw that there was a disconnect in the mental health field that we wanted to close. We brainstormed and came up with a solution that works for everyone, both those looking for and those providing mental health assistance. The solution: TherapyOwl.ca
What is TherapyOwl?
TherapyOwl is a free online directory of mental health professionals. Therapists can list their specializations and the user friendly interface makes it easy for prospective clients to find the right help. It’s designed to be a free resource for everyone involved, making it easy for people to get help and giving exposure to therapists who are trained to offer that help.
It’s incredibly easy to create a free, fully-featured listing; just hit the button at the top of the TherapyOwl homepage. From there, you add your name, practice name, phone number, address, website, and email. Visitors to TherapyOwl use the contact information on your page to get in touch with you so make sure it’s accurate. After you’ve filled in the basics, it’s time to get specific about the kinds of treatment you offer.
The free listing not only helps to connect therapists with clients within the directory, but the link back to your listing is also good for your website’s Google rankings and SEO. This in turn makes it easier for potential clients to find you.
For anyone looking for mental health help, finding a therapist in their area has become so much easier with TherapyOwl. All they really have to do is add their location, or they can be more specific and also add their clinical issues and client focus. The directory will provide appropriate therapists in their area. Clients don’t need to share any personal information to find a therapist, making it much less scary for those who are worried about “outing” their mental health issues.
We want to be clear that TherapyOwl is an entirely free service for all licensed therapists, disconnected with the practice management offerings at Owl Practice. TherapyOwl is simply a way for the people who need help to be able to find you and your colleagues. While we do believe that Owl Practice will better prepare you for the resulting influx of interest from the directory, you don’t need to be a member of Owl Practice to take full advantage of TherapyOwl.
However, if you are interested in learning about Owl Practice, sign up for a 14-day free trial period or contact us at support@owlpractice.ca if you have any questions.
As Always,
Practice Wisely
