Does a therapist website need to be HIPAA compliant?
Public marketing sites should avoid collecting PHI in unsecured channels. Use general contact forms, route intake through your HIPAA-aligned EHR, and state that email is not for emergencies.
Practice visibility answers
HIPAA and therapist websites
This is practical website guidance, not legal advice. Consult your compliance advisor for your specific setup. The core principle: your public website is marketing — not your clinical record system.
What belongs on a public website
- Positioning, services, fees, location, and telehealth scope
- General contact or consult requests
- Crisis disclaimer with appropriate hotline numbers
- Privacy policy explaining how inquiries are handled
- Link to secure intake in your EHR or client portal when ready
What to avoid on public forms
- Detailed clinical history or symptom checklists
- Diagnosis, medication, or treatment details
- Insurance member IDs or other identifiers tied to PHI
- Promising that email or SMS is confidential clinical communication
Contact flow best practice
Keep the public form short. Follow up by phone or secure intake link. State clearly that the website is not for emergencies. See our privacy policy for how Deeper handles site inquiries.
Common questions
Can therapists use contact forms on their website?
Yes, for general inquiries — name, email, and a short message about interest in services. Do not ask for clinical history or diagnosis details on a public form.
Should therapists put client testimonials on their website?
Only with appropriate consent and ethical care. Never include identifiable health information. Many practices use anonymized statements or skip testimonials entirely.
Cite this page
Rick Julian (2026). HIPAA and therapist websites. Deeper. https://deeperwebsites.com/hipaa-and-therapist-websites
Canonical URL: https://deeperwebsites.com/hipaa-and-therapist-websites
Questions about your site setup?
Book a strategy call. We will look at your contact flow, intake path, and public copy — not legal advice, but practical architecture.