A Therapist’s Take on SEO (and Why It Matters)

Hi, I’m Chris Paredes — a therapist in Seattle and the guy behind Therapist Marketing Lab.

Before I was in private practice, I spent over 20 years in the tech world as a software developer. I wrote code, built websites, and did a lot of SEO.

But in 2013, I made a change. I went to grad school (while still working full time as a developer 🤪), and became a therapist 4 years later. Like many of you, I made that shift because I wanted to do work that felt meaningful — work that helped people feel seen, supported and to make positive changes in their lives.

And then… In 2017 I started my private practice and built my website.

What I saw when I looked for guidance was either:

• SEO advice that was full of jargon, or

• Marketing strategies that felt completely out of alignment with the kind of work I was trying to do

And yet, I knew that being found mattered. I wasn’t trying to go viral. I was just trying to reach the people I could help most.

That’s why I started Therapist Marketing Lab. To bridge the gap between solid SEO — and the real work of being a therapist in private practice.

This isn’t about gaming the algorithm. It’s about clarity, connection, and sustainability.

My goal is to help therapists like you:

• Get found online by the clients you’re most equipped to help

• Understand how search engines actually work

• Use SEO and content strategy as tools — (without it becoming a second full time job)

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing blog posts, tools, resources, and a full SEO Foundations Bootcamp (opening up publicly in late June) designed specifically for therapists. Everything is built to help you take small, meaningful steps toward visibility — without losing your voice in the process.

Thanks for being here. More to come!

— Chris