If you own a Christian counseling practice, you may not be formally trained in marketing. So you might rely on tips you’ve heard from friends, colleagues, or even blogs on the internet.
While advice you receive can be helpful, it can also be misleading. Allow us to debunk the top myths about Christian counseling marketing to best benefit and grow your practice!
Myth 1: You Have to be Religious When You are Marketing a Counseling Practice
Many Christian counselors struggle with finding the balance when it comes to making their faith a part of their marketing and their brand. It’s a common myth that you need to cover your website or brochure with religious imagery or Bible verses to communicate your faith and reach your target audience.
Be authentic about what type of practice you run. But when you’re marketing a Christian counseling practice, you should consider a few factors before making your final decision.
First, just because you’re a Christian counseling practice may not necessarily mean you are only trying to reach Christian clients. You may want to incorporate your faith in a more tactful manner in order to bring healing and help to as many people as possible. Again, be authentic about who you are, but also be winsome and approachable.
Second, be sure to walk the walk if you’re going to talk the talk when marketing yourself as a Christian counseling practice. Some businesses think that adding a cross or Christian fish symbol will automatically make them the preferred provider. If your therapy practice isn’t compassionate, effective, and excellent in all ways, you won’t keep those new clients very long. Worse yet, you’ll be doing long-term damage to your brand and reputation.
Myth 2: Christian Counseling Marketing Might Downplay the Clinical Expertise of Your Counselors
You may be worried that emphasizing the spiritual aspect of your practice will underrepresent your counselors’ professional qualifications and clinical skills.
However, you should absolutely spotlight your counselors’ expertise whenever you can! For example, feature each counselor’s degrees, certifications, years of experience, and areas of specialization on their website bios. Also include specific therapeutic techniques they use, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or trauma-focused therapy. Showing this expertise does not mean they can’t also be a practicing Christian. Your counselors can actually help a client using their expertise through the lens of Christianity. This does not have to be an either/or situation.
Myth 3: Christian Counseling Marketing Shouldn’t Use Secular Platforms
Don’t buy into the false dichotomy dividing the secular and sacred. Surely, Christians shouldn’t engage everything in the culture around them, but avoiding secular marketing platforms is a mistake.
If you choose to rely only on Christian websites, social media platforms, or church referrals, you will miss out on a huge opportunity to reach people who truly need help.
Secular platforms serve as a tremendous resource to help grow your practice and reach new clients. Be sure to take advantage of Christian marketing for your counseling practice through social media platforms, review sites, and SEO. These secular resources seriously benefit your practice.
Avoid These Myths About Christian Counseling Marketing
Now that we’ve cleared up these misconceptions, do you feel like you need help with the next step in marketing your Christian counseling practice? Partner with us to…
