Is SEO for therapists completely dead now that AI is taking over? I brought back my friend and collaborator Kristie Platinga to answer this burning question that's keeping so many of us up at night. After watching my website clicks drop and hearing therapists panic about ChatGPT replacing Google, I knew we needed to have a real conversation about what's actually happening with marketing right now.

Kristie breaks down why Google still dominates and introduces the concept of "search everywhere optimization", because showing up on just Google isn't enough anymore. We get into the nitty-gritty of how AI pulls recommendations from across the entire internet, why your Google reviews matter more than ever, and what specific steps you can take to build your online presence even if marketing makes you want to hide under a blanket.

I also share my own journey from being that therapist who thought "I'm good at my job, I don't need to market" to finally understanding why SEO for therapists and digital visibility directly impact whether people choose to work with you. This conversation gets real about what it takes to compete in 2025.

More about Kristie Platinga:

Kristie Platinga is the founder of Place Digital, a marketing agency for therapists, coaches, and wellness practitioners.

Topics covered on SEO for Therapists:

• Why SEO for therapists isn't dead despite what everyone's saying about AI taking over everything
• How search everywhere optimization is replacing traditional SEO for therapists and why showing up on podcasts, social media, and directories matters more than just Google
• ChatGPT and AI tools pull from the entire internet to make recommendations and what that means for therapy practice visibility
• Real examples of getting recommended in AI overviews and how that leads to new clients finding your private practice and content
• Why Google reviews are now almost as powerful as backlinks for getting recommended by AI
• The reality that publishing a website isn't enough anymore, you need a complete marketing ecosystem to compete
• Practical steps for building your online presence even if marketing feels uncomfortable or overwhelming as a therapist

Resources from this episode:

• "What Your Therapist Thinks" podcast: www.youtube.com/@WhatYourTherapistThinks and website https://www.besttherapists.com/podcast 
• Moz: www.Moz.com
• ChatGPT: www.ChatGPT.com
• Google Business: www.business.google.com

Connect with Kristie Platinga:

• Website: https://grow.placedigital.com/the-bad-therapist

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach
• Facebook group: Healing Money

Related episodes:

• SEO For Therapists: Future-Proofing Your Therapy Practice with Kristie Platinga [Ep 38]
• My Secret to Turning 10 Min Intake Calls Into Paying Clients [Ep 7]

Quote:

"I really don't think it's ever been more accessible to just people who are willing to get their name out there. It's really barely even marketing - a lot of this is public relations, honestly." - Kristie Platinga