As a therapist, you're already juggling a million things. Your website should be your trusty sidekick, not another task on your to-do list!

Picture this: Your clients can grab all the forms they need right from your site, filling them out in their PJs if they want to. Meanwhile, you're sipping your coffee, knowing that when they show up for their session, everything's ready to roll. It's a win-win!

By adding downloadable content like intake paperwork, you're basically giving yourself a virtual assistant. How cool is that?

And having simpler systems like this isn't just about making your life easier (though that's a pretty sweet perk). It's also about showing your clients that you're all about making their journey smoother. Like rolling out the digital welcome mat!

Types of Forms You Could Include

• Intake Questionnaires

• Treatment Informed Consent

• Release of Information Forms

• Privacy & HIPAA Notices

• Billing Information Forms

• Practice Policies

Or add other content that you commonly share with your clients

• Worksheets

• Behavior trackers

• Journal prompts

• Even audio files for mindfulness or other practices

And the great news is you can put these links anywhere! (See the video below for how to do it). For example, you could create a “resources” page on your website.

And if you prefer you can also add a password to protect the page so only your clients can see it. Here’s how to add a password to a page in Squarespace.

Ways to Prepare Your Forms

As I’ll demonstrate in the video below, you can add downloadable content, such as PDFs or Word Documents or connect forms via live links (for example to Google Forms or a Dropbox Sign form-Dropbox sign can be made HIPAA compliant!).

It’s important to keep in mind the user experience!

Most people don’t have ready access to a printer so it’s best to find a way to make your forms fillable and “signable” digitally.

And of course you have to think about HIPAA!

If you are asking your client to email you a form when it’s done, is your email HIPAA compliant? (If not, check out this article about making Google Workspace HIPAA compliant or consider getting a HIPAA secure email via *Hushmail).

Adding Downloadable Forms or Other Content to Your Squarespace Website

This video covers:

• Uploading files to Squarespace

• Creating download links

• Where to put them

Where should I put intake forms on my website?

In most cases I think it’s best to have a page dedicated just to forms. In the video above I show a couple of examples of what that page could look like.

The best practice for naming any page on your website is to name it something obvious and simple so it’s easy for people to find and there’s no confusion. For example, for intake forms, you could name the page “Forms” or “New Clients.”

Once you’ve created the page you could either add it to your Main Navigation or to your Footer.

What about just using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) like Simple Practice?

I will be honest, Simple Practice* really saved me from paperwork hell when I was a therapist. BUT I also know that not every therapist can afford an EHR when they are just starting out.

I know several therapists that use Google Workspace to manage paperwork in their private practice and feel it works just fine (and it’s way less expensive) even though it might take an extra step or two and not have all the bells and whistles.

I recommend getting an EHR set up as soon as you can afford it because the cost is worth every penny for the time, frustration and stress it will save you. It does so much more than forms. It’s a secure, HIPAA-compliant organization and communication system for your business. And you can link your client portal to your website easily!

How to link Simple Practice to Your Squarespace website.

BUT in the meantime, you can put together a great system to get you started by using downloadable forms and links on Squarespace!