Psychology Today Therapist Directory
Background
Psychology Today’s therapist directory is a leading platform for finding licensed mental health professionals. It has one of the largest searchable networks in the world. This directory helps people from all backgrounds who need professional support, whether for ongoing therapy or help with a tough life situation. With its wide reach and well-known brand, the directory is a key resource for many people starting their search for mental health care.
Problem
The directory website is a popular resource for finding mental health professionals, but it falls short of meeting user needs during critical times. Many users abandon their searches due to a lack of personalization and difficulty accessing the information they require. The website's impersonal tone, cluttered design, and limited scheduling options contribute to user frustration.
To maintain its status as a leading resource, Psychology Today must improve accessibility and create a more supportive, user-friendly experience that helps individuals find the right therapist for them.
Process
I started by collecting insights through a user survey and a usability test to identify the parts of the platform that felt overwhelming and disconnected. This allowed me to reveal important pain points, including insufficient personalization, unclear pricing, and an excessive amount of information.
Using that data, I developed two user personas to represent the primary audience. I then examined ways to enhance the experience for both simplicity and emotional engagement.
Next, I drew several wireframe sketches addressing the pain points that were uncovered. This included revamped multi-column therapist profiles, distinct calls-to-action, and a guided therapist match questionnaire.
After that, I took my sketches and put together a prototype in Figma. Finally, I tested the prototype with users and made significant adjustments based on their feedback.
Results
● User retention improved by addressing typical drop-off issues like unclear therapist information and difficulties booking directly.
● The redesign turned Psychology Today’s therapist directory from a cold, text-heavy website into a more approachable, intuitive, and emotionally supportive experience.
● Features such as direct booking, expandable therapist profiles, and questionnaires enable users to make quicker and more confident decisions.
● Use of multi-column layout for therapist profiles and therapist-match questionnaire helps establish Psychology Today as a more reliable and empathetic mental health platform.
