The Psychology of Colour for Your Therapy Website: How to Choose Your Colours

As therapists, we understand the impact of the environment on our clients' emotions. Your website's colour palette is no different - it's the digital equivalent of your therapy room's ambiance.

The 5 Colour Framework

Professional grade websites typically use 5 key colours:

1. Lightest (usually white/off-white) - For readability

2. Light (brand color) - For main sections

3. Bright (accent) - For calls-to-action

4. Dark (brand color) - For depth

5. Darkest (usually black/off-black) - For text

The biggest mistake therapists make?

Most therapists either:

• Default to template colours of website builders such as Wix or Sparespace or whatever their website designer suggests
  
  Problem: Misses opportunity to connect directly to clients and makes websites look generic.
  
  

• Choose personal favourite colours
  
  Problem: Forgets about client specific appeal.
  
  

• Pick trendy colours
  
  Problem: No strategic purpose.

Colour Palette

How to choose colours strategically:

Consider Three Factors:

1. Your Clinical Approach: How can you reference this in colour?

   • CBT? Consider structured, clear colours

   • Humanistic? Warmer, inviting tones

   • Psychodynamic? Deep, thoughtful shades
     
     

2. Your Ideal Client: How can you target them through colour?

   • Professional adults? Sophisticated, clean palettes

   • Anxiety clients? Calming, soft tones

   • Youth? Energetic but not overwhelming colours

   • Perinatal? Gentle, nurturing shades
     
     

3. Your Brand Personality: How can you show this through colour?

   • Traditional practice? Classic, professional colours

   • Modern approach? Contemporary, fresh palettes

   • Holistic focus? Natural, organic tones

Example:

A website targeting younger adult females. CBT therapy with a modern approach. Colours chosen to suggest: forward thinking, structured, safe, modern and calming:

Resources To Help:

• Canva Color Palette Generator https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palettes/

• Color Psychology Guide: https://www.colorpsychology.org/
  

• ChatGPT or Claude.ai prompt:
  
  I'm creating a website for my [THERAPY PRACTICE - EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU TARGET]. I need help deciding the colour scheme, using colour psychology. The colours need to appeal to my client, whilst conveying my values of [MY VALUES]. Every professional website follows this formula:
  

  The 5-Colour Framework:

  Every professional website typically uses 5 key colors: Lightest (usually white/off-white)
  For readability - Light (brand colour)
  For main sections Bright (accent)
  For calls-to-action Dark (brand colour)
  For depth Darkest (usually black/off-black) - For text.
  
  Please help me decide colours for a website that is for [MY THERAPY PRACTICE WHO TARGETS YOUR AUDIENCE].

PRO TIP: Remember, your website colours should feel like a warm handshake between your professional identity and your client's needs.