One of the most common frustrations prospective therapy clients describe is calling multiple therapists and getting no indication of whether anyone is even available. They leave a voicemail and wait. Days pass. They move on.
Many of those therapists were accepting new clients. They just didn't say so.
The fix is simple
Update two places:
- Your website — add a visible line on your homepage or contact page: "I am currently accepting new clients."
- Your voicemail greeting — mention it there too: "I'm currently accepting new clients — please leave a message and I'll return your call within one business day."
Keep it maintained
The flip side: when you're full, update those same two places to say so. Unmanaged expectations lead to frustrating calls for both of you. "I'm not currently accepting new clients, but feel free to leave your contact information in case an opening becomes available" is a perfectly good message.
Put a calendar reminder for every few months to check both places and make sure they reflect your actual availability.
Why this matters beyond your own practice
The mental health access problem is partly a communication problem. There are more people seeking care than the system makes it easy to find — and small friction points like unclear availability compound that gap. If you're open, saying so is a low-effort way to help.