Why I Don't Use Testimonials

A surprising number of therapists use testimonials on their websites.

I don't.

That isn't because nobody has ever thanked me for my work, nor because I am opposed to feedback. Like anyone else, I value knowing when something I have done has been helpful.

My reasons are ethical, practical, and perhaps a little philosophical.

Therapy Is Not a Product

We live in an age of reviews.

Before booking a hotel, buying a kettle, or choosing a restaurant, many of us check what previous customers have said. We have become accustomed to making decisions based on ratings, recommendations, and testimonials.

Increasingly, the same approach is being applied to therapy.

I understand why. Looking for a counsellor can feel daunting. People want reassurance that they are making a good choice.

But therapy is not a hotel, a kettle, or a restaurant.

It is a deeply personal relationship that unfolds between two people. The fact that someone else found a particular therapist helpful tells you remarkably little about whether that therapist will be the right fit for you.

In fact, one of the most robust findings in psychotherapy research is that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of a positive outcome.

No testimonial can tell you whether you and I will be able to build that relationship.

The Problem of Power

There is another issue.

Therapy is not a relationship between equals.

Clients often come to counselling at times of vulnerability. Therapists occupy a position of trust and authority. Even after therapy has ended, there can be feelings of gratitude, loyalty, admiration, or a desire to please.

For that reason, I have always felt uneasy about asking former clients to endorse me publicly.

Even if someone is entirely willing, I think it is worth asking whether the request itself is appropriate.

A therapist's responsibility is to protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship, not to turn it into a marketing opportunity.

Privacy Matters

I am also conscious that many people come to therapy because they need somewhere they can speak freely without worrying about how they are perceived by others.

Confidentiality and privacy are not merely technical requirements of the profession. They are part of what makes therapy possible.

Although a testimonial can be anonymised, it still requires a client to move from private therapeutic work into a public role as someone who endorses a therapist.

That doesn't sit comfortably with me.

The Consumerisation of Therapy

There is a broader concern too.

Over the years, therapy has increasingly become part of a marketplace. Therapists are encouraged to develop brands, optimise websites, create social media content, gather reviews, and distinguish themselves from competitors.

Some of this is unavoidable. People need information in order to make informed choices.

But I sometimes wonder whether something important gets lost when therapy is marketed in the same way as almost everything else.

The danger is that we begin to think of therapists as products to be compared rather than people with whom we may or may not be able to build a meaningful working relationship.

The best therapist for one person may be entirely the wrong therapist for another.

No number of five-star reviews can change that.

So How Should You Choose a Therapist?

I would suggest looking at a therapist's qualifications, training, professional memberships, experience, and approach.

Read what they have written.

Notice how they think.

Ask yourself whether their values resonate with your own.

Most importantly, speak to them if possible.

When you do, pay attention to your experience.

Do you feel heard?

Do you feel respected?

Do you feel rushed, judged, or pressured?

Can you imagine talking honestly with this person about things that matter?

Those questions are likely to tell you much more than any testimonial.

A Different Kind of Trust

Ultimately, I do not use testimonials because I believe trust in therapy should emerge from transparency, professionalism, and genuine human connection rather than marketing endorsements.

That may not be the most commercially effective approach.

But counselling is one of the few areas of life where I think being trustworthy matters more than appearing impressive.

If you are looking for a therapist, I hope you find someone with whom you can build a relationship that feels safe, thoughtful, and real.

Whether that person is me or somebody else is less important than finding the right fit.