Last updated: November 13, 2026 · By Alex Sandev, Founder of HiveSourced. This is general information, not legal or ethics advice. Check your own license board and professional code.
Short answer: usually you can let people know a review is welcome, but you should not ask current or former clients for testimonials. The main counseling, psychology and social work codes all single out testimonials, and they focus on clients who could feel pressure to say yes. Where a code is silent, your state board and your own judgment still apply.
This post covers what the codes say in plain terms, what Google allows, and a few safer ways to build trust online without asking clients to vouch for you. Read your own code for the exact wording.
Key takeaways
- The ACA Code of Ethics, the APA Ethics Code and the NASW Code of Ethics each address testimonials, and each is about soliciting them from clients who may be vulnerable to undue influence.
- Asking for a review is not the same as welcoming one. Many therapists never ask, and do not respond to reviews with any client detail.
- Google bans rewards for reviews, and it can restrict a Business Profile that breaks its rules. See Google’s policy page.
- Never confirm that someone is a client, even when replying to a review. Confidentiality still applies in public.
- You can build trust without client reviews: clear credentials, a good about page, honest wording and a complete Google Business Profile.
Can therapists ask clients for reviews?
For most licensed therapists, soliciting reviews or testimonials from current clients is the part that causes trouble. A therapist holds power in the relationship, and a client may feel they cannot say no. That is the concern behind the testimonial rules in most professional codes.
The details differ by profession and by state, and some codes treat former clients differently from current ones. Because the wording changes between editions, link to your own code and read the current text rather than relying on a summary, including this one.
What do the ethics codes say about testimonials?
| Code | Where to look | What it addresses |
|---|---|---|
| ACA Code of Ethics (counselors) | Section C.3, “Testimonials” | Counselors do not solicit testimonials from current or former clients, or other people who may be vulnerable to undue influence. Read it at counseling.org. |
| APA Ethics Code (psychologists) | Standard 5.05, “Testimonials” | Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients or from other people who may be vulnerable to undue influence. Read it at apa.org. |
| NASW Code of Ethics (social workers) | Standard 4.07, “Solicitations” | Social workers should not solicit testimonial endorsements, including consent to use a prior statement, from current clients or others vulnerable to undue influence. Read it at socialworkers.org. |
Other bodies, such as marriage and family therapy associations and certification boards, publish their own rules, and some set specific waiting periods for former clients. Check the code that applies to your license and your state board, and ask your association if the wording is unclear.
What is the difference between soliciting a review and receiving one?
The codes above are about soliciting. A client who writes a review on their own is not something you asked for. Even so, how you react matters, because a reply can reveal that the person is your client.
- Soliciting: asking a client to write a review, handing out cards that ask for one, or sending follow-up emails that request one.
- Receiving: a person chooses to post a review without a request from you.
- Replying: anything you write in public can confirm a therapy relationship, so a reply should not.
Many practitioners choose a policy of not asking for reviews at all, and say so in their paperwork. If you are unsure, your licensing board or professional association is the best place to ask.
What does Google allow when it comes to reviews?
Google’s own help pages say you can encourage customers to leave reviews in general, but you cannot offer rewards for them. Its page on Business Profile restrictions for policy violations explains that Google can restrict a profile that is found to have fake or incentivized reviews. Its guidance on how to get more reviews describes the allowed approaches.
For a therapist, Google’s general rules sit on top of the ethics rules, not in place of them. Something can be allowed by Google and still be a problem under your code.
| Practice | Your professional code | |
|---|---|---|
| Offering a discount or gift for a review | Not allowed | Also a concern under most codes |
| Asking a current client to leave a review | Allowed by Google in general | Often restricted. Check your code |
| A sign or link saying reviews are welcome, with no ask | Allowed | Generally a lower risk. Check your code |
| Replying to a review with client details | Allowed by Google | Can breach confidentiality |
| Posting reviews yourself or asking friends to | Not allowed | Dishonest, and a likely ethics problem |
How should you respond to a review you did not ask for?
- Do not confirm the person is a client. Even “thanks for your kind words about your sessions” confirms the relationship.
- Keep any reply generic. A short line such as “Thank you for taking the time to write. We cannot discuss anyone’s care in a public place” is safer than a personal reply.
- Do not argue or explain. Replying to a negative review with your side of the story can disclose private information.
- Flag false or abusive reviews to Google. Use the report option in your profile instead of replying with details.
- Write your policy down. Decide in advance how you handle reviews, so you do not improvise on a bad day.
How can you build trust online without asking for client reviews?
Reviews are one trust signal among many. A therapist who does not collect them can still show a visitor that the practice is real, credentialed and careful.
- Put your license type and number on your site and link to the state lookup. See the pages every therapist website needs.
- Write an about page that sounds like you. Our guide to the therapist about me page shows what to include.
- Explain what a first session looks like, so a nervous person knows what to expect.
- Keep your directory profiles and Google Business Profile complete and consistent.
- Share colleague endorsements or referral relationships only where your code allows it, with permission.
- Publish helpful writing that shows how you think. A simple marketing plan can include a blog, directories and referrals.
Can you put testimonials on a therapist website?
That depends on your profession, your state and who the testimonial comes from. Many therapists avoid client testimonials entirely, and some rely on colleague or referral-source comments instead. If you are unsure, do not publish one until you have checked your code and your board.
Whatever you decide, keep the page honest. Do not invent quotes, do not edit someone’s words and do not promise outcomes. Our guide to local SEO for therapists covers how reviews fit into local search, and the design examples show how finished sites handle trust.
How does HiveSourced handle testimonials and reviews on a client site?
We build the page structure and write the wording, and you decide what goes on it. If your code allows a testimonial or referral quote, we format it well. If it does not, we build trust with credentials, a clear process and a strong about page instead. We do not write or invent reviews. See custom websites for therapists and pricing, or tell us about your practice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a therapist ask a client for a Google review?
Often not, if the client is a current client. The ACA, APA and NASW codes all address soliciting testimonials from clients. Read your own code and check your state board.
Can I thank someone for a review I did not ask for?
Be careful. A thank-you can confirm that the person is your client. A short, generic reply that does not mention care is safer, and some therapists do not reply at all.
Can I offer a discount or gift for a review?
No. Google does not allow rewards for reviews, and it can restrict a profile that breaks the rule. Most professional codes also raise concerns about it.
Are testimonials from former clients allowed?
It depends on your code. Some codes include former clients in the restriction, and some set waiting periods. Check the current text for your license.
Do I need reviews for my practice to be found on Google?
No. Reviews can help, but a complete Google Business Profile, a clear website and consistent listings matter too. See local SEO for therapists.
Where can I get help with my website and profile?
Reach out through our contact page and we will talk through your site, your profile and the trust signals that fit your code.
