Popular EMR/EHRs For Therapists: Key Features, Benefits, And Expert Picks
The shift towards digital solutions in therapy isn’t just a trend; it’s a response to the unique demands of mental health care, where practitioners need systems that address sensitive client information, complex documentation requirements, and efficient communication.
With a growing selection of EMR/EHRs software designed specifically for mental health, practitioners have more options than ever. However, that can also make choosing the right system a daunting task.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best and most popular EMR/EHRs tailored for mental and behavioral health practices. We’ll look at the standout features, unique benefits, specific drawbacks, user recommendations, and testimonials of each system to help you find a solution that best fits your practice’s needs.
Expert Picks
After consulting with behavioral health professionals, we’ve carefully curated the following list of best mental health EMR/EHRs that they recommend:
- SimplePractice – An all-rounder for behavioral health.
- CounSol EHR – A time-tested software.
- TheraNest EMR – An extensive suite of tools.
- TherapyNotes – Highest-rated EHR on TrustPilot.
- Valant EHR Software – A 16-year legacy software.
A Quick Comparison
Software | SimplePractice | CounSol | TheraNest | TherapyNotes | Valant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practice Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Telehealth | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Therapy Notes/Templates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Patient Portal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
E-Prescribe | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Revenue Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
HIPAA Compliance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mobile Accessibility | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Demos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
* The software provides this feature as an add-on.
SimplePractice
Starting Price: $29 per month
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
SimplePractice is a strong EHR solution designed for health and wellness professionals, including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and psychiatrists. Trusted by over 200,000 practitioners, it offers an all-in-one solution to simplify daily operations for mental health practices.
SimplePractice includes integrated telehealth services with screen-sharing and a whiteboard, a secure client portal for communication and document sharing, customizable forms and therapy notes, and automated billing with ‘AutoPay’ and online credit card processing.
The platform also offers insurance claim filing and a mobile app for on-the-go practice management. Additionally, it ensures compliance with HIPAA to maintain client confidentiality and security.
“I’ve been so impressed with the updates SimplePractice has rolled out. They actually listen to their customers, and implement features that are useful to us as clinicians. And they keep us informed about what they’re working on and what’s coming next.”
– Dr. Lisa Hardebeck, Clinical Psychologist and Director
Benefits And Drawbacks
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Responsive customer support | Clients can’t pay partial balances from portal |
Practitioners appreciate its telehealth function | Does not allow bulk invoice creation |
Users can easily upload business documents | |
Numerous template options | |
Updates incorporate user feedback |
User Wishlist
- Add an ‘Undo’ or ‘Recovery’ option for accidentally deleted items.
- Enhance the calendar system with improved templates to minimize manual input.
- Provide the ability to apply changes in bulk rather than individually for increased efficiency.
CounSol
Starting Price: $69.95 per month
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
CounSol is a specialized practice management software for counselors and mental health professionals, offering a complete set of tools to simplify daily operations. Key features include a customizable client portal that allows for secure communication, appointment scheduling, and document sharing, enhancing client engagement and convenience.
It also offers HIPAA-compliant secure messaging, live video sessions, and online chat, making it a versatile solution for both in-office and remote counseling.
Unique to CounSol is the option for each user to have a personal account manager, ensuring personalized support and guidance. The platform also includes automated appointment reminders, custom forms and questionnaires, and secure client records with 256-bit encryption for privacy.
“I learned of Counsol almost 9 years ago and have had an incredible experience. Most striking is how invested and responsive my assigned representative has been in helping me address any questions or needs. I am a bit technologically challenged, and yet found Counsol to be very user friendly, particularly because my account manager was available to answer my questions over the phone and in real time.”
– Emily G, LPC, CPCS, Pine River Psychotherapy Associates
Benefits And Drawbacks
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Simple to use across multiple devices | The interface may not appeal to everyone’s aesthetic preferences |
Practitioners value its long-established clearing house | Can’t create a formal short note for a phone session |
Integrated payment options save time | |
Instant modifications due to cloud access | |
Easy to onboard new patients |
User Wishlist
- The interface could be enhanced to be more visually appealing.
- Include intake measures directly in the initial intake note for streamlined documentation.
- Simplify the billing feature pages to make them more user-friendly.
TheraNest
Starting Price: $42 per month
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
TheraNest is an extensive EHR software built for therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. It includes an elaborate set of tools, such as customizable progress notes, treatment plans, and discharge summaries, all DSM-5 ready and fully integrated with ‘Wiley Practice Planners’.
TheraNest also provides unlimited document storage, allowing practices to securely store client records, treatment history, and supporting documents in a HIPAA-compliant environment. Its client portal boosts engagement by enabling clients to manage appointments, fill out forms, and access secure messaging.
A unique aspect of TheraNest is its supervisory review and co-signing options for notes, which support team collaboration and accountability. Additionally, TheraNest also offers automated billing, batch payments, and secure telehealth video sessions.
With over 1,000 pre-written treatment goals and customizable options, TheraNest empowers mental health practices of all sizes to focus on client care while improving operational efficiency.
I tried several different software systems prior to finding Theranest. I needed a compliant EHR that would allow me to store my client notes and allow for my supervisor to review and co-sign with ease. I kept running into EHRs that would charge extra for my supervisor to be added as staff, or would force me to use unnecessary features before I could create my client’s progress notes. I also love that Theranest allows for some modifications to help fit my needs better during use.
– Shea H. LPC-A
Benefits And Drawbacks
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
Users appreciate the implementation of ‘Wiley Planners’ | Billing could be improved |
Client appointment tracking saves time | Setting up co-sign options may be tricky |
Responsive customer support | |
Aesthetically pleasing and intuitive | |
Informative knowledge base |
User Wishlist
- Add a filter option to sort clients strictly by their insurance carrier for easier organization.
- Expand the list of available reports or allow selectable items to be included in custom report generation.
- Update and enhance the mobile app to improve functionality and user experience.
TherapyNotes
Starting Price: $59 per month
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
TherapyNotes is a trusted EHR and practice management tool created with mental health professionals in mind. The platform stands out with its specialized note templates, including those for psychotherapy, medication management, and psychological evaluations, allowing providers to maintain structured records.
TherapyNotes also includes automated billing features, real-time eligibility checks, claim scrubbing, and electronic remittance advice (ERA), which facilitate financial tasks.
A unique feature of TherapyNotes is its ‘Searchable Codes’ and built-in ‘Mental Health Spell Check,’ which helps practitioners quickly locate specific codes and ensures that clinical language is precise.
TherapyNotes also offers HIPAA-compliant telehealth services, enabling providers to share guest links, utilize virtual waiting rooms, and incorporate screen sharing for a seamless remote session experience. It brings together essential features in one place, making it easier for providers to stay focused on what matters most—delivering meaningful care to their patients.
“Technology is a double-edged tool: making it easier to be a healthcare provider, but also opening one up to many unknown risks. When I work with Therapy Notes and ask my clients to join me here, I know that I can trust that the care that we all need will be provided and that I am freed from many of the worries that exist elsewhere, and I can pass that along to my clients with the kind of confidence that they are looking for.” – Elizabeth Shumate, TherapyNotes User
Benefits And Drawbacks
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
The platform generates excellent reports | Practitioners have to manually send out forms to new clients |
Patient data collection is simple | The patient portal could be overhauled |
Case notes save time | |
All notes are stored in one place for easy access | |
Convenient filtering for locating specific notes |
User Wishlist
We reached out to TherapyNotes users, who shared some improvements that would enhance their experience and productivity. Here are their main suggestions:
- Enable the option to add non-therapists or administrative staff to the calendar.
- Allow setting reminders for individual patients.
- Add a co-insurance tab alongside the existing copay option.
Valant
Starting Price: Customized Pricing
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Valant is a behavioral health EHR, offering features like automated intake processes, 80+ outcome measures, and integrated e-prescribing with PDMP compliance. Its HIPAA-compliant telehealth and secure messaging allow practitioners to engage with patients both in person and remotely, enhancing the flexibility of care delivery.
A standout feature of Valant is its group therapy functionality, designed to streamline documentation for group sessions and support complex billing needs. Additionally, Valant’s reporting tools allow practices to track key performance metrics like revenue and patient retention.
The system also includes an ‘MYIO Patient Portal’, where clients can manage appointments, fill out intake forms, and make online payments, creating a seamless experience that supports both clinicians and patients.
“Out of all I have used in my 41 years of practice, this is the finest. It is well designed, well supportive and serves us well in a General Psychiatry and Psychology practice. Both the Therapists and Prescribing Clinicians have adapted well to it, and I as a Prescribing Physician Assistant find it an excellent way to follow and care for my patients.” – Paul C. Physician Assistant
Benefits And Drawbacks
Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
The transcription service is fast and top-notch | Any measure added to a note goes at the very top, above Chief Complaint or HPI |
Easy implementation protocols | Modifiers may be time-taking |
Efficient note-taking process | |
Supports a more thorough note, enabling higher billing codes |
User Wishlist
- Improve the ability to customize templates for intake and progress notes.
- Allow for detailed editing and careful customization of suicide risk factors, protective factors, and prevention plans within the documentation.
- Enhance the overall UX/UI for a more user-friendly and intuitive experience.
Guided By Experts: Making The Right Choice
Selecting the best mental health EMR/EHRs for your practice can be a transformative decision. From all-in-one platforms like SimplePractice to specialized options like TherapyNotes, each software offers unique strengths tailored to different needs.
As a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional, understanding what each EMR/EHR provides—its features, benefits, and potential drawbacks—empowers you to make an informed choice. Take the time to assess your specific requirements, whether it’s telehealth, billing efficiency, or comprehensive documentation tools, to find the best fit for your practice.
