Episode Overview

Podcast: Private Practice Startup
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Hilary Holmes, Redesigner & Color Consultant
Episode Title: Therapy by Design: 3 Ways to Comfort Clients Through Office Styling
Original Air Date: February 17, 2019
Episode Number: 123

This episode centers on how therapy office design can enhance client comfort and deepen therapeutic work. Hilary Holmes, a specialist in redesign and color consultation, shares actionable insights on styling therapy spaces to support both client wellbeing and the therapist’s unique brand. The discussion explores the importance of intentional design, practical strategies for creating soulful, welcoming offices, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Hilary’s Path into Therapy Office Design

[06:59]

• Hilary’s creative background: As a child, she rearranged not just her own space but items at friends’ homes, hinting at her early inclination for design.
• Entry to therapy offices through Jane Carter’s introduction:
  “You need to do therapy offices because just the way you're soulful and the way, you know, your interpersonal skills would be great for it.” — Hilary Holmes [07:21]
• Since that first introduction, Hilary has designed approximately 12 therapy spaces in the Asheville region.

2. Three Core Ways to Comfort Clients Through Office Styling

A. Use Your Ideal Client as a Design Roadmap

[09:23]

• Leverage your understanding of your ideal client—demographics, style, desired feelings—to guide choices in furniture, color, and atmosphere.
• Practical suggestion: Visit a restaurant frequented by your ideal clientele for inspiration on ambiance.
  "Use yourself as some of the components when you're designing and also make a list of what client you're trying to attract." — Hilary Holmes [09:36]
  "If a restaurant is busy and warm and cozy and has some really good functional design, that's a great place to get ideas." – Hilary Holmes [10:49]

B. The Couch is Queen: Texture, Height, and Comfort

[12:20]

• The couch is central to the therapy room; prioritize comfort, fabric, and height according to your client population.
  "Think about texture, height, and the design of the couch." — Hilary Holmes [13:20]
• Example: For older clients, choose firmer seats with arms for easy standing; for warmer climates, select fabrics that aren't sticky with bare skin.
• The couch experience is often subconscious:
  "How the fabric feels on the back of your legs is actually really important... it's very subtle." – Hilary Holmes [13:31]
• Functional beauty: Don’t sacrifice practical needs for looks alone.

C. Create a Soulful, Not Showroom, Space

[15:38]

• Avoid a “catalog” look by combining store-bought with personal items that reflect your identity and values.
• Begin with beloved art or sentimental objects; let them guide color and style choices.
  "Take the soulful approach and include you in the design... There's a lot of keys in what you all already like." — Hilary Holmes [16:13]
• Art as a design anchor: Meaningful pieces infuse authenticity, but avoid overly bold/modern works that may be jarring for some clients. “Don’t take people on an art safari... art is probably one of the most personal layers in the office.” — Hilary Holmes [16:58]
• Blend therapist's personality with what's comfortable for clients.

3. Common Therapy Office Design Mistakes

[18:08]

• Lighting:
  • Overhead fluorescent lighting is harsh; introduce diverse light sources (table lamps, floor lamps, natural light).
    “If you can turn off those overhead lights and just find some different heights of lighting, I think that's a mistake [to avoid].” — Hilary Holmes [18:43]
• Pillows:
  • Avoid lumpy or old pillows; refresh soft furnishings every few years for an inviting look.
• Couch Quality:
  • Don’t cut corners on quality; investment in a good couch pays off in client comfort and office longevity.

4. Layout and Objects: Fostering Connection

[19:57]

• Large coffee tables can create unwanted distance; consider removing or swapping them for smaller or movable versions, especially if therapy involves art or floor activities. “We just got rid of the coffee table altogether and got a beautiful rolling chair... so she could roll towards her clients.” – Hilary Holmes [20:19]
• Displaying degrees:
  • Less is more—select a few, keep them visible but not central.
• Bookshelves:
  • Mix books with personal artifacts and objects for warmth and personality. “Don’t just put all books... bring personal objects and interesting little knickknacks.” — Hilary Holmes [23:05]
  • Styling shelves intentionally, not randomly.

5. Connecting Design with Branding and Client Retention

[24:05]

• Office design is key to the client’s brand experience—can influence client choice and retention.
  “It really is like the office space is also part of the process to really create good client outcomes... they just might say to themselves, like, just didn't go back. It didn't feel right.” — Katie Lemieux [24:36]
• Align office energetics with the therapeutic process for client comfort and loyalty.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I think what I want people to take away is I want to normalize hiring designers... even if you just veer out and get that initial consultation to help you mine and fine tune more of what you want to say and express in the space, you know, it's not always as expensive as one would think." — Hilary Holmes [26:18]
• "You have to stay playful with something like this. It's not a rule book... it's still supposed to be light and a fun process to design your own office." – Hilary Holmes [26:36]
• "We are our brand." — Katie Lemieux [17:59]

Practical Takeaways

• Use your ideal client profile to guide every design decision.
• Prioritize comfort and function in furniture selection, especially the couch.
• Blend personal, soulful touches with intentional design—avoid making your office look like a furniture catalog.
• Use diverse, soft lighting rather than harsh overhead lights.
• Curate bookshelves with a mix of books and personal or interesting objects.
• Don’t overlook the power of office design in reflecting your brand and fostering client retention.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Hilary’s background & journey: [06:59]
• Three main design considerations: [09:23–15:38]
• Common mistakes therapists make: [18:08]
• Creating connection through layout: [19:57]
• Bookshelf styling tips: [22:25]
• Brand and retention connection: [24:05]
• Hilary’s final takeaway: [26:18]

Resources Mentioned

• Hilary’s freebie: “5 Ways to Reboot Your Bookshelves” (link in show notes)
• Podcast recommends Therapy Notes for practice management (ad skipped)

Conclusion

This episode empowers therapists to approach office design as a key component of both client care and professional branding. Hilary Holmes’ practical tips and creative philosophy encourage listeners to design spaces that are functional, authentic, and inviting for their ideal clients—making each therapy session more comfortable and effective from the first moment a client walks in.