Phoenix Moon Counseling and Wellness
Phoenix Moon Counseling and Wellness
Phoenix Moon Counseling and Wellness
The Context
Dellissa Simmons is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Houston, Texas, with a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. With 3–4 years of experience supporting teens and adults through anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, she offers a warm, flexible approach using CBT, DBT, and somatic therapy.
To grow her private practice and reach more clients, Dellissa needed a professional, user-friendly website. The goal was to create a calming, accessible platform that clearly communicates her services, builds trust, and makes it easy for users to book a session.
Role
UX Designer
Team
Bianca Walker and Shilpa Francis
Dates
December 2024 - Present
Methods & Tools
Informal Survey & Insight Analysis, Empathy Mapping + Persona Creation, Content Audit & Prioritization, Figma, Responsive Design Prioritization
Deliverables
Information architecture diagram
Research & design report
Interactive prototype (and corresponding Figma design file with an initial design system and high-fidelity wireframes)
The Problem
Despite Dellissa Simmons’ strong qualifications and experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, she currently lacks a personal online presence, which limits her ability to connect with potential clients, showcase her services, and grow her private practice. In today’s digital-first environment, having a professional website is essential for visibility, credibility, and accessibility. Without one, Dellissa may miss opportunities to reach individuals who could benefit from her support, especially those searching for therapy services online.
Challenges
The main challenge was building Dellissa’s online presence from scratch, including her brand voice, visuals, and content. The site needed to balance professionalism with warmth, build trust quickly, and feature clear calls-to-action for booking. It also had to be mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and present detailed information without overwhelming users. Adding interactive features like self-assessments and resources added complexity but was key for engagement.
The Research
Exploring Similar Platforms
To inform the design of Dellissa Simmons’ website, similar therapy platforms were analyzed, including DLT Well Collective, Sian Quipp, and Best Online Therapy Services. These platforms revealed recurring patterns and gaps. Most used calming visuals and minimalistic design to create a safe, welcoming atmosphere. While therapist credentials and personal bios helped build trust, clear booking flows were often missing or hard to find. Content-rich platforms like Best Online Therapy Services ranked well in search engines due to keyword use, but none offered interactive tools or strong accessibility features. These findings helped shape a more user-centered, inclusive, and engaging experience for Dellissa’s site.
Similar Patterns Across Competitor Websites
Trust-Building Through Personalization
Most sites emphasize therapist credentials and background to establish credibility, often through “About Me” pages and testimonials.Lack of Strong Conversion CTAs
While personal branding is strong, many competitors miss consistent, prominent “Book a Session” or “Get Started” buttons, leading to friction in the booking process.Minimal Use of Interactive Tools
None of the reviewed sites incorporate interactive engagement features like quizzes, self-assessments, or chatbots, which could help users feel more involved and supported early on.Content-Rich but Uneven SEO Focus
Only some sites leverage keyword-rich blogs, FAQs, or resource libraries to improve SEO and user education; others have sparse content beyond basic service descriptions.Visual Design Trends Favor Calm and Minimalism
Soothing color palettes, simple layouts, and minimalistic design elements are common, supporting a non-intimidating, welcoming user experience.Mobile Optimization Is Present but Could Improve
Sites generally respond well on mobile devices, but navigation and booking flows often feel less seamless or intuitive on smaller screens.Accessibility Features Are Largely Absent
Little attention is paid to accessibility, such as adequate color contrast or screen reader support, limiting usability for users with disabilities.
User Research: Gathering Info and Feedback
To understand the needs and preferences of potential clients, user research was conducted through surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis. Feedback highlighted that users value therapist qualifications, clear pricing, and an easy booking process. Trust and a personal connection were critical factors in choosing a counselor. Users also expressed frustration with poor navigation and lack of transparency on therapy websites. This research informed the design priorities, focusing on simplicity, clarity, trust-building, and mobile accessibility to improve the overall user experience.
The Design
Focusing on Targeted Features to Address the Problem
We focused on identifying the key challenges users faced and prioritized features that would have the greatest impact. Through user research, data analysis, and collaborative ideation, we determined which functionalities were essential to address user needs effectively while keeping the experience clean and intuitive.
Each feature was designed with purpose to enhance accessibility, simplify navigation, and create an experience that feels supportive and engaging. By centering our efforts on these targeted solutions, we ensured that users could accomplish their goals seamlessly without unnecessary distractions.
This focused approach helped us create a product that not only solves real user problems but also delivers a streamlined, empathetic, and user-centered experience.
Menu Bar: A simple, organized navigation system providing quick access to key pages like Services, About, and Resources for seamless exploration.Book Now Button: A recurring action prompt across pages to ensure users can easily schedule a session at any point in their journey.Book a Free Session: An inviting CTA offering new users a risk-free way to connect, building trust and encouraging first-time engagement.Service Icons: We used clean, minimal icons to represent each counseling service, helping users quickly recognize their options and explore areas relevant to their needs.Quotes from Dellissa: Authentic, personal quotes that reflect Dellissa’s counseling philosophy and warmth — helping visitors connect emotionally and build trust.
Search Bar: Allows users to quickly find information, articles, or resources, improving usability and accessibility across the site.Book Now Button: A recurring action prompt across pages to ensure users can easily schedule a session at any point in their journey.Articles Section: A curated space featuring wellness articles and mental health resources designed to educate, inspire, and improve SEO visibility while encouraging return visits.
Design System
Next Step
We designed the website with a clear structure and detailed functionality plan to ensure it can be developed into a fully usable tool in the future. The design is ready for launch — featuring responsive layouts, intuitive navigation, and interactive elements that will make Phoenix Moon Counseling and Wellness both accessible and engaging once built.