Best EHR for Therapists in 2025: Why I Chose SimplePractice (and keep recommending it)

Looking for the best EHR for therapists in private or group practice?
👉 Try SimplePractice with my referral link — you’ll get a discount, and I’ll get a small credit to support my work. It’s the platform I’ve personally used to grow from solo to group practice, and I recommend it to every therapist I know.

What’s the Best EHR for Therapists Right Now?

As a trauma-informed therapist who started as a solo provider and now leads a small group practice, I’ve tested a lot of EHR platforms firsthand—CareLogic, Epic, TheraNest, TherapyNotes, and my personal favorite, SimplePractice.

Each had its strengths and weaknesses, but one platform clearly stood out for ease of use, scalability, client engagement, and actual support:
👉 SimplePractice.

Whether you're wondering what the best therapy EHR is, comparing SimplePractice vs TherapyNotes, or looking for an EHR with HIPAA-compliant client messaging, this guide is here to help.

🥇 SimplePractice – The Best EHR for Solo & Group Private Practice

SimplePractice is truly therapist-designed. It supported me when I was just starting out, and it's scaled beautifully as I've hired new clinicians and expanded my caseload.

✅ Key Features I Love:

• HIPAA-compliant secure messaging – Message clients or consult with other clinicians all in one secure place.

• Client & clinician-friendly mobile app – Both I and my clients use the app regularly—it’s intuitive, polished, and helps reduce no-shows and miscommunication.

• Automated reminders & documentation tracking – I can send reminders for appointments and incomplete forms with just one click.

• Visual, customizable assessments & treatment plans – Built-in templates and charts help me communicate care goals in a way clients understand.

• Team-friendly setup – It’s been easy to add clinicians, share forms, and assign clients without needing IT help.

🧭 Huge Bonus: Monarch Directory = Free Referrals

SimplePractice comes with its own client-facing therapy directory called Monarch. This has been one of my biggest referral sources (even more than Psychology Today). Clients can:

• Find me on Monarch

• Book directly through my SimplePractice link

• Immediately enter my system

• Get intake documents within minutes of requesting an appointment
  
  

This is a massive time-saver for both therapist and client—and leads to more booked sessions.

👉 Try SimplePractice today and see how easy it is to onboard clients, streamline your workflow, and grow sustainably.

🧾 TheraNest – Decent for Beginners, but Poor Support

TheraNest was my first EHR. It covered the basics—scheduling, documentation, and billing—but support response times were slow and it started to feel clunky as my practice grew.

Pros:

• Affordable for solo clinicians
  
  

• Easy templates for SOAP and progress notes
  
  

• HIPAA-compliant and secure
  
  

Cons:

• Limited automation tools
  
  

• Poor customer support
  
  

• Not scalable for a growing team
  
  

📋 TherapyNotes – Great for Insurance, Less for Client Experience

TherapyNotes is often compared to SimplePractice, especially for therapists who bill insurance. It’s a strong platform for compliance and structured documentation but lacks warmth and client-friendly design.

Pros:

• Excellent insurance billing and claims tools
  
  

• Built-in to-do lists for clinicians
  
  

• Secure and well-supported
  
  

Cons:

• Less intuitive interface
  
  

• Not ideal for relational, trauma-informed, or creative therapy models
  
  

• No integrated directory or client-facing onboarding

🏥 CareLogic – Built for Agencies, Not Therapists

I used CareLogic while working in a larger behavioral health system. It was a frustrating experience that I wouldn’t recommend for solo or small group practitioners.

Major Issues:

• Frequent platform crashes and system downtime
  
  

• Took 30+ minutes to write an assessment, only to lose it after a crash
  
  

• Visually cluttered and confusing layout
  
  

• Felt more like a billing tool than a clinical one

⚙️ Epic – Powerful, But Not for Therapy Practices

Epic is a hospital-grade EHR used by massive health systems. It’s robust but not even close to what private practice therapists need.

Why I Don’t Recommend Epic:

• Overcomplicated workflows
  
  

• Not therapy-focused—built for physicians
  
  

• Licensing and setup costs are unrealistic for private practice
  
  

• No customization for relational or trauma-focused work

Final Verdict: Why I Recommend SimplePractice in 2025

Choosing the right EHR matters so much more than people realize. It’s not just about billing—it’s about reducing burnout, staying connected to clients, and making your practice sustainable.

SimplePractice makes all of that possible.

It’s:

• Therapist-designed
  
  

• Easy to use for both providers and clients
  
  

• Secure and HIPAA-compliant
  
  

• Scalable as your practice grows
  
  

• And includes a powerful built-in referral system (Monarch)
  
  

👉 Click here to start your free trial of SimplePractice and get a discount through my referral.
Your future self (and your clients) will thank you.