The 8 Best EHRs for Mental Health
If you’re searching for the best EHR for mental health, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, you’ll find out everything therapists need to know about EHR software for private practices, including how the top EHRs for mental health help therapists run their practices, by streamlining and reducing admin work.
Below, we’ll share a list of some of the best options on the market, and all the information you need to determine the best mental health software for your practice.
Why do therapists use mental health EHRs?
Electronic health records (EHRs) refer to digital platforms that give health practitioners the tools, support, and functionality they need to effectively manage their clients and their practices.
EHRs offer practice management support to a wide variety of clinicians, but one area where the right EHR software is an absolute must is mental health.
EHRs are used in a variety of clinical settings—sometimes for different reasons.
These are some of the benefits EHRs provide to therapists:
Information storage and management
EHR platforms allow therapists to easily and securely store and manage clients’ health records and other protected health information (PHI).
In addition, EHRs make it easier for therapists to find and access the information they need (like session notes or intake forms) when they need it—without having to search through paper files.
Practice management tools
The best software for therapists comes equipped with a variety of tools that make it easier to both manage and grow a therapy practice.
This includes tools for:
- Scheduling (with automatic calendar integration)
- Secure client portals, which allow for safe, easy communication between the client and the therapist
- Billing (both to clients directly and insurance companies)
- Integrated payment options
Easy to share information with approved parties
Therapists are often part of a client’s larger care team. When the client gives permission, EHRs make it easy for clinicians to share important client information with other practitioners—which can help the client receive better, more comprehensive care.
HIPAA compliance
Therapists are bound by HIPAA and must abide by all relevant laws and regulations.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that the best EHRs for mental health are HIPAA-compliant, ensuring that all of the therapist’s communication and documentation protect their clients and meet all HIPAA-related regulations.
What are the top EHRs for mental health?
Simply put: different software platforms offer different features. So, when it comes to choosing the best EHR for mental health clinicians, first determine which features you need to more effectively run your practice—then choose an EHR accordingly.
That being said, there are certain EHRs that are better tailored for therapists than others.
Here are our picks for some of the best EHRs for mental health on the market.
1. SimplePractice
If you’re looking for an EHR that offers features you need to effectively run your practice and deliver the highest level of care to your clients—SimplePractice tops the list as the best EHR for mental health.
SimplePractice offers functionality that makes practice management easier for the therapist, while also making the therapy process for clients easy.
Key SimplePractice features include:
Scheduling
Most therapists have had the experience of playing phone tag while trying to schedule a session with a client. SimplePractice can eliminate that process—and, in fact, eliminate manual scheduling completely—with their scheduling feature, which allows clients to book their sessions online.
SimplePractice also syncs with different calendar apps (including Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook), updating in real time. It allows therapists to send free text, voice, and/or email reminders as well—which can dramatically reduce cancellations and no-shows.
Documentation
With hundreds of customizable templates, SimplePractice has options for every type of form or document a therapist might need to run their practice, including SOAP notes, progress notes, intake forms, and assessments.
Client communication portal
Therapists need to be able to safely and securely communicate with their clients—and vice versa.
SimplePractice’s HIPAA-compliant client portal provides a place for easy and secure communication and information sharing between the client and the therapist. The portal also streamlines the therapy experience for the client, giving them access to tools like self-service scheduling, telehealth, and online bill pay.
Telehealth
Speaking of telehealth, SimplePractice offers therapists an integrated, easy-to-use, HIPAA-compliant video platform—allowing them to host safe, secure virtual sessions with their clients who may not be able to travel for appointments.
Billing and insurance
SimplePractice makes billing simple—for both clients and insurance—with a host of financial tools, including online billing, secure mobile payment options, and autopay.
Therapists can also create, submit, and manage their insurance claims directly from the SimplePractice platform.
Custom websites
For therapists that want to market their business and create a professional online presence, SimplePractice comes equipped with a website builder. This tool allows therapists to easily create well-designed, fully responsive websites to market their practice and attract new clients—no design experience necessary.
SimplePractice pricing ranges from $29 to $99 per month for solo practices. Pricing starts at $158 per month for group practices.
SimplePractice pros and cons
Some of the pros of using SimplePractice include:
- Comes equipped with all the features you need to run your practice
- User-friendly, easy-to-navigate interface
- Fully HIPAA-compliant platform
- Decreases the amount of time spent managing administrative tasks (thanks to features like scheduling, document templates, and insurance claim management)
- Robust billing and payment options give therapists the tools they need to get paid (and often, get paid faster)
- Scaleable features for group practices
- High-level customer service sets therapists up for success within the platform
- Therapists can have an unlimited number of clients with their subscription—allowing you to grow your practice without increasing costs
Some potential cons are:
- With so many features, some may find it challenging to determine where to start or the best way to use the platform to support their practice
2. TherapyNotes
Like the other top EHRs for mental health, TherapyNotes offers therapists a variety of tools to better manage their practice and their clients.
TherapyNotes helps therapists streamline their practice management processes, which can allow them to shift their focus towards caring for their clients.
TherapyNotes offers a suite of tools and features designed to make therapists more efficient and effective, including:
- Client portal: TherapyNotes provides a client portal where clients can conveniently book sessions online. It also enables therapists to securely share documents with clients and gather signatures as needed—streamlining the process and saving therapists valuable time to spend with clients.
- To-do list and calendar integration: The software integrates a to-do list and calendar with other platform features (like billing, records, and sessions notes), which can help therapists stay organized.
- Document templates: TherapyNotes offers templates for standard, commonly used therapy documents, like intake forms and session notes.
- Billing and payments: Therapists can bill clients and insurance directly from the TherapyNotes platform, which can simplify the billing process. TherapyNotes also has payment processing, allowing clients to pay for their sessions with credit, debit, HSA, and/or FSA cards.
TherapyNotes pricing ranges from $49 per month for solo practitioners to $59 per month for the first clinician in group and enterprise practices (and $30 per month for each additional therapist).
TherapyNotes pros and cons
Some of the pros of TherapyNotes include:
- HIPAA compliant
- Multiple payment options, including credit, debit, HSA, and FSA cards
- Intuitive organization tools, like integrated to-do lists and calendars
Some of the cons include:
- Extra charges for certain features—some of which are considered core features—including appointment reminders, payment processing, and electronic billing
3. Valant
Similar to others on the list of top EHRs for mental health, Valant is specifically designed to support behavioral health specialists in both individual and group practices.
The platform offers a variety of features that support therapists and mental health professionals to efficiently manage client care and practice operations, including:
- Clinical documentation: Valant comes equipped with essential documentation tools like assessments, notes, and client tracking forms. In addition, they also offer documents tailored to specific therapy types, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and marriage and family therapy (MFT).
- Group therapy management: For therapists that host group sessions, Valant offers a variety of tools to support group therapy management, such as attendance tracking, multi-participant telehealth sessions, group scheduling, and note integration.
- Patient portal: MYIO, Valant's patient portal, streamlines communication between the therapist and client—and also equips clients with tools to manage their own therapeutic experience, including appointment scheduling, telehealth access, and billing and payment. MYIO also offers a mobile app, allowing clients to access the platform across multiple devices.
- Billing and payment tracking: The billing system in Valant simplifies both billing and payment processes with features like electronic remittance advice (ERA) posting, rule-based fee schedules, and a superbill generator.
- E-prescribing and medication management: For prescribing clinicians like psychiatrists, Valant offers e-prescribing, prescription monitoring, and medication interaction alerts.
Valant offers custom pricing, so potential users will need to connect with the Valant team and get a custom quote to find out how much the platform will cost them.
Valant pros and cons
Some of the pros include:
- Designed to cater specifically to the needs of behavioral health professionals
- The MYIO mobile app provides clients with flexible access to their client portal
- HIPAA compliant
- Robust group therapy tools make it easier for therapists to start, manage, and expand group sessions
Potential cons include:
- Lack of transparent pricing details
- No free trial available, only a live demo
4. Therapy Brands/TheraNest
Specializing in practice management, EHR, and billing software, Therapy Brands offers tailored solutions for a variety of practice types—including solo practitioners, group practices, and larger enterprises.
TheraNest is Therapy Brand’s EHR for mental health practitioners. It provides a range of tools to support therapists, including:
- Scheduling and calendar integration: TheraNest offers scheduling and calendar tools to help therapists organize their schedules. The tool also has appointment reminder functionality, which can help to minimize client no-shows and cancellations.
- Telehealth capabilities: TheraNest offers a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, ensuring safe and secure virtual sessions between therapists and their clients.
- Credit card processing. With TheraNest, clients can pay for their therapy bills directly from the platform.
- Unlimited file storage: TheraNest takes into account the fact that it requires a lot of documentation to run a successful therapy practice—and, as such, offers unlimited storage for client documentation and information.
TheraNest pricing is based on the number of active clients, with pricing ranging from $39 per month (for up to 30 active clients) to $91 per month (for up to 80 active clients). Prices increase further once therapists pass the 100 active client threshold—but you’ll have to contact TheraNest for a specific quote.
TheraNest pros and cons
Some of the pros include:
- Serves a variety of practice types effectively
- Unlimited file storage is ideal for practices with high documentation needs
- HIPAA compliant
- Variety of tools to help streamline practice management
Cons of TheraNest include:
- The pricing model scales with practice growth—leading to higher costs as the practice grows
- TheraNest is also marketed to business types outside of private practices (including nonprofits and educational institutions), which could lead to certain features not feeling like a fit for therapists in private practice
5. BreezyNotes
Crafted specifically for therapists by a therapist, BreezyNotes is among the top EHRs for mental health—offering a simple solution to practice management.
BreezyNotes streamlines practice management into three fundamental steps, including:
- Schedule the client: BreezyNotes simplifies session scheduling with a drag-and-drop feature, allowing therapists to easily schedule client appointments at their preferred time slot. Therapists can also access client profiles, appointment updates, and progress notes directly from their BreezyNotes calendar. In addition, therapists can view their calendar in daily, weekly, or monthly mode—and color-code entries to better track each appointment (for example, client seen, client needs to be billed, or paid session).
- Write the note: As mentioned, therapists can access their progress notes directly from the calendar, where they can add notes following each session. BreezyNotes also automatically uploads details from previous meetings, which allows therapists to review progress before each session.
- Save, sign, and submit: Once session notes are complete, therapists can save, sign, and directly submit documentation to insurance companies for billing—without having to leave the platform.
BreezyNotes also offers additional features that support more efficient practice management and client care, including appointment reminders, pre-populated notes, a client portal, billing, and client payment options.
Unlike other platforms, BreezyNotes doesn’t charge a flat monthly subscription fee or a fee based on the number of active clients within a practice. Instead, their pricing is based on monthly note creation, with prices ranging from $19 to $189 per month, plus $0.34 to $0.50 per note. Certain features (like appointment reminders) are extra.
BreezyNotes pros and cons
Pros of BreezyNotes include:
- Straightforward and user-friendly design
- Can be a good choice for clinicians who prefer simplicity and don’t want too many bells and whistles
- HIPAA compliant
Potential cons include:
- Complex pricing structure
- Several features are only available at an additional charge, including the client portal (which can add between $20 and $50 to costs each month) and appointment reminders (which can add a base price of up to $19 per month and $0.15 for each reminder)
- Phone support costs can be as high as $99 per hour—which can make getting help inaccessible for some therapists
6. Healthie
Healthie is an EHR platform designed to help wellness professionals—including therapists and mental health professionals—better serve their clients and more effectively manage and expand their practices.
Healthie provides a range of tools designed to support therapists with their client and practice management needs, including:
- Streamlined scheduling: Healthie's scheduling tool simplifies appointment setting across various clinicians, specializations, locations, and insurances—making it particularly helpful for group practices that operate in multiple cities and/or states.
- Custom forms: Alongside common therapy form templates (like client waivers, intake forms, and assessments), Healthie allows users to customize forms to support their practice’s specific needs.
- Charting: Healthie comes equipped with a variety of charting options—including charting templates that therapists can customize for their practice.
- Telehealth functionality: Healthie provides HIPAA-compliant video chat capabilities. It also integrates with Zoom, allowing therapists to host secure and compliant sessions outside of the Healthie platform.
Healthie offers a free starter package for new therapists with 10 or fewer clients. After that, prices range from $49 per month to $149+ per month.
Healthie pros and cons
Pros of Healthie can include:
- Comprehensive selection of features supports a variety of practice types
- HIPAA compliant
- Large selection of form and document templates, which can save therapists time on admin work
- Customizable client portal helps to reinforce therapist or therapy practice branding
Some of the cons include:
- Because Healthie is designed to support a wide range of wellness professionals—and not just mental health professionals—therapists may find some of the features unnecessary
7. CounSol
CounSol is an EHR platform tailored to mental health professionals—and, more specifically, mental health professionals who are looking for tools to help them build and manage their virtual practice.
CounSol comes equipped with a variety of features to support effective practice management for therapists, including:
- Custom client portals: CounSol allows therapists to create client portals that match their current therapy website and/or branding—including adding specific fonts, colors, and images. CounSol’s client portal also allows clients to schedule appointments, pay their bills, and access secure video and chat sessions. However, video and chat functionality are only offered at certain price tiers.
- Appointment reminders: CounSol allows therapists to schedule appointment reminders 24, 48, and/or 72 hours before sessions, with the option to send reminders via phone, text, or email.
- Client treatment plans: Therapists can easily create treatment plans for their clients using CounSol’s template library, which features diagnostic descriptions, risk assessments, short and long-term goals, and treatment objectives.
- Client billing and invoicing: CounSol sends invoice reminders to clients—and allows clients to pay for their sessions online with a credit card (via a third-party payment processor).
- Electronic insurance claim submission: In addition to billing clients, CounSol also allows therapists to create, submit, and manage insurance claims directly from the platform.
CounSol’s pricing ranges from $69.95 per month to $89.95 per month. Adding therapists to the platform is an additional charge, ranging from $35 to $45 per month per therapist.
CounSol pros and cons
Pros of CounSol can include:
- Customizable client portal allows therapists to design their own portal and strengthen brand recognition
- Can easily bill both clients and insurance
- Customizable treatment plans allow therapists to monitor and track their clients’ progress over time
Some of the cons may include:
- Secure video sessions and chat options are only available to Premium and Premium Plus members
- Additional therapists are an extra charge each month—which can make this a pricier option for group practices
8. BestNotes
BestNotes is an EHR platform included among our list of best EHRs for mental health, as it is designed to support the behavioral health and addiction treatment industries.
BestNotes offers additional tools and features to support more effective practice management, including:
- Built-in CRM: For practices that are aiming for significant growth, BestNotes built-in customer relationship management (CRM) system—which tracks information like new client inquiries, referral sources, and previous contact details—can be a helpful tool for managing and organizing potential clients, or could be used in place of a client waitlist.
- Telehealth capabilities: The BestNotes platform provides HIPAA-compliant video conferencing, allowing therapists to securely meet with their clients online—both for individual and group therapy sessions.
- Patient portal: Therapists can use BestNotes' patient portal (which integrates directly into their website) to securely share important documents with clients and collect signatures as necessary.
- Human resources (HR) management: For therapists managing a team, BestNotes also offers a suite of HR features, including secure employee file storage, ongoing education tracking, and customizable job applications.
BestNotes pricing is based on user count, with prices ranging from $11 per user per month (which is the price for 101+ users per month) to $55 per user per month (the price for 1 to 10 users per month).
BestNotes pros and cons
Pros of BestNotes may include:
- Lead management features can help therapists organize potential client inquiries as they grow their practice and caseloads
- HIPAA compliant
- Group telehealth sessions
Potential cons include:
- Because BestNotes also caters to addiction treatment centers, some of its features (like e-prescribing or medication management) may not be relevant to therapists
- The HR suite can be beneficial for larger companies—but it might not justify the cost for solo or small private practices
- Patient portal doesn’t offer as many features as other behavioral health EHR vendors
Choosing the best EHR for mental health
With so many options on the market, determining the best EHR for mental health can feel like a challenge. If you’re looking for an EHR platform that delivers everything you need to manage, build, and grow a thriving practice—SimplePractice can help.
From scheduling to billing, telehealth to a secure client portal (and just about everything in between), SimplePractice offers all the features a therapist could need for more effective client and practice management—all combined into one easy-to-navigate platform.
As the preferred practice management software for over 200,000 wellness practitioners (with a 96% practitioner satisfaction rate), SimplePractice has helped hundreds of thousands of therapists take their practice to the next level—and can help you do the same.
Ready to find out how SimplePractice can help you better manage and grow your practice? Get started with a free 30-day trial today—no credit card required.
How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice
SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.
If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to streamline appointment bookings, reminders, and rescheduling and simplify the billing and coding process—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.
Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card required.