Online counseling practice management software
4.8/5 (662 reviews)CounSol.com is an online practice management system for counselors and therapists, for managing both online and offline clients, with secure chat, live video sessions, online appointment booking, billing & invoicing, custom forms & questionnaires, treatment plans, progress notes, client journals, and more.
CounSol.com allows users to create a custom client site, with control over the text, images, colors, and fonts, and embed a link to the secure client portal in their existing website. Clients can login to schedule appointments, view emails, pay bills, fill in their private journal, and take part in online chat and video sessions. Users can set their availability, session types, and appointment lengths, and display available appointment slots by the month, week, day, or hour. Clients can book appointments online for office appointments, phone calls, video sessions, or chat sessions, and can also register for group chat sessions, phone calls, or office appointments.
Users can create custom policy agreements, practice terms, and a range of client forms and questionnaires for gathering client information. Client records, notes, and questionnaires are stored securely, with hourly data backups, and the system is fully HIPAA compliant. Client treatment plans can be prepared using the built-in templates with diagnosis axis codes and descriptions, symptom descriptions, current assessments, concerns or issues, treatment objectives and strategies, long-term and short-term goals, and more. Progress notes can also be maintained and updated, with customizable diagnosis descriptions, treatment plan statuses, action plans, and more.
Pros
I have been with Counsol for 5 years. It's like having my own administrative assistant. It has freed up more time (for me to fill with other things, lol). When I first looked for software, I signed up for free trials and even made a chart comparing the features. Counsol has the most features then, and continues to have them now. You can use Counsol as your website, since it has the ability to add pages on your portal that are visible to the public. Just buy your name as a domain name and then point it towards your Counsol URL. You can select which options show up on forms, create your own forms, tweak treatment plans, decide what clients can and can't access, provide teletherapy, upload handouts and mp3s for your clients by topic (couples, parenting, ADHD, depression, etc.). You also have your own personal account representative. I have had the same one since I started. Each time I have a question, I get a prompt response back from him. If there's a problem, he works to find out what's going on and they troubleshoot with the software team to find solutions. They are also open to ideas and feedback and since I have used them, they have continued to add more features and capabilities. You can create users to have access to certain aspects of the software, so others can do scheduling or billing for you. I can't give enough kudos!
Cons
Until recently, the video software has been in need of some updating. But they have worked to develop an even better platform for distance therapy. It's currently being finalized and I am excited to test it out ASAP!
This is a great software. It’s quite user-friendly. Compared to competitors, Counsol is the best value for the money for me. I do a fair amount of insurance billing. Counsol submits claims for free through Officeally, unlike competitors who do their own electronica claim submission and charge money for each claim submitted.
However, officeally is not ideal for me. I have contacted Counsol’s customer service to see if they might look into linking Availity into their insurance billing. I use Availity to file Regence payments, since Regence is no longer a “Payer” provider in OfficeAlly ( meaning I would have to pay if I filed claims through them). Counsol’s customer service was not willing to take my suggestion into consideration. They simply replied that Officeally was the best. So now I’m having to use more than one system to do my billing, but at least it’s still all free, unlike other practice management software.
Pros
Customer services tops. I always get a response within a few hours. All billing is done through Office Ally, which means that many claims are filed for free, unlike Simple Practice, which charges $.25 per claim, or Therapy Notes, which charges $.14 per claim. Counsol also doesn’t charge for appointment reminders.
Cons
Depending on what features you use, counsol could actually the same price or more expensive as other billing software, (if you’re not using insurance billing). Definitely compare prices closely before you choose a software.
As a solo practitioner, my focus and skills are on providing therapy, not billing, records, and all the time consuming office "stuff" - this program makes those things so easy, I actually did not need keep the biller I hired before finding Counsol. The assigned support staff you get when you signed up is amazing - they truly know you, and respond immediately to help with anything you have questions about and respond to suggestions, often getting them incorporated into the software. That alone surpassed my experiences with other companies I have dealt with previously.
Pros
I wanted a program that let me go paperless and allowed clients flexibility to schedule. The client portal is amazing- I get compliments from clients every month about how they like the portal and found it so easy to use and navigate. That clients can schedule, reschedule, cancel appts as needed keeps my schedule fuller, with less cancellations and no shows. I don't have to spend hours returning calls, trying to reschedule, making appointments etc. I have my intake paperwork included so no more awkward rushing to fill out forms at the start of a session. The billing side of the software submits claims in 2 clicks, enters the ERA's in one. Literally it takes seconds to complete.
Cons
The interface is easy but looks a bit dated. The calendar views are limited and it lacks things like a automatic to do list to keep you up on tasks. You can upload your own forms but there are no included templates for even basic requirements such as HIPAA. They do continue to update and add features, but it makes getting to some features a bit clunky and some features can be quite slow when pulling up info. Clients cannot upload documents, such as copies of insurance cards, so the clinician still needs to do so. There is no app - and the mobile version for phones can be difficult to navigate.
This system does almost everything required to manage my existing clients.
It's very easy to use and I like being able to see the current day's schedule and monthly overview from the summary page.
Sometimes I don't even take my computer to the office - I just use my iPad.
I'm also very pleased with the mobile phone version of the website - it's especially convenient to send username reminders and password resets directly from my phone since I'm usually away from the computer when those requests come through.
Pros
It has a client portal, it's easy to use from both the client and administrator side. It includes scheduling, billing, secure communication, and recording keeping all in one place.
The company is very responsive to user issues and suggestions for new functionality.
The product keeps improving.
It encourages good record keeping by showing icons or plus signs to indicate if there are treatment plans for clients and notes for completed sessions.
Cons
Creating new forms can be cumbersome but my account manager offered to upload my form data from the back-end so I just had to make minor adjustments.
I wish that my clients could either upload documents or add attachments to mail messages within the portal.
The announcement function (basically an email blast) sends an email to the client stating that they have a message in the portal. Since users get locked out if it's been 2-3 months since their last login, I get a barrage of password reset requests everything I send out an announcement. From the user perspective I think they would like to at least see the title of the message in the notification email, even if they have to log in to see the full message.
Overall, I am staying with CounSol. It allows me to have a virtually paperless practice and automates things that save me both time and money such as self scheduling and appointment reminders. My client report they like the portal and find it relatively easy to use. Although it is customizable, it again is not the prettiest looking thing, although I haven't had any client complaints about this.
Pros
I love almost everything about CounSol! I used it when I was a solo practitioner and have continued as my company has grown into a group practice.
What I like:
- Electronic intake forms as well as all other forms
- FULLY customizable forms including progress notes
- Client self scheduling/ Client portal
- Online payments
- Calendar sync with phone
- Secure messaging- staff and clients
- Quick claim submission and ERA reconciliation
- Customer service- its amazing really!!
- Generally accurate monthly payment reports
- Appointment reminders via text, email and phone
- I also love that they don't tack on costs for features- it is included in the plan you pick!
Cons
I have been with CounSol long enough that I have been able to see them grow, including them implementing suggestions I have personally made for the EHR. That said there are a few things I still don't like:
- the interface itself is not as pretty as some of the other ones out there
- there can be a lot of button clicking sometimes (this has improved)
- my staff report they do not find it intuitive to use
- the way the payment report screen handles refunds (however, if you know how it does, then it is easy to account for- just more button clicking)
- Use of Office Ally for clearinghouse, but bc of changes on the part of Office Ally not CounSol
- They don't have an app and I dislike the mobile view
- Not a monthly all clinician view calendar, but there is a weekly one, but it doesn't show openings, just booked appointments
Practice Management: $49.95/month
Practice Management Plus: $64.95/month
Below are some frequently asked questions for CounSol.com.
CounSol.com offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: US$45,00/month
Pricing model: Subscription
Free Trial: Available
Practice Management: $49.95/month
Practice Management Plus: $64.95/month
CounSol.com offers the following features:
CounSol.com has the following typical customers:
Freelancers, Mid Size Business, Small Business
CounSol.com supports the following languages:
English
CounSol.com has the following pricing plans:
Subscription
We do not have any information about what devices CounSol.com supports
CounSol.com integrates with the following applications:
Authorize.net, BluePay, Braintree, Forte, Google Calendar, PayPal, Square Payments, Stripe
CounSol.com offers the following support options:
FAQs, Online Support, Phone Support
I haev saved time and money, been able to reduce no-shows because of reminders sent to my clients, been able to recoup losses for no-shows because of the ability to integrate a credit card system (that's low cost) where clients are required to keep a card on file (secure, meeting Federal standards) that I can run if they do not show up. I would keep going, but my next therapy appointment just walked in! Got to go! I can't recommend them enough.