How to Create a Calm & Professional Therapist Instagram Feed Without Spending Hours Design
- Whole Child Counseling
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Raise your hand if you’ve ever opened Instagram, scrolled through a few therapist accounts, and thought: Wow, their feed looks so clean and intentional... mine looks like a mood board from 2014. Building a calm, grounded Instagram presence that reflects your values doesn’t mean you need to hire a designer, spend hours learning Canva, or become a graphic designer overnight.
It just takes a few simple choices, a solid system, and the right tools. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revamping your current counselor business page account, this post will walk you through how to create a peaceful, professional therapist (or social worker, psychologist, or counselor) Instagram feed that helps potential clients feel your vibe the moment they land on your page.
In this post we'll cover what makes a counselor's Instagram feed feel professional, using Instagram's new 4:5 portrait size, fonts, color palettes, and templates to make this all a breeze for you.
Why Calm and Consistent Instagram Feeds Work for Therapists
Instagram is often the first place potential clients find you. They’re likely clicking over after looking at your Psychology Today profile, seeing a Reel, a tagged post, or Googling therapists in your area. So what do they see when they land on your profile? If your feed is cluttered, chaotic, or unclear, they may scroll on, even if you're the perfect fit for them. But if your feed feels calm, grounded, and intentional, they’ll likely pause, read, and maybe even click the link in your bio to book a consult with you.
A clean and cohesive Instagram feed builds trust and it communicates professionalism. It gives people a feel for your energy before they ever reach out to you. Think of your Instagram profile like your digital waiting room. What message is it sending?
What Makes a Therapist's Instagram Feed Feel Calm and Professional?
Your instagram doesn’t have to be boring. It just needs to feel aligned with your brand. If you’re a play therapist or a high-energy therapist for teens with ADHD, your calm will likely be more colorful. If you’re a mindfulness-based trauma therapist, your calm might feel more muted and grounded. The key is intentionality. And let’s break it down. A calm therapist instagram feed usually has:
2-3 Consistent fonts
A consistent color palette
Helpful and educational content
Spacious designs with lots of breathing room
Thoughtful captions that feel like mini reflections
Use Instagram's New 4:5 Portrait Post Sizes for 2025
One way to easily make your profile look professional is to use Instagram’s preferred portrait post size for 2025, which is a 4:5 ratio (1080 x 1350 pixels). This format takes up more vertical space in the feed. This means it’s more eye-catching and increases the chance your post will stop the scroll. If you're using Canva or uploading designs made in other dimensions (like square 1:1), you might notice cropping in the Instagram preview on your profile page.
To fix this, after uploading an image to Instagram on your phone, go to your IG profile page and tap the 3 dots on the top right-hand side of the photo. Then click "Adjust Preview,"and then click "Fit." This ensures the full 4:5 design is displayed properly without auto-cropping or awkward borders. If you're working with square templates, you can also resize them in Canva to 1080x1350 if you have the pro version, or you can manually add extra padding at the top and bottom to create a clean, intentional white space effect.
The good news is that the post templates in my Ultimate Therapist Instagram Template Bundle were ALL created for you in the new 4:5 post size! This bundle comes with 520+ pre-designed editable Instagram Canva templates created by me, a licensed mental health counselor. These templates will help you:
✔ Showcase your values and approach
✔ Boost engagement
✔ Easily share available sessions
✔ Organize your most helpful content
✔ Make your profile feel calm, clear, and grounded
✔ Share valuable insights with your audience
✔ Spark meaningful conversations
✔ Motivate and uplift your followers
Learn more about it here!
Font Guide for Therapist Social Media Marketing
You want to choose fonts that pair well together. You can Google the font name and write "font pairing" with it for a list of some ideas. For example, when I Google “Montserrat font pairing,” I find a list of both serif and sans-serif fonts including:
Montserrat + Roboto
Montserrat + Libre Baskerville
Montserrat + Open Sans
Montserrat + Source Serif
Understanding the difference between serif and sans-serif fonts can make pairing fonts easier. Serif fonts have little “feet” or decorative strokes at the ends of the letters. They often feel more formal, classic, or traditional like: Times New Roman, Playfair Display, and Merriweather. Sans-Serif Fonts are clean and modern with no extra strokes. They’re super readable and look great on screens. Think: Montserrat, Lato, and Open Sans.
Depending on your vibe, you might choose to use either serif or sans serif fonts. Or you can even try combining a serif font for body text with a sans-serif for headers (or vice versa). The contrast can make your posts easier to read and more visually interesting. This article will give you some ideas on font pairing. I suggest trying to choose:
One font for bold headlines
One easy-to-read font for longer text or quote blocks (consider using a multi-weight font - read more about that below)
One fun, script-style or handwritten font for accented words (like “New!” or “Therapist Tip”)
Mixing too many fonts can look chaotic or distracting, which sends the opposite message from what most therapists want their content to feel like: grounded, clear, and trustworthy. So even though you're picking 3 brand fonts in total, try to stick with no more than 2 fonts per image. Use one for headings and one for the body text. This keeps your design looking clean, readable, and visually cohesive. These are all qualities that are important when your goal is to create a professional presence.
Multiple Weight Fonts for Counseling Instagram Accounts
For your easy-to-read font for longer text or quote blocks it's helpful to pick a font that has lots of options for multiple weights in Canva (bold, semi-bold, italic, etc.). These are called variable fonts or multi-weight fonts and they'll give you a wider range of options within the same font family. This is super helpful for keeping your posts cohesive and gives you more options!
To check if a font has multi-weight options in Canva, look at the font, then click the drop-down arrow next to its name (if there is one.) Here you'll see other weights (like Light, Regular, Semi-Bold, Bold, etc.) if they’re available.
I am including some of the best free (as of this writing) Canva multi-weight serif and sans-serif fonts to consider in the lists below.
Serif Fonts for Therapists
These fonts are good for a classic, grounding, and elegant style. These are the type of fonts that go along with a brand that is calming, reflective, and professional.
Cormorant Garamond
Playfair Display
The Seasons
Fraunces
Georgia Pro
Aleo
Alegreya
Clarendon
Noto Serif Ethiopic Condensed
Cooper BT
Sans-Serif Fonts for Therapists
Modern, Minimal, and Polished Sans-Serif Fonts for Therapists
Montserrat
Raleway
Inter
Open Sans
Poppins
Garet
Open Sauce
Telegraf
Lato
Futura
Century Gothic
Cooper Hewitt
Aileron
Barlow Condensed
Gilker
Antique Olive
Gotham
Playful, Friendly, and Approachable Sans-Serif Fonts for Therapists
Biski
Bellota
Black Mango
Blogger
Be Vietnam
Bakerie
Gluten
Dynapuff
Ahkio
Bold, Edgy, and Youthful Sans-Serif Fonts for Therapists
Agrandir
Gatwik
ITC Bauhaus
ITC Benguiat
Akzidenz-Grotesk
Darker Grotesque
Bricolage Grotesque
Hatton
8 Therapist Font Pairing Examples for Social Media
Here are some font pairing examples that are currently free in Canva. Plus, most of these are available in multi-weight options so you'll have more versatility!
Calm + Reflective Vibe
Ideal for: somatic therapy, meditation, or trauma-informed mindfulness therapists
Headline: Playfair Display
Body: Lato
Script/Accent: Caveat (free, natural handwritten style)
Modern + Polished Vibe
Ideal for: professional therapists, group practices, or those building a sleek, clinical feel
Headline: Telegraf
Body: Open Sans
Script/Accent: Playlist Script (casual, slightly edgy brush script)
Creative + Approachable Vibe
Ideal for: play therapists, art therapists, dance-movement therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, and other expressive arts therapists
Headline: Aleo
Body: Quicksand
Script/Accent: Dancing Script (soft, bouncy, inviting)
Classic + Academic Vibe
Ideal for: psychologists, psychodynamic therapists, testing services, or trauma specialists with a traditional aesthetic
Headline: Cormorant Garamond
Body: Inter
Script/Accent: Great Vibes (elegant and flowing, for sophisticated accents)
Playful + Youthful Vibe
Ideal for: play therapists, ADHD testing and coaching, child or teen therapists, or educational content
Headline: Biski
Body: Be Vietnam
Script/Accent: Gloria Hallelujah (casual, fun, and handwritten)
Bold + Professional Vibe
Ideal for: private practices or modern therapists with a high-trust brand
Headline: Clarendon
Body: Montserrat
Script/Accent: Satisfy (confident yet smooth script for small moments)
Neurodiversity-Affirming + Accessible Vibe
Ideal for: private practices or modern therapists who focus on neurodiversity affirming practices, executive function coaching, or sensory-focused therapy
Headline: Fraunces
Body: Raleway
Script/Accent: Shadows Into Light (clean, friendly handwriting)
Grounded + Earthy Vibe
Ideal for: nature-based therapy, eco-psychology, spiritual or holistic approaches
Headline: The Seasons
Body: Garet
Script/Accent: Alex Brush (organic and flowing, but still readable)
Want some great time-saving news?! When you use my Canva instagram therapist templates, you can select a text box, then pick your font and click "Change All." This will change all the fonts in every image in the template file you have open, which can save you a lot of time. If the font kerning or size is different than the one in the template, you might want to adjust the size.
Private Practice Counseling Color Palettes
Color is one of the easiest ways to make your Instagram feed look polished. Here are a few therapist-friendly color palettes that feel calming, grounded, and totally professional.
I've included hex codes which are a simple six-digit codes that are used to identify a specific color in design programs like Canva. Picking the hex codes for your brand can help ensure that your brand colors stay consistent across different templates or devices.
If you’re unsure what colors fits your vibe and what colors work together, try exploring Coolors.co to instantly generate palette combos. I suggest clicking "explore trending palettes" for inspiration or you can also click "start the generator." You can also google image search terms like “therapist branding color palettes.” Or you can google image search terms you resonate with that match your aesthetic. Some aesthetic words and phrases you can consider in your google image color palette search are:
Calming + Reflective Aesthetic
earthy tones color palette
mindfulness brand colors
warm minimalism palette
Creative + Approachable Aesthetic
whimsical color palette
playful color palette
cheerful pastel palette
Classic + Academic Aesthetic
timeless brand color palette
editorial neutral colors
scholarly branding palette
Bold + Professional Aesthetic
modern professional color palette
bold therapist brand colors
sophisticated neutral palette
Accessible + Affirming Aesthetic
inclusive color palette
trauma-informed brand colors
high contrast accessible palette
Modern + Polished Aesthetic
sleek neutral color palette
minimalist therapist brand colors
contemporary calming color palette
Playful + Youthful Aesthetic
bright pastel color palette
fun and friendly brand colors
bright playful color palette
Grounded + Earthy Aesthetic
nature-inspired brand palette
organic muted color scheme
boho earth tone palette
If you have the free version of Canva, you can save up to 3 hex codes in your profile to easily use. If you have the pro paid version, you can save tons of hex codes in your brand kit! You'll find it helpful to build a palette that includes colors that work well together. I also suggest including a light color (for backgrounds), a dark color (for text), a primary color, and a couple of complementary accent colors.
And here’s the best part: the Ultimate Therapist Instagram Canva Template Bundle makes it ridiculously easy to update colors across the entire template. In Canva, just click a color in the template, pick a new color from your palette, and then click "apply to all" on the left. Canva will then apply your new hues to every single image in the template you are using. No complicated edits or graphic design degree required!
Here are some counseling color palette examples, but you don't need to be limited to what's below. These are just a few examples to help you figure out what resonates with you. If you have gotten your seasonal color palette done (I am a cool winter, for example), you might want to consider using those colors in your brand palette as well.
Earthy Neutral Color Palette for Counselors
This color palette is perfect for trauma-informed, somatic, or nature-based therapists.
Minimal Soft Pastel Color Palette for Counselors
This color palette is perfect for therapists with a gentle, nurturing brand voice.
Modern Vibes Color Palette for Counselors
This color palette is perfect for professionals who want to blend softness with bold confidence.
Playful Color Palette for Counselors
This color palette is perfect for therapists who work with kids or who want their brand to feel warm, cheerful, approachable, creative, and upbeat.
Classic and Academic Vibe
This color palette is perfect for anyone whose brand leans timeless, structured, trustworthy, scholarly, and grounded.
Creative and Approachable Vibe
This color palette is perfect for therapists who work with kids, creatives, or anyone who wants their brand to feel playful.
Bold and Professional Vibe
This color palette is perfect for private practice owners and confident clinicians who want to show up with clarity and presence.
Accessible Color Palette
This color palette was made with inclusivity and approachability in mind. It’s perfect for therapists who want their brand to feel safe, affirming, and empowering.
Building Your Therapy Practice Instagram Feed with Canva Templates
The Ultimate Therapist Instagram Template Bundle includes 520+ fully editable Canva templates designed specifically for therapists, counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
Inside the bundle, you’ll find:
200 portrait-sized post templates in the new 4:5 size
100 IG Story templates
125+ quote graphic template in the new 4:5 size
50+ carousel templates in the new 4:5 size
46 highlight covers
325+ done-for-you captions written by a licensed therapist (aka: someone who gets it)
You can change text, colors, fonts, images, and layouts with just a few clicks in the free version of Canva. No stress. No design overwhelm. Just clean, calm content ready to post.
You don’t have to look like every other account on Instagram to be effective. You just have to look like you. By choosing a color palette, a couple of fonts, rotating through intentional post types, and using done-for-you template designs, you can create a feed that supports your practice and your peace of mind.
Want to give your feed a glow-up? Then you need to grab the Ultimate Therapist Instagram Template Bundle and make it easy to show up professionally, without spending hours designing.
Want a Free Mini-Course to Up-Level Your Therapist Instagram?
Most therapists were never taught how to market themselves, let alone online. That’s where The Gram Plan comes in.
If you're looking for more guidance and tips to up-level your professional Instagram therapy account then sign up for my free 7-Day Gram Plan mini-course that's delivered to you through email. You’ll learn how to grow your Instagram therapy presence. Whether you’re just starting out or refreshing your professional presence, you’ll walk away with a profile and plan that reflects your voice and values.
