# Google Reviews for Doctors: How to Ask Within the Rules > How doctors and therapists can get Google reviews without breaking Google's policy, FTC rules, ethics codes or patient privacy in their replies. *Source: https://fillthelobby.com/blog/google-reviews-for-doctors* ## Google reviews for doctors and therapists: how to ask within the rules Doctors can generally ask patients for Google reviews, as long as they ask everyone, offer nothing in return and never reply with patient details. Therapists face stricter ethics rules on soliciting testimonials, so many don't ask current clients at all. Fill The Lobby checks each clinician's board rules before a single review request goes out. By [Ghazanfar Idrees](https://fillthelobby.com/about#ghazanfar-idrees), Co-founder & COO · Updated 28 September 2026 · 4 min read Patients read reviews before they book, and Google weighs them when it decides which practices to show on the map. But healthcare has rules a coffee shop doesn't, and getting them wrong can cost far more than a low rating. This guide covers what's allowed, what isn't, and how to ask in a way you'd be comfortable defending. ## The four sets of rules that apply - Google's policy. No incentives for reviews, no fake reviews, and no asking only the patients you expect to be happy. - The FTC. Its rule on consumer reviews bans fake reviews, buying reviews, and incentives that depend on the review being positive. - Your ethics code and board. These vary by profession, and are strictest in mental health. - Patient privacy. Under HIPAA you can't confirm someone is a patient, even when replying to their own review. ## Can doctors ask patients for Google reviews? Generally, yes. Many medical practices ask every patient after a visit, by text or email, with a direct link to their Google profile. The key points: - Ask every patient the same way, not just the ones you expect to be pleased. - Offer nothing in return: no discounts, gift cards or prize draws. - Don't ask staff, family or anyone with a stake in the practice to post reviews. - Don't write reviews for patients or suggest what they should say. Check your state medical board's advertising rules too. Some are stricter than others. ## Can therapists ask clients for reviews? This is harder. The APA, ACA and NASW ethics codes all say, in different words, that clinicians shouldn't solicit testimonials from current clients or from people vulnerable to undue influence. Many boards and ethics experts treat an online review request as a request for a testimonial. That's why many therapists don't ask current clients for reviews at all. Instead they: - Make the Google profile complete and accurate: services, hours, photos and booking. - Let reviews arrive on their own, and reply to them carefully. - Ask their board or professional association how the rule applies where they practise. ## How to ask for Google reviews: a simple process 1. Copy your direct review link from your Google Business Profile. 2. Send the same short message to every eligible patient after their visit. 3. Keep it plain: thank them, share the link, and make clear it's optional. 4. Send it once, with at most one reminder. Example message Thanks for visiting us today. If you'd like to share your experience, you can leave a review here: [link]. It's completely optional, and it helps other people find us. ## Replying to reviews without breaking patient privacy This is where practices most often get into trouble. A patient mentions their treatment in a review, and the reply confirms it, adds detail or argues with them. HHS's Office for Civil Rights has fined practices for exactly that. A safe reply never confirms the person is a patient and never mentions care. It thanks them, or invites them to get in touch directly. Example reply to a negative review Thank you for taking the time to write this. We take all feedback seriously. For privacy reasons we can't discuss anyone's care here, but we'd welcome a call at [phone]. ## What not to do - Don't buy reviews, or use a service that posts them for you. - Don't screen patients with a "were you happy?" question and send only the happy ones to Google. - Don't use patient reviews as testimonials in your ads. - Don't report a review just because it's negative. Only flag ones that break Google's policies, like fake or off-topic reviews. We run [patient review management](https://fillthelobby.com/services/patient-reviews) inside the rules each clinician's board sets, and we never use patient reviews in advertising. ## Google reviews for practices: quick answers. **Q: Can doctors ask patients for Google reviews?** Generally yes, as long as every patient is asked the same way, nothing is offered in return, and your state board's advertising rules allow it. **Q: Can therapists ask clients for Google reviews?** Be careful. The APA, ACA and NASW codes restrict soliciting testimonials from current clients, and many boards treat review requests the same way, so many therapists don't ask current clients at all. **Q: How should a practice respond to a negative Google review?** Briefly, without confirming the person is a patient or mentioning any care. Thank them and invite them to contact the practice directly. **Q: Can I offer patients a discount for leaving a review?** No. Google's policy prohibits incentives for reviews, and the FTC's rule on consumer reviews restricts incentives tied to what the review says. **Q: Can a practice delete a Google review?** Not itself. A practice can flag a review that breaks Google's policies, such as a fake or off-topic review, and Google decides whether to remove it. Accurate reviews aren't removed for being negative, so put the effort into a reply that protects patient privacy. **Q: Do Google reviews help SEO?** For local results, yes. Google weighs reviews when it decides which practices to show on the map, alongside how close the practice is to the searcher and how complete and consistent its profile is. Recency and replies are part of what gets read. Reviewed September 2026. ## Keep reading. ## Want reviews handled properly? ## Related pages - [Blog](https://fillthelobby.com/blog) - [patient review management](https://fillthelobby.com/services/patient-reviews) - [Patient review management](https://fillthelobby.com/services/patient-reviews) - [How we handle compliance](https://fillthelobby.com/compliance) - [SEO for therapists](https://fillthelobby.com/blog/seo-for-therapists) - [What is AI visibility, and how do you audit it for your practice?](https://fillthelobby.com/blog/ai-visibility-audit) - [AI in healthcare marketing: what a private practice can use now](https://fillthelobby.com/blog/ai-in-healthcare-marketing) - [Book a 30-minute call](https://fillthelobby.com/book)