The Best Google Business Profile Categories for OT, PT and Speech Practices
Your primary category is one of the few things on your Google Business Profile that directly tells Google what you do. Pick a vague one and you're asking Google to guess. Pick the right one and you show up for the searches that actually bring families in.
Quick answer: Choose the most specific category for the service that brings in most of your clients, like Occupational therapist, Speech pathologist or Physical therapist. Add secondary categories only for services you truly offer. Category is one part of the bigger setup in our Google Business Profile guide for therapy practices.
Categories that fit therapy practices
Google's category list changes over time, so always confirm by typing in the category box on your profile. These are the ones that fit most practices we work with:
- Occupational therapist: for OT practices, pediatric or adult.
- Speech pathologist: for speech-language pathology practices, including mobile SLPs.
- Physical therapist: for PT practices built around the therapist.
- Physical therapy clinic: for PT practices that operate as a clinic with multiple providers.
- Physical rehabilitation center: for rehab-focused clinics with a broader program.
Avoid broad or borrowed categories like "Medical clinic" or "Pediatric clinic" unless they truly describe you. Pediatric clinic generally signals a pediatrician's office, so using it can put you in front of the wrong searches.
How to choose your primary category
Ask one question: which service brings in the most clients, or the clients you want more of? That's your primary. A pediatric practice that's 70% OT and 30% speech should usually lead with Occupational therapist and add Speech pathologist as a secondary.
Don't switch your primary category back and forth to test it. Pick the one that matches your core service and leave it.
Using secondary categories
Secondary categories help you show up for your other services. A multidisciplinary practice might list Occupational therapist as primary, with Speech pathologist and Physical therapist as secondaries. The rule is simple: only add a category if a family searching for it would be happy to find you.
Adding categories you don't really offer muddies what Google thinks you are, and it frustrates families who call for a service you don't provide.
Categories set the frame. Services fill it in.
Categories are broad by design. Your services list is where you get specific, in the words families actually search: "feeding therapy," "toe walking," "late talker support," "handwriting help," "sensory processing support." List each as its own service, and repeat the most important ones naturally in your description.
Where categories don't go: your business name
Don't add your category or town to your business name, like "[Your Practice] Pediatric OT Speech Therapy [Your Town]." Google's guidelines say your name should match your real-world name, and adding unnecessary information can get your profile suspended. Let your category, services and description do that work.
If you're mobile, pair the right category with the right setup from our guide to Google Business Profiles for mobile and home-based practices. And if your categories are right but you still aren't showing up, read why therapy practices don't show up on Google Maps.
Want a second set of eyes on your categories? It's one of the first things we check when we take on marketing for occupational therapy practices. You can also book a free strategy call.
Frequently asked questions
What category should a pediatric OT practice use?
Occupational therapist is the usual primary. Add secondary categories only for other services you truly offer, like speech or physical therapy.
Can I use "Pediatric clinic" for a pediatric therapy practice?
Usually not. Pediatric clinic generally signals a pediatrician's office, so it can put you in front of the wrong searches.
Should a multidisciplinary practice pick one primary category?
Yes. Choose the service that brings in most of your clients as the primary, and add the others as secondary categories.
Can I put "occupational therapy" in my business name?
Only if it's truly part of your real business name. Adding keywords or locations to the name breaks Google's guidelines.
Keep reading
- Google Business Profile for Therapy Practices: The Complete Guide
- Google Business Profile for Mobile and Home-Based Therapy Practices
- Why Your Therapy Practice Isn't Showing Up on Google Maps
About Courtney
Courtney Potenti, MS, OTR/L, is a licensed occupational therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience and the founder of Social-OT, a done-for-you marketing company for OT, PT and speech therapy practices. She still treats patients herself, so every strategy she shares is built for clinicians with a full caseload. More about Courtney and Social-OT.
