Running ads for a mental health clinic can feel risky. You want more clients, but you also need to protect private health information (PHI) at every step. The good news: yes, HIPAA-compliant marketing is possible with Google Ads—you just need the right setup, the right tracking rules, and the right agency guiding you.
At AdJet Marketing, we help therapy clinics, counseling centers, and behavioral health groups run HIPAA-safe, PHI-free advertising every day. Below is a clear, simple guide that shows you how to do it the right way.
What HIPAA-Compliant Marketing Means in Google Ads
HIPAA compliance in advertising is about one thing: never collecting, storing, or tracking PHI. That includes anything that shows a person is seeking mental health care.
Here’s what HIPAA-safe marketing does look like:
• You can run Google Ads.
• You can target by keywords, location, and intent.
• You can track conversions, but not PHI.
• You cannot store or use any personal health info.
Expert insight from Felix Shaye, AdJet’s Google Certified Expert:
“Clinics get in trouble when they track too much. Keep tracking simple, keep PHI out of your systems, and Google Ads instantly becomes safer and more effective than most people think.”
Why Therapists Can Legally Use Google Ads
Google Ads does not require PHI to run effective campaigns.
Therapists, counselors, psychologists, and psychiatry clinics can use it safely when:
• No PHI is sent to Google
• No HIPAA-sensitive data is collected in forms or URLs
• No user-level tracking takes place
• Analytics tools are configured for PHI-safe use
This means therapists can still:
• Drive high-intent leads
• Track calls and form submits
• Measure ad spend
• Improve ROI
All without violating HIPAA.
What You Must Avoid to Stay HIPAA Safe
Before running mental health PPC, avoid these common mistakes:
• Using a contact form that includes health questions
• Sending form data to Google Analytics
• Using call tracking numbers that record caller content
• Passing URLs that include diagnosis, symptoms, or treatment names
• Using retargeting that identifies someone as a mental health patient
If any of these are active, stop campaigns immediately and fix them first.
Safe Ways to Track Google Ads for Therapists
Tracking is where HIPAA issues usually happen. You can still track performance as long as tracking stays PHI-free.
Here’s what’s allowed:
• Clicks from Google Ads
• Calls routed through a HIPAA-safe call system
• Form submits tracked by event only (no PHI stored in Google)
• Button clicks as conversion actions
• Google Tag Manager events that do not capture form data
And what’s not allowed:
• Session recording tools
• URL parameters that show diagnosis or condition
• Sending any personal health info to third-party tools
Felix Shaye explains it simply:
“The trick is to track actions, not identities. Track the event—not the person—and you stay compliant.”
How to Set Up HIPAA-Compliant Google Ads Step-by-Step
Here’s the safest setup for healthcare PPC management:
Use a HIPAA-safe website form
• Remove symptom/diagnosis questions
• Collect only name, email, phone
• Host form submissions in a HIPAA-secure inbox
Create PHI-safe conversion tracking
• Track form submit clicks, not form data
• Use Google Tag Manager safely
• Avoid sending form fields into your analytics layer
Use PHI-safe ad targeting
• Target keywords like “therapist near me”
• Do not target based on health conditions
• Use location + intent keywords only
Protect PHI in calls
• Use call systems that do not record call content
• Mask caller data
• Store caller info inside your HIPAA-secure CRM
Avoid retargeting that reveals health status
• Use broad audiences
• Do not use user-specific remarketing lists
With this setup, mental health clinics can run competitive ads without compliance risks.
What Google Ads Features Are Always Safe for Therapists
These tools do not use PHI and are fully safe when configured correctly:
• Google Search Ads
• Click-based conversion tracking
• Location-based targeting
• Keyword targeting
• Call extensions (when using a HIPAA-safe call provider)
• GTM event tracking (no PHI sent to Google)
These features help clinics grow quickly and ethically.
Why HIPAA-Safe PPC Works So Well for Therapy Clinics
Therapy searches are urgent and high-intent. When people search for support, they want help fast.
HIPAA-compliant marketing helps clinics:
• Get more intakes
• Reduce no-shows
• Fill openings quickly
• Book higher-intent clients
• Stay competitive in crowded cities
Healthcare compliance PPC is not just safe—it’s a major growth driver.
Felix Shaye says it best:
“Most clinics think HIPAA blocks their marketing. It doesn’t. It just forces you to market smarter. And the clinics that follow the rules usually outperform the ones that cut corners.”
When You Should Hire a HIPAA-Safe Marketing Agency
You should consider working with specialists when:
• You aren’t sure if your current tracking is safe
• You need HIPAA-compliant Google Ads targeting
• You want a full therapist PPC audit
• You need help fixing PHI-unsafe forms or analytics
• You are scaling and want predictable ROI
A HIPAA-safe marketing agency understands both sides: compliance and performance.
Work With the Experts at AdJet Marketing
If you want Google Ads that grow your clinic without risking PHI exposure, our team can help. We specialize in:
• HIPAA compliant Google Ads
• PHI-safe ad tracking
• Healthcare advertising compliance services
• Therapist Google Ads services
• HIPAA-safe marketing agency support
AdJet Marketing sets up everything correctly from day one so your clinic can grow with confidence.
Ready to run HIPAA-compliant Google Ads the right way?
Book your free strategy session with AdJet Marketing today.