Written by Sandra Wu
As the digital landscape evolves, organizations are being challenged to rethink not only how they present themselves online, but also how they remain discoverable in an increasingly AI-driven world. For Clear Path Psychiatry, a Seattle-based interventional psychiatry practice specializing in care for people with difficult-to-treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD, staying ahead of that shift became a critical priority.
As a Digital Marketing Intern through the Communication Leadership Consulting program, graduate student Sai Siddhaye partnered closely with Zara Sayles, Director of Operations, and Joy McMahan, Marketing Coordinator, throughout her time at Clear Path Psychiatry. There, she improved the practice’s digital accessibility, website experience, and AI search visibility. What began as a website redesign and social media strategy project quickly evolved into something far more impactful.
Identifying a Bigger Opportunity
Before working with Sai and the Consultancy, Clear Path Psychiatry recognized several growing challenges within its digital presence. As the practice expanded, so did the amount of valuable content and resources available to patients and providers. However, the website structure had not kept pace with that growth.
“Navigation felt confusing and cluttered in places, and we knew visitors were probably missing things that could genuinely help them. On top of that, we were watching search behavior shift in real time with AI-assisted search becoming more prominent, and we wanted to get ahead of that rather than play catch-up.”
Shared by Joy McMahan, Marketing Coordinator at Clear Path Psychiatry.
Sai initially began the project focused on improving the practice’s website interface, accessibility standards, and social media strategy. But after deeper analysis and collaboration with Clear Path Psychiatry, the team recognized a larger opportunity to create meaningful patient impact through AI search optimization and content discoverability.
“The most challenging aspect of this project was that we pivoted from our initial plan. After getting into the swing of the UI redesign, we realized we could make far more of an impact for patients than we had initially realized. Instead of working on the social media strategy, we doubled down on the redesign and focused on making the website more searchable by AI. After lots of research and trial-and-error, we found several ways to make Clear Path’s website more discoverable through AI.”
Sai explained.
Creating Meaningful Impact Through Adaptability
Sai conducted a full UX and accessibility audit and worked closely with Zara and Joy to improve website navigation, structure, and content organization.
“Some of the most meaningful work we did together was FAQ structure and treatment-related content. We were constantly asking ourselves how to make something feel warm and approachable while also being clinically clear.”
Joy shared.
The collaboration also reinforced an important industry lesson for Sai about the future of communications and digital strategy.
“Things are changing rapidly in the communications industry, and adaptability is an important skill to learn. Our analytics showed that more and more people were using AI as a search engine, so our team had to be flexible and willing to learn new skills in order for the project to succeed.”
Sai illustrated.
Tangible Results That Continue to Shape the Organization
Several of Sai’s recommendations have already been implemented across the Clear Path Psychiatry website, particularly accessibility improvements and content structure updates. The practice also continues to use the larger design concepts and strategic framework she developed as part of its ongoing growth plans.
“The accessibility improvements she identified are integrated into the site and have made a difference in readability, navigation, and organization. From a search standpoint, we’re seeing our content land better in question-based and AI-driven searches, which was a core goal. In our case, the ‘game’ helps people find mental health care they desperately need. There is no better metric than seeing people enjoying their life once again.”
Joy expanded.
A Collaborative Experience Built on Creativity and Trust
Beyond the deliverables themselves, Clear Path Psychiatry emphasized the value of collaborating directly with a graduate student consultant through the Consultancy program.
“Working with Sai was a genuinely wonderful experience. She combined creativity with practical problem-solving and did an excellent job understanding and reflecting both our voice and the level of care we strive to provide. What stood out most was that it felt like true collaboration. Sai’s contributions continue to influence both our current work and future plans, and we are very grateful for the thoughtfulness and creativity she brought to the team.”
Joy shared.
For Sai, the experience also reinforced one of the most rewarding aspects of the Consultancy: the relationships built throughout the process.
“I would advise new students to have fun and build strong relationships within the Consultancy. I had the privilege of working with a fantastic team that clicked incredibly well, and I was genuinely sad when our work together came to an end.”
Sai reflected.
Looking to Partner With Communication Leadership Consulting?
At Communication Leadership Consulting, our graduate student consultants bring fresh thinking, strategic insight, and adaptable problem-solving to organizations across industries. From AI search optimization and digital accessibility to communications strategy and audience engagement, our students help organizations solve real challenges while creating meaningful impact.
If your organization is interested in partnering with our team, visit the “For Clients” section on our website and fill out the “Request Consultation” form to get started.
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