July 28, 2026
Therapy Office Signal Lights: Do You Still Need One?
By Alex Berthé-Suarez, LCSW-C, founder of Heerio
If you've worked in a therapy office long enough, you've probably encountered one of those waiting-room signal light systems.
There's a switch for each therapist. The client flips the appropriate switch, and a little light comes on in the therapist's office.
It's actually a pretty clever system.
No receptionist needed. No client knocking on your door. Just a simple way of letting you know someone has arrived.
I like that kind of simplicity.
In fact, it was part of the inspiration for Heerio.
But I also think technology has given us a much better way to accomplish the same thing.
What's good about signal lights?
For starters, they're easy to understand.
Clients don't need an app or even a phone. They find their therapist's name, flip the switch, and take a seat.
The clinician sees the light and knows someone has arrived.
If you already have a system installed and it's working well, there's certainly an argument for keeping it.
But there are limitations.
Where signal lights fall short
The biggest drawback is that you generally need to be in a position to see the light.
If you're working somewhere else, stepping out for coffee, or meeting with a colleague, you may not know your client has arrived.
You also can't easily send a response.
And depending on the type of system, installing additional lights or accommodating more clinicians may mean additional hardware, wiring, or configuration.
It's a practical solution, but not a particularly flexible one.
What if the signal light were on your phone?
That's essentially the idea behind digital check-in.
Instead of flipping a physical switch, the client checks in using a tablet, QR code, or app.
The clinician receives a notification on their own device.
You don't need to be watching a light in your office.
You can also send a quick reply.
And when you add another clinician to your practice, you're not necessarily adding another piece of physical equipment.
A modern alternative
When I built Heerio, I wanted to preserve what I liked about traditional signal lights.
The simplicity.
The affordability.
The ability for a client to announce their arrival without interrupting a session.
But I wanted it to work with the devices we're already carrying around.
For a practice starting from scratch, a digital system can be especially attractive because there's no dedicated signaling hardware to install.
And for practices that already have signal lights, it may be worth comparing the convenience of mobile notifications and client replies.
Heerio starts at $4.99 a month for the first six months, with unlimited providers per location.
If you like the simplicity of signal lights but wish they could do a little more, I think you'll appreciate Heerio.