Is Therapy TikTok a Reliable Source? — A Therapist’s Perspective

If you are on TikTok, you’ve likely come across Therapy TikTok, or #TherapyTok, while scrolling through your “For You” page. Therapy TikTok is basically people (often therapists, but not always) providing education or tools around mental health. This includes information about anxiety, depression, attachment styles, dating and relationships, personality disorders, trauma, etc. While this information can be insightful for many, there has been a lot of controversy around “therapy TikTok”.

I think it’s great that we are talking about mental health so much more openly. This helps us continue to de-stigmatize mental health and encourage people to seek therapy for support. It can also help you feel less isolated in your experiences and give you the opportunity to self-study by acquiring new information around mental health. I enjoy having a business instagram account for this very purpose - to reach more people and potentially have a greater impact.

That being said, there are also limitations and risks associated with therapeutic advice, coaching, and psycho-education being given across social media.

One issue I’ve seen on therapy TikTok is that this information is very generalized. Therapy is a highly individualized process because people are complex and can not be “put in a box”. A skilled therapist does not just use one approach for all of their clients - they pull from many approaches to tailor therapy to best match the client’s needs. The therapist forms a relationship to understand their client deeply and provide feedback and interpretation that is unique to each client.

On social media, the information out there does not apply to everyone. You might find that you have certain traits of an anxious attachment style, but without exploring your relationship history with a professional and why these traits are manifesting, it can be hard to know for sure.

Most therapists have gone through years of school, trainings, and consultations to be able to accurately diagnose and understand how to help people. It would be naive to assume we can use social media to diagnose ourselves or others, or to gain a deep understanding of ourselves and the defense mechanisms that are playing out.

There are also many terms on social media being thrown around - such as narcissist, gaslighting, and love-bombing that have become overused and misinterpreted. I’ve heard many people use this type of terminology when it didn’t actually apply, or when they don’t have enough information about a person to understand the true nature of their behavior. Most of us have many of the traits that would fall under certain personality disorders, but that doesn’t mean we meet the full criteria. Some people have even begun to weaponize this language and use it as a way to not take accountability for their role in relationships, or to deflect onto someone or something else. It might very well be the case that the guy who ghosted you was a love-bombing narcissist, but your time is probably better spent reflecting on your dating patterns, tending to the shame that can come with rejection, and turning your focus inward.

My advice when it comes to #TherapyTok, or any mental health content on social media, is to take it with a grain of salt. Many of these concepts can easily be misconstrued or overly-generalized, which can do more harm than good. If you’re using this information to become more informed about mental health and more intentional with how you move through your life, that’s great! But I encourage you to be mindful of how you apply this information, and to not use social media content to overanalyze yourself or others.

Social media is not a replacement for therapy and never will be. Mental health content is generalized, therapy is individualized. We can use mental health content on social media to our advantage in many ways, but it does not replace the feedback and tools you would get from working directly with a therapist.

Online Therapy in Houston and throughout Texas

If you are looking for a Houston therapist, feel free to explore my website to see if we might be a good fit to work together. I work with women in Houston (and throughout Texas) navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, and life transitions. You can read more about me and my approach to counseling here.

Please note: this blog post is for practice updates and educational purposes only. This is not a replacement for mental health counseling or therapy.