Instagram Therapists: The Good, Bad, and Knowing the Limits

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

It’s September, and back to school is on the brain. Even if you no longer spend your days in the classroom, don’t have kids in school, or aren’t working in education, your body might seem to remember that familiar rhythm. It's a time to get organized, gather supplies, and get down to the business of learning something new. 

Learning new things often takes us to social media.

One of the biggest sources of free information these days is a controversial one — social media and the specific focus here is on Instagram. 

It’s easy to develop a love-hate relationship with Instagram — at least, that’s my experience. While scrolling along or watching friends’ stories, I’m inspired by the beauty created by artists and designers, drool-worthy travel vistas, and interesting content, tips, and ideas. Plus, the funny memes and TikToks that eventually make their way over! It can be hard to step away and bring up FOMO (fear of missing out) for sure. 

At the same time, social media can feel addictive. 

In fact, social media is designed to be addictive. When you pull down at the top of the feed, the refresh feature activates a dopamine hit, inducing a need to keep doing it to keep feeling that way. Plus, there can be so much content, which can be exhausting for our minds to process all of it. 

We know that too much screen time causes fatigue, and certain influencers or even the highlight reel from our friends can trigger all kinds of comparisons between our insides and other people’s outsides, which never quite measures up.

Still, with healthy boundaries around screen time and a good assessment of which accounts you follow and how they impact you (no need to keep following anyone or anything that feels like a constant source of negativity), there are valuable resources available for learning and inspiration beyond the pretty grids of pictures. 

Which brings me to why I’m exploring this topic: Instagram Therapists. 

Instagram Therapists have made quite a name for themselves, especially over the last few years. Many people found comfort and help from their posts, especially during the isolation of the lockdown days early in the pandemic. Some accounts consistently produce free, beneficial content, including strategies, specific signs to notice if a particular issue is coming up for you, clear descriptions of different types of trauma, trauma-informed information, and hope for healing. 

People have learned so much from Instagram Therapists about depression, anxiety, the nervous system, Complex PTSD, and generational trauma. Today, therapy clients have a level of knowledge about what they’re experiencing that would have been unusual ten or even five years ago. 

Photo by Le Buzz Studio on Unsplash

Instagram Therapist Accounts Offer Unique Benefits

Access to free education and resources through your phone is an incredible offering and opportunity for more self-awareness, understanding, and compassion. This access means people with more barriers to receiving therapy have educational information at their fingertips.

Posts presented in empathic, nonpathologizing ways go a long way in decreasing shame, stigma, and sparking curiosity about how the reader may connect with the post. Simply learning more about the nervous system, polyvagal theory, and what state yours might be in can be invaluable and empowering in learning ways to support self and co-regulation. 

Many accounts provide a nuanced view of relationship issues, family of origin concerns, or the impact of cultural experiences or systems. Feeling seen by a post like this feels containing and reassuring and helps with a bigger picture of awareness — a benefit that can also come from engaging in therapy.

The Cause for Social Media Pause

Of course, all Instagram Therapist accounts aren’t created equal. Discernment when engaging with Instagram Therapist accounts is key. One downside is that due to the general nature of the posts, one size does not fit all when consuming content. 

Public posts from people who don’t know individual members of their audience couldn’t possibly capture the specifics of any given reader’s situation. Some readers find this frustrating or feel a need to correct them. Staying grounded in yourself and your experience is essential when reading posts and recognizing that not everything will apply, even if the general topic of the post does. 

Part of being in a healing process and engaging in therapy is about returning to yourself and having a greater sense of clarity about your experience and what’s true for you. 

Even though those posting (or holding space in a therapy session) have specialized training and knowledge, you’re always the expert in your own experience. If something feels off in a post, don’t feel like you need to make it fit. Also, psychoeducation, a huge portion of the information provided in posts, isn’t the same as having a healing experience. It can contribute to awareness and insight, prompting making changes or trying strategies to support ourselves. 

It can be an important part of a healing process, and it’s incomplete. Healing is experiential, embodied, and usually happens in a relationship. That’s not to say that incredible shifts can’t happen from learning more about relationship patterns, taking conscious action, regulating your nervous system, and taking good care of your health. 

And, Instagram Therapy, just like reading a great book on trauma, may be a wonderful and helpful start but isn’t a substitute for engaging in therapy or other needed modalities to treat the impact of trauma, depression, anxiety, or more. 

A risk could be reading a series of posts, implementing suggested changes, and feeling stuck with serious symptoms because it isn’t ‘working’ when an underlying root cause hasn’t been properly addressed and treated. Most Instagram Therapists have disclaimers in their highlight reels explaining that their posts are for educational and marketing purposes only and that social media is not a substitute for therapy. They also explain that messaging or reaching out to them doesn’t constitute a therapeutic relationship and that they won’t be able to respond to your specific situation or crisis. They also make sure to discuss the limits to confidentiality while engaging on this platform.

Knowing the limits and risks of engaging in Instagram therapy content is important. 

With that understanding, we can be free to enjoy and appreciate the helpful posts and their creators for what they are: sources of information and sometimes inspiration.

Here are some favorite accounts of Instagram Therapists and a disclaimer once more that Instagram Therapist content is no substitution for therapy, and my sharing them here doesn’t mean I agree with or endorse anything specific they post. Use your discernment around what resonates with you and discard what doesn’t. If questions about yourself or your experience arise as you read a post, bring them to your therapist or medical provider.

On Trauma (including generational, systemic, cultural), Codependency, Family Patterns
Dr. Nicole LePera @the.holistic.psychologist
Yolanda Renteria @thisisyolandarenteria
Dr. Jean Cheng @jeanpsychologist

On Boundaries 
Minaa B., LMSW @minaa_b
Nedra Glover Tawwab @nedratawwab

On Parenting
Chazz Lewis @mrchazz
Dr. Becky Kennedy @drbeckyatgoodinside
Toddler Experts @biglittlefeelings

On Relationships 
Vienna Pharaon @mindfulmft
Alexandra H Solomon, PhD @dr.alexandra.solomon
Terry Real @realterryreal