TikTok Subcultures: TherapyTok

by Mehreen Zahid, Contributing Author

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Introduction

TherapyTok: mental health education meets the hype—but watch for hidden pitfalls! TherapyTok is a subculture on TikTok where licensed therapists, mental health professionals, and mental health advocates share content related to therapy, mental health education, self-care strategies, and emotional well-being. Factors including awareness of the youth mental health crisis coupled with isolation from the pandemic has contributed to TherapyTok’s rise. Teens have flocked to mental health clinician’s social media pages, looking for the latest therapeutic advice and coping skills. Examples include Taking Controlz on TikTok, a Wisconsin-based psychiatrist who helps address common medication concerns amongst youths and parents, such as the differences between stimulants used to treat ADHD. His videos also provide techniques to cope with the fidgetiness of anxiety, such as box breathing. Viewers are also able to connect to one another in the comment sections, creating a sense of unity. Overall, it's been a trend that sheds positivity on mental care. However, with many trends there are downfalls to consider. Influencing campaigns, such as Better Help, reach out to high profile influencers to advertise their therapy services. The campaign heavily relies on influencers to promote their services, which can create a conflict of interest. Influencers may not always be transparent about their experiences or qualifications to recommend therapy services, leading to questions about the reliability of their endorsements. Viewers should proceed with caution and do their own research into any therapy platform before signing up themselves.

TLDR

TherapyTok is a viral trend found on most social platforms where therapists, doctors, and other licensed clinicians use their content to inform users about common mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. This can be beneficial and helpful for kids to recognize their own mental struggles. However, it’s important to be aware of influencer campaigns that may relay false information. 

Tips for Clinicians/Parents

• Discuss the topic of mental health: Be curious about what your children are consuming related to mental health. Ask them who their favorite content creator is in the mental health world. Do they like any of the coping strategies these content creators suggest? 

  
  

• Provide outlets: Consider purchasing a journal for your kids to write down thoughts that are harder for them to say. Demonstrate an entry of your own to give them an idea of what you reflect on. 

  
  

• Encourage Regular Check Ins: Make it a habit to check in with your child regularly about how they’re feeling, both physically and emotionally. You could ask, "What was the best part of your day?" or "Did anything make you feel worried today?"

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

• Increased mental health awareness aiding in normalization and education 

• Expert insights from licensed professionals can be an affordable resource

• Connecting with users online who are facing similar hardships 

Cons:

• Unverified content and lack of quality control

• Monetary interests leading to advertising vs genuine help 

• Self-diagnosis: viewers can be tempted to self-diagnose based on content 

Relevant Links

1. https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/blog/2021/02/how-betterhelp-scandal-changed-our-perspective-influencer-responsibility#:~:text=Influencers%20and%20advertising%20of%20the%20BetterHelp%20platform&text=Their%20campaigns%20have%20now%20expanded,in%20participating%20in%20the%20campaigns.

2. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNKPsmcV/

3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35588057/