"I feel reaffirmed that we may be entrenched in an algorithmic ecosystem, but we can use our agency to make a difference in the field of mental health in an ethical way." - SAUMYA SHRIWAR
"I think I was both touched and transformed a little today, towards my aspirational therapist self who is a human first." - SANJIVANI JHA
"This will stay with me for years to come and will not only help me become a better professional but also help me revisit my own beliefs and values as they grow and evolve." - NEHA BANIK
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Therapists are turning influencers on social media in unprecedented numbers. While this trend has helped destigmatise taboo topics and bring much deserved attention to the critical care work therapists perform in society, it has also raised several thorny ethical questions that are largely ignored in academic and professional circles. Questions such as:
* Are professionals being trained enough to investigate why they are on social media in the first place? Is it for self-expression, helping the public, or getting appreciation for their thoughts?
* What are the boundaries of self-disclosure online for therapists?
* What kind of fantasies might a therapist's social media feed, their projected personality, create in the mind of a patient/prospective patient/caregiver, and how might that impact the viability of the therapeutic relationship?
* The trend of sharing patient stories for the sake of knowledge creation – can this ever be kosher, even with consent?
* What is the impact of the proliferation of trauma content on how laypeople perceive therapy?
* Are therapists talking enough about actual, concrete outcomes from therapy? About how therapy can help you regain a sense of agency, autonomy, and joy in a broken world?
* What kind of therapy content do patients and caregivers really need right now? How should therapists listen better to these needs?
* What tools do therapists need to become effective content creators? What myths about the role social media can play in their careers do we need to bust?