Ramblings About "Instatherapy"

Hey, y'all. I'm back and as per usual, ramble-y as heck. My friend suggested I blog about my opinions on "instatherapy" and my response turned out are...well, for lack of a better descriptor, verbose.

For anyone who needs a quick explanation why anyone would look into "instatherapy",  I defer to this article from Psychology Today: "Instagram (and other social media platforms) can provide a safe space for people to discover what therapy, and therapists, look like. For example, following therapists online can make professionals feel more relatable. Through Instagram posts, a potential client can get a sense of a therapist’s personality, how they work, how they think, and if they might be a good fit, all without the commitment of making an appointment. Instagram images can also increase awareness of the benefits of therapy, provide a sense of how therapy can help with problems, and even inspire changes in one’s thinking and behavior, as in the examples below. Ideally, Instagram will help provide a window into one’s internal world and ease fears about embarking on a therapeutic process. [...] Today many clients find therapists through online searches, so they may already have a “relationship” before meeting. But once the relationship has been reciprocally established, Instagram and other social media can be a helpful part of therapy." 

From my perspective, Instagram therapy can be incredibly useful in its accessibility and its virtual nature--unlike a lot of therapy options, it is open to everyone regardless of finances/insurance or if their parents/partner are supportive or what their schedule looks like. I also believe that for some people, Instagram can be therapeutic regardless of how they use it simply because it offers a platform for expression and the opportunity for community. There are several reputable accounts that share beneficial information, tips, and resources, and it would be a lie to say they are less impactful because they use Instagram to share their work. According to this article by The New York Times, most therapists who use Instagram in this way do not believe it should replace traditional therapy, but that it can be an important tool to enhance what is being learned in sessions. 

While I agree that "instatherapy" can be helpful and validating in many ways, I also believe there are negative aspects to it. 

One negative quality of "instatherapy" is the ease with which misinformation can be shared. When you're absentmindedly scrolling through graphic after graphic, it's easy to absorb the information being provided to you without fact-checking or seeking nuance about it. On some levels, this may be harmless, but in some cases, it can be dangerous--this graphic boasts a special tea recipe that will cure your depression but could actually get you sick, or that post victim-blames you for being a victim of emotional abuse under the guise of "motivation" and "tough love". Recently, I witnessed a post where a self-identified mental health professional proclaimed that if you have experienced abuse, you need to accept responsibility for not standing up for yourself, because they were only able to control you because you let them. Hopefully we all know that is the definition of victim-blaming, as well as incorrect--abusers intentionally create an environment where you cannot stand up for yourself so that they can continue to abuse you, and it is never YOUR fault if someone chooses to abuse you, regardless of how you respond. But I have to admit, even though I knew it was an incorrect statement, there was a split second I found myself wondering "Hm...does she have a point?" It wasn't until I took the time to research the perspectives of other respected & credentialed Instagram therapists, all of whom debunked her claim and explained why, before I felt confident that she was wrong after all. If I hadn't taken the time to research what she was saying and had just taken it at face value because "she said she was a professional", what harmful attitudes could I have internalized? What about everyone else who watched that video? 

As a Christian, I also have to address common misconceptions spread by many Christian instatherapists: If you're mentally ill you're not praying hard enough! Mental illness is God's punishment for sin! Using medication is spitting in the face of God! Abuse within the church should always be handled by the church instead of outside forces! You need to forgive your abusers, even if they're not sorry or keep being abusive! Feelings of anger, frustration, disappointment, or bitterness are sinful! Depression is a sign that you need to practice contentment and gratitude! Anxiety is not trusting God! 

All of these are lies; I can make a more in-depth post about this another time as to why if you want. I've seen these lies while scrolling time and time again because if there's one thing I know, it's that white Christian girls love Instagram (no shade, myself included). Christians, we gotta stop this. 

On a similar note, Instagram, like most social media sites, can be a hotbed for positivity politics and encouraging personal blame. Countless accounts proclaim that if you just eat this many calories and exercise for this many hours each day and post this many motivational quotes on your mirror, you won't be depressed anymore. More proclaim the benefits of positive thinking: that you are in full control of how you feel at all times, and if you just 'manifest' the things that you want, you can eliminate everything negative in your life. And if you do all of that and something still doesn't feel right? Well, then you need to stop being a negative person. You need to be grateful, and appreciate all the things you're thankful for! How dare you dwell on past trauma, or struggle to unlearn unhealthy coping mechanisms, or need help managing mental illnesses that were passed down genetically? How dare you have bad days and be too tired to hide them? How dare you recognize that no amount of *positive thinking* can eliminate things like racism, ableism, death, war, disease, poverty, abuse, fatphobia, misogyny, spiritual abuse, financial struggles, and countless other factors that are out of their control? 

Don't get me wrong--different things work for different people. Some may find accounts about working out or yoga encouraging, and some may enjoy motivational quotes or appreciate the "tough love" approach. Some may thrive off of therapy accounts taking a more religious or holistic approach to healing, whereas for others, crystals and tarot cards or prayer and bible time may not reach the wounds they're trying to access. It is worth noting that many people have to "try out" multiple therapists or therapy styles (one-on-one, group, online, over the phone, anonymous) before they find one that fits their needs and personality. Furthermore, therapists themselves can easily suffer from burnout, including those that spend so much time and energy creating content. 

I guess the point of all this rambling is to say: find what works for you when it comes to therapy, and tread carefully when using Instagram to supplement that. Not everyone will benefit from the same advice, and if an account is making you feel bad for not 'improving', unfollowing them might honestly be more beneficial to your mental health. That said, don't write off Instagram completely--for many, it can be a useful tool in maintaining your mental health. 

Let me know what your thoughts are about this, or if you have instatherapy accounts that you want to recommend to others. <3