Social media has transformed the way mental health professionals engage with the public. Therapists, once confined to traditional clinical settings, are now venturing into the digital realm as mental health influencers. However, this shift raises critical ethical questions. In this article, we explore the risks associated with influencer therapists and the need for robust guidelines to safeguard both professionals and the public.
The Rise of Influencer Therapists
There is a growing number of qualified mental health professionals known as influencer therapists who utilise social media to provide psychoeducation, share personal stories, and offer therapeutic perspectives.
Digital content reaches a broad audience, shaping public perceptions of mental health and therapy. Influencer therapists have the ability to inform and educate the public, raise awareness of mental health issues and advocate for reform, to remove stigma and barriers to mental health services and increase engagement and dialogue between mental health professionals. There are commercial benefits to having a social media presence, in 2023 nearly a third of therapists reported a rise in clients using social media to engage with mental health treatment.
Although there are clear advantages, the professional guidance and rules related to therapists using social media have gaps. Recent studies have pointed out the potential risks and ethical challenges that come with the emergence of influencer therapists.
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2016), the regulatory body for applied psychologists in the UK, includes a single standard regarding social media use, stipulating members must use all forms of communication, including social media, 'appropriately' and 'responsibly'. To complement this, it then provides more specific guidance on social media use in a separate short guidance document (HCPC, 2017), with this document stipulating that members should communicate appropriately, be honest and trustworthy, respect confidentiality and maintain appropriate boundaries.
Key Ethical Issues
Expertise:
The British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct (2021) emphasises “competence” as a core ethical principle. Members are urged to exercise caution when making knowledge claims and to recognise the limits of their expertise.
Similarly, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards (2016) state that practitioners should only work within their areas of knowledge, experience, and skills.
However, in the realm of social media, the concept of competence clashes with the behavior of some individuals who do not disclose their lack of expertise as mental health professionals. For instance, Dr. George, an Accident and Emergency doctor, frequently shares mental health resources. This lack of transparency may make it difficult for the public to differentiate between various types of therapists or verify their qualifications (Triplett et al., 2022).
80% of therapists surveyed said they believed that mental health professionals should need to provide evidence of their qualifications when posting online.
Personal vs. Professional Use:
Social media blurs the boundaries between personal and professional life. Influencer therapists must safeguard client confidentiality while sharing relatable content. Striking this balance requires thoughtful consideration.
Kolmes and Taube (2016) found 74.1% of clients who found their therapist online reported an increased perception of their therapist's expertise and 68.2% reported greater positive feelings towards their therapist.
Comparatively, Baier (2019) questions how self-disclosure from a therapist's social media profile may negatively impact the therapeutic relationship.
Risk Management:
Sharing mental health advice online carries risks. Misinformation, oversimplification, or harmful content can harm vulnerable individuals. Influencer therapists must weigh the impact of their posts carefully.
A quarter of therapists surveyed in 2023 noted that they have witnessed unethical behavior by influencer therapists. A third of therapists claimed to have observed influencer therapists sharing unhelpful or damaging support online. Some therapists believe influencer therapists damage the reputation of the industry and therapists.
Conclusion
As social media continues to shape mental health conversations, influencer therapists must navigate ethical complexities. Robust guidelines, ongoing research, and professional vigilance are essential to ensure responsible online practices.
If we are to achieve a digital landscape where mental health influencers uphold integrity, competence, and client wellbeing, we require clear professional guidelines, continued research and monitoring emerging issues and training for therapists on ethical social media practices.
