Instatherapy: A Content Analysis of Psychotherapists' Instagram Posts and User Engagement

IF 1.2 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2025-02-02 DOI:10.1002/capr.12877

Amanda K. Greene, Lisa M. Brownstone, Yixiao Dong, Madeline J. Hunsicker, Jade Cool, Elana K. Maloul, Hannah N. Norling

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Social media is increasingly a source of mental health information and support. Online mental health content accessibility has allowed providers to access large audiences and client bases.

Aims

Our aim was to understand information audiences are encountering from psychotherapists on social media.

Materials and Methods

Summative content analysis was completed on 10,395 posts from 294 psychotherapist influencers on Instagram. Analysis focussed on two domains: mental health concerns and psychotherapy-related topics.

Results

Interpersonal concerns were the most frequently discussed mental health concern followed by anxiety, trauma/PTSD, depression and stress. The most frequently discussed psychotherapy-related topics included holistic approaches, nervous system, cognitive behavioural therapy and internal family systems. Certain codes were associated with more user engagement than posts without those codes. Regarding mental health concerns, posts mentioning substance use garnered more likes and comments, posts mentioning dissociation/dissociative identity disorder garnered more comments, and posts mentioning perinatal issues received fewer likes. Regarding psychotherapy-related topics, holistic approaches garnered more likes and comments, and crisis and couples/divorce garnered fewer likes.

Discussion

Findings elucidate content that psychotherapist influencers discuss as well as how users engage with content.

Conclusion

This study has implications for ethical guideline development for social media use among psychotherapists.

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.