07/07/2026
"In recent years—with the advent of social media—new norms have taken hold in the business of therapy. On Instagram and other social media sites, therapists now routinely reveal their own histories of substance abuse, trauma, and mental health struggles...
In some ways, this trend is refreshing. The injunction against self-disclosure sometimes meant that therapists held themselves too aloof and inaccessible.
When we know a lot about our therapist, their life can take up too much room in the process. Even intentional sharing can crowd out the patient’s experience. If your therapist has shared on Instagram about their Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, are you going to feel inhibited talking about the great night out you had at the bar with your friends? If you know your therapist also has a history of s*xual trauma, are you going to find yourself worried about her as you tell your difficult story? The less you know about your therapist’s personal life, the more space there is for the relationship to be whatever you need it to be."
It's becoming increasingly common for therapists to share about their personal lives on social media, but there are reasons why sometimes it's better to know less.
