TherapyTok: Should you use it?

Authored by: Samantha Truong

Art by: Priscilla Liu

Many people utilize the popular social media app, TikTok, going to the app for everything from cooking advice, to get-ready-with-me’s, and even therapy. There is a side of TikTok referred to as TherapyTok, where many individuals go to seek relationship help or just as a relief and comfort that they are not alone in their struggles. These free videos can be beneficial for users of all ages experiencing symptoms of unknown conditions or lacking a support system in their mental health journey. Although there can be many pros to this side of TikTok, there are also cons, like misinformation or false self-diagnoses. This article will cover some pros and cons of TherapyTok, and you can be the judge of whether or not you will use it in the future, and if others should as well. 

TikTok is widely used daily and hard to steer clear of. For users, countless hours of their day are wasted on short 60-second videos, mostly about irrelevant topics. However, some may be relevant, like TherapyTok, a site filled with videos from strangers who share life-altering experiences. Many start with a question like, “Have you ever experienced having no motivation?”. These questions lead you to reflect on your own life and recent feelings. This can be positive because many of us are so focused on completing tasks that we don’t see the time passing by us to just relax. Personally, I’ve experienced great relief knowing that I am not alone in feeling depressed or unmotivated. TherapyTok is said to be beneficial for users as it’s “the first time they’ve heard about conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression in a way that feels relatable” [1]. I didn’t take the time to realize how bad my social anxiety was affecting my state of mind and how it could bring about conditions like depression. I was able to acknowledge my weaknesses and take the next steps to better my mental health. 

Along with providing essentially a wake-up call to me and other users, TherapyTok also allows for easy access to mental health resources. TikTok is a free accessible app that can be easily downloaded. This accessibility can be helpful because “some people struggling with their mental health may not have the financial resources to seek professional help” [2]. Mental healthcare can be extremely expensive in America. According to a survey study conducted in 2018, 39% of individuals who took the survey could not afford the cost of mental health services, and 16% of individuals had insurance that could not cover most of the costs [3]. Finances play a major role in seeking professional help, and TikTok being free removes this barrier. 

Although there are many pros from TherapyTok, there can be detrimental cons like misinformation or inaccurate self-diagnoses. There are many tips and tricks stated to help users in their journey to bettering their mental health, but there have been concerns from professional doctors that say these short videos can present mental health treatments as easy fixes instead of the long strenuous journeys they really are. It can be misleading and cause more harm than good for the patient [4]. These concerns are extremely serious and need to be taken into account and addressed when accessing and seeking help from TherapyTok videos. Misinformation can lead to behavioral effects and cause users to try techniques that they believe to be 100% accurate and reliable. Although some information may be true, as there are some professional therapists on TherapyTok, much advice is from regular citizens. These videos can “reinforce self-diagnosis behaviors, as peers validate their concerns without professional help” [5]. This can be dangerous in the long run if diagnoses are downplayed or misconstrued and should be considered when utilizing the app. 

After reading about some pros and cons of TherapyTok, you can be the judge of how you want to utilize this feature of the TikTok app. You can take advice from parts of what you hear in these videos, or completely disregard it as a whole. Regardless, there are plenty of resources listed within the app beyond creators’ advice. Many organizations aim to help support mental health awareness and the biggest takeaway I hope you get as a reader of my article, is to know that you are not alone in your struggle. It may be hard to seek help at first or even accept that you need it, but when you do, there are people around you that will be there for you. 

References:

1. Hinders, D. (2025, September 4). The TikTok Therapist Era: Do Your Favorite Social Media Stars Provide Helpful Mental Health Advice or Dangerous Oversimplifications? Raleigh Oaks Behavioral Health. http://raleighoaksbh.com/the-tiktok-therapist-era-do-your-favorite-social-media-stars-provide-helpful-mental-health-advice-or-dangerous-oversimplifications/ 

2. Things to Keep in Mind When Using TikTok as a Form of Therapy. (2018). Transformations Care Networks. https://www.transformationsnetwork.com/post/things-to-keep-in-mind-when-using-tiktok-as-a-form-of-therapy 

3. Conroy, J., Lin, L., & Ghaness, A. (2020, July 1). Why People aren’t Getting the Care They Need. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/datapoint-care 

4. Blum, D. (2021, January 12). Therapists Are on TikTok. And How Does That Make You Feel? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/well/mind/tiktok-therapists.html 

5. Shehab, Ali. (2025). TikTok Therapy: How the Gen Z Trend Is Reshaping Mental Health. Psychology Today, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-algorithm/202503/tiktok-therapy-how-gen-zs-trend-is-reshaping-mental-health.