Let's Unpack That #8: Slow Work in a Fast Feed: Counseling in the Age of Social Media

Send us Fan MailYour feed offers endless tips, bold diagnoses, and confident scripts—but what happens when all that noise walks into the therapy room? We dig into the real-world impact of mental health content on client expectations, counselor boundaries, and the ethics of showing up online. With guest counselor Lauren Collins-Knight, we examine the tension between short-form advice and the slow, relational work that actually changes behavior.We talk candidly about “I already saw that on Instagram,” the pressure to deliver novelty, and the client fear of not being “sick enough” to deserve care. From DSM worries to the weekly surge of buzzwords, we share ways to re-center clients: explain levels of care, treat diagnosis as a living description, and translate symptoms within context. We look at the upside, too—lowered stigma, easier access to resources, and advocacy that travels faster than any brochure—without glossing over parasocial risks and the thin line between educator and influencer.If you post professionally, you’ll appreciate our grounded take on ACA ethics, especially Section H: why separate profiles matter, how to write clear boundaries into your bio, and what informed consent should say about digital communication. We also offer a practical tool clients love—the 1% change framework—which shrinks goals to something doable this week and turns inspiration into habit. Whether you’re a clinician refining your online presence or a listener sorting signal from noise in your own feed, you’ll leave with language, structure, and next steps that respect both care and context.If this conversation helped you think differently about counseling online, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s your 1% change for the week?What do you think? Send us your questions or topics you'd like us to unpack!OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounselingConnect with Us on Any/All Socials at our Link Tree!****If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at [email protected]!****Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee·Hosted by Victoria Frazier·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill and Victoria Frazier·Editing by Marisa Cargill·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood