Social Media for Private Practice (1): Why Clients Don't Follow You

Have you ever looked at your social media and felt disappointed because it seems that you're mainly followed by therapists?In this month's social media episode, I'm exploring the question of why clients don't always follow us, even when we're sharing thoughtful, reflective content. Is it really the problem we think it is, and what can we do about it?We look at how fear of visibility, professional language, and wanting to get things “right” can influence how you post and the impact that has on making connections with clients. I also explore what clients are actually looking for when they follow therapists on social media, and why warmth and feeling understood matter far more than sounding impressive or knowledgeable.This episode lays the groundwork for the next couple of monthly social media episodes, where I’ll continue to unpack this topic and look more closely at what helps clients feel safe enough to follow you, and how trust builds over time.In this episode, I cover:Why therapists in private practice often attract other therapists on social mediaWhy this is a completely normal stageHow fear of visibility and judgement affects what we shareThe difference between therapist-facing and client-facing contentWhy clients follow therapists who help them feel understoodWhy there’s nothing “wrong” with your content - it just may not be shaped for clients yetI also share four simple, client-focused themes you can use in February to help your social media speak more directly to the general public:Talking about feelings and reaching out for support (Time to Talk Day, Children’s Mental Health Week)Love, loneliness, and the ways we connect (Valentine’s Day, Singles Awareness Day, Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week)Identity, inclusion, and feeling safe (LGBTQ+ History Month, Stand Up to Bullying Day)Nourishing your wellbeing (Boost Your Self-Esteem Month, Eating Disorders Awareness Week)You can also find me here:The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook GroupJosephine Hughes on FacebookJosephine Hughes on YouTubeMy website: josephinehughes.comSetting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERENeed ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HEREThe information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.