Over the last few years, the focus on mental health in both the private and public sectors has continued to grow. Given this rise in awareness, more and more people are seeking help; which means that they need the expertise of counsellors and therapists like you!
The question is, how can you spread the word about your essential services? With the help of social media. If you’re about how to come up with fresh content ideas whilst attending to your patients, don’t worry – we can help!
In this post, we’ll outline some of our favourite social media post ideas for counsellors and therapists.
Explainer Posts
We’re sure that we don’t need to tell you that the field of mental health is incredibly complicated. From the scientific terms, complicated methods of diagnosis, and everything in between, it’s no wonder there is so much confusion and misinformation around the topic.
This is where you can use social media to help offer clarity to your community of followers. You can create posts, be it a story, image and caption, or video, to explain simple or complicated subjects under the umbrella of mental health.
For example, you could do a series of posts defining conditions like anxiety or depression. You could also do a video that outlines how you approach your sessions or give an overview of different treatment options for certain conditions.
This will demonstrate your expertise and show that you are a trustworthy source of help for those in need. As best you can, ensure the information that you present is as accurate as possible. Don’t be afraid to make changes and contradict past statements if needed. This will only enhance the perception of your credibility.
It’s also important to ensure that you don’t offer advice that is too specific. This will help to avoid having someone take on the wrong advice accidentally.
Studies and Research
There are new studies, research papers, and clinical findings that are being published about mental health on a regular basis. These findings, however, are often published in complicated terms that aren’t easily understood by those who don’t work in the field.
This is important information that we’re sure that your patients and followers will want to hear! So, put those years of study to good use and share these important studies and findings in a way that your followers can understand.
Much like the explainer posts, this content will further demonstrate your credibility and establish your reputation as a forward-thinking, well-researched member of your field.
Live Q&As
Live Q&As are an effective piece of content that will allow you to engage with your audience in real-time. The trick is to plan your Q&A, rather than simply going live on your phone one day.
Start by announcing the date and time of your Q&A in advance so people will be aware that it’s happening. Next, ask your followers to send questions in advance. This helps to avoid any awkward silences and to keep those that attend engaged. Finally, try to record the session if you can. With even the most basic editing skills, you can trim the full session into smaller clips that you can publish on your channel at a later date for a quiet day on your channels.
Polls
Polls are another fun way to engage with your audience. The trick is to ask the right questions. For example, you could ask questions like “Do you feel your mental health suffers more over the holidays – yes or no?”, or “What helps to reduce your anxiety more – meditating or exercise?”.
When brainstorming these questions, keep your audience in mind. If your patients and followers are younger, structure your poll questions accordingly. Likewise, if your audience is older, do the same.
You can either use these polls in your story (on Instagram for example) or as a post with a simple graphic tile. This will open the door for further conversation in the comments section of the post where can engage with your audience further and answer more specific questions.
Staff Profiles
Talking about mental is tough, especially when doing so to a stranger (even if we’re paying for the luxury to do so). When we’re sitting in front of a familiar face, however, this conversation can be slightly easier.
This is why showing the faces of you and the rest of your team can be so beneficial – especially when working with new patients. They will feel slightly more familiar with you before any sessions have even begun!
Final Thoughts
Promoting your counselling and therapy services on social media can be incredibly beneficial for your business and the people in your local community as well. If you think you need a bit more help than what we’ve offered in this guide, contact us today!
We can help you take your social media activity to another level for as little as £99 per month with our affordable social media management packages – get in touch today to find out more.