As a therapist, taking the time out of your busy schedule to create TikTok content that doesn’t do well can be understandably frustrating. Even bringing yourself to record a video in the first place can be a challenge, and we hear it all the time from the therapists we work with that they’re not even sure what they’re supposed to say. We get it. Getting in front of the camera, editing, and creating therapy-related content on Tik Tok is time-consuming and vulnerable.
Still, there is value in posting on TikTok, especially if you’re catering to a millennial or Gen Z audience. That is why you should make sure you are utilizing all the resources you can on Tik Tok, to make an overall quality video! Knowing what makes a good TikTok can make all the difference in your confidence level when you go to record, and just might be the secret to a successful TikTok account for your therapy practice.
Video content creation for therapists can be specifically challenging… but creating and sharing useful tips geared toward your specific audience, posting valuable information, and using strong calls-to-action can help you obtain more clients and awareness of who you are. And maybe even inspire someone to book your free consultation.
There are many different ways to approach social media marketing for therapists, but in this blog post, we are going to give you 7 tips for what makes a good TikTok for therapists:
Brand awareness is necessary when it comes to social media marketing for therapists. You want to be known for something on Tik Tok, such as having a niche that allows you to speak about your specialty. Being the therapist who “specializes” in boundary setting will allow you to be seen by people looking to set boundaries, and hopefully turn them into clients. This doesn’t mean that this will be the only type of client you attract, but if you say something that resonates with people, they will remember you when they decide to look for help.
An example of a therapist who has made a name for themselves is @nedratawwab. In this video she speaks on dysfunctional families, boundary setting, and not wasting time and energy trying to change other people.
Trending audios on TikTok are very important for reaching your audience and potential clientele. When you use a sound that is on the ‘rise’, it is likely your video (if engageable) could be shown to thousands. You can make great content when using trending sounds and follow along with what’s popular at the moment. This is a great exercise in creativity that will allow you to apply something “trending” to your specialty, and there is no shortage of ways to do this! Scrolling through a popular sound will help you see how other TikTok creators are applying the trend and may give you an idea for something similar you can do. Whether you choose to use a sound that plays in the background silently as you speak, you jump in on a trend, or are describing something on the screen, your video is likely to be seen by more viewers than when you use original audio. There is no shortage of sound use on TikTok. It could help you gain that organic growth and audience you need.
The best TikTok strategy involves taking notes and paying attention to what videos are doing well in your specific niche. Grab a notebook and scroll through the FYP (for you page) for 10 minutes maximum and ask yourself “What sounds am I hearing frequently?” and “Can I utilize this sound myself?”. If you find yourself running low on time you can also download TrendTok, which allows you to see the up-and-coming TikTok sounds.
This app is a great tool that helps you see up-and-coming TikTok sounds that you can use!
The use of specific hashtags can really help your brand as you grow your TikTok therapist account. Hashtags can help send out your video to people specifically interested in your topic, which in turn helps your video to be seen by the right audience. If you want your hashtags to be utilized correctly check out one of our recent blog posts: “Do Hashtags Really Matter? How You Can Use Them as a Therapist in 2022.”
When creating TikTok videos as a therapist, it is important to use attention-grabbing tactics, including a catchy title, subtitle (or captions), highlighted words and throw in a few key phrases to inspire someone to watch until the end of the video. If you do not utilize this in your posts, your videos may not do as well as others who understand that the first 3 seconds of your video is crucial to grab someone’s attention. Even after you entice them in, it is tough to keep your audience's attention to watch the entire video, so it is important to utilize the psychology of color and word formatting that describes the topic you’re speaking about in your TikTok. Ask yourself, “How can I make this stand out?” Marketing is a lot about the psychology of how people work (aka the reason so many of us got into this field in the first place) so next time you find yourself drawn to a video, commercial, or social media post, ask yourself, “Why is it so appealing?”
Font, boldness, italics, and color are important in creating a good Tik Tok for therapists especially. People’s attention span usually lasts about 3 seconds when scrolling on TikTok. Try out different ones with the same video and see which one does better! There are many fun and easy ways to do so. Have fun with it and recognize that it may take some time to learn what attracts your specific audience.
We asked our team what tactics have been proven to keep their attention, and this is what we’ve come up with (hint: we saved the best for last):
Using different filters on TikTok can help the algorithm push you out to more people seeking therapy or a therapist in general. Specifically, you can use the green screen effect to speak of a specific study or topic that reflects your niche . This could be a great way to share a worksheet you’ve developed, or to more fully explain a metaphor that you often use in your therapy practice. You can also utilize filters when doing a specific trend describing something educational to your audience.
Tiffany Roe does this well on TikTok, as in the linked video which utilizes a filter and some creative titles and subtitle use as well.
Most therapists that do well on TikTok when they post videos with an abundance of information. The goal here is not too little and not too much, just enough to leave your audience wanting more and coming back for it. Potential clients may not decide the first time they see a post from you that they want to seek out therapy, they may want little bits and pieces before they’re ready to make the decision to seek help from a therapist.
Giving away some of what you know to be helpful from your work with clients will help draw more of an audience in. The more useful and practical the information, the more they will return to your profile, recommend you to a friend, or just generally benefit from the therapeutic advice you have to offer.
Last but not least…
A Call-to-Action (CTA’s) is necessary when posting on social media (or on blogs, and on your website, and everywhere really). This tells the audience what to do next, where to look for more information, and where they can follow you to stay up-to-date on what you have to share. A CTA is what encourages audiences to become engaged in your comments, like your post, follow you, or even click the link in your bio to check out your private services. Every video you make should have a purpose to drive more traffic to your page and/or website, so do not forget to utilize this.
Starting out on any social media platform and attempting to gain a specific audience’s attention can be challenging… but when you know what makes a good therapy TikTok and are able to execute that vision, you WILL get more followers, clients, and business for your private practice.
TikTok or any social media for therapists does not have to be complicated. Still, we understand how overwhelming it can be for therapists who were not raised with social media and who may not have the time to learn. That is why we founded Theory About That, to share what we’ve learned about engaging as a therapist online and helping you to do the same. If you would like more help, tips, and social media marketing information, contact us today!
