Seven Mental Health Instagram Accounts Worth Your Time

Or “How Popular Instagram Therapists Can Transform Our Feeds.” Really! 

Let’s talk about doomscrolling.

At this point, it’s probably safe to say most of us have experienced this phenomenon. You’re on social media, maybe feeling a little low to begin with… And then you see the news. Whatever it is, it’s not good…

And lately, there are plenty of examples to choose from!

So you feel a little worse, and you keep scrolling. You see another upsetting post, and then another. Before you know it, you’ve gone down the proverbial rabbit hole, and you’re feeling terrible.

And if all that doomscrolling has taken the place of what you’d actually needed to tend to—you can start feeling bad about yourself, too.

Social Media Is Designed To Be Addictive

We’ve known for some time now that social media sites like Facebook are designed to be addictive.¹ So when we have a tough time pulling away from consuming content, the plan is working!

After all, the more time we spend scrolling, the more ads we see. Those are the primary revenue-drivers for the majority of social media platforms.

This repeated exposure to bad or overwhelming news can cause us to seek out even more of the same. As we do, the algorithms that govern social media platforms begin to suggest even more content of a similar nature.

Our social feeds can get gloomy before we know it, and it can be tough to pull away. Hence, doomscrolling.

Social media may keep us connected to old friends and distant family. And when used in moderation, it can genuinely be a source of joy and entertainment. But it also has the potential to significantly impact our mental health.²

Curate Your Social Media Experience by Following Mental Health Instagram Accounts

A curated social feed can help combat the negative effects of social media usage.

In other words, only follow people or accounts you find value in. There’s much to be said about staying informed and updated on current events or even trends—but if someone’s content consistently makes you feel bad, don’t hesitate to click that “unfollow” button.

Replace that content with accounts that make you feel good about yourself or make you laugh.  Find accounts that present difficult topics in useful, digestible ways, and limit the number of these accounts that you follow.

Popular Instagram Therapists to Follow

One of my favorite curation techniques is to follow mental health professionals. Many popular Instagram therapists help “decode” some of the most nuanced and complex topics in mental health.

They make information accessible and engaging to people with varying levels of experience and prior knowledge. Sometimes, they even make it fun!

Here are seven mental health Instagram accounts to follow for your daily dose of insight from Instagram therapists!*

*Remember, though… Not all content on a mental health Instagram account will apply to your individual situation. While these accounts can be great additions to personalized therapeutic care, they aren’t replacements for working with a therapist of your own, who can help you to better understand your current challenges and help you chart a path forward.

1. Todd Baratz, LMHC – @YourDiagnonsense

Todd Baratz is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in sex therapy, individuals, and couples work. Todd’s account largely eschews traditional viewpoints and talk of diagnoses. He favors a straightforward approach to figuring out the habits and dynamics that hold us back… Especially when it comes to thriving in our relationships and in our own goals.

Todd has a deep empathy for the Instagram users who follow and comment on his posts. But he won’t shy away from letting us know when we’re getting in our own way!

@YourDiagnonsense is a great follow for anyone looking to challenge their own perceptions and behaviors. Even if you don’t agree with everything he says, you’ll likely find value in the spirited discussions that happen in his comment section.

2. Nedra Glover Tawwab, MSW, LCSW – @NedraTawwab

As a practicing couples therapist for the past 15 years, Nedra Tawwab has gotten firsthand insight into the importance and value of setting clear, healthy boundaries in all kinds of relationships.

And lucky for us, she’s decided to share that knowledge on Instagram!

Nedra’s focus is on… well, focus. Her posts encourage us to embrace our limits, get clear on our wants and needs, and learn to preserve and best spend our energy in relationships—especially the challenging ones.

Addressing a full spectrum of relational issues, Nedra teaches us to find strength within our vulnerability. Follow her account if you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, or feeling burnt out in your relationships with yourself or others.

3. Julie Menanno MA – @TheSecureRelationship

Julie Mennano is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose Instagram account specializes in breaking down relational attachment styles in an easy-to-understand, super-relatable way.

Her account is filled with simple graphics that outline some of the most common conflicts we experience in our partnerships. She captures everyday interactions with accuracy and clarity.

And while a major strength of Julie’s content is how well it breaks down what can feel like complex topics, maybe the best part is that she doesn’t leave us hanging… She provides real-world alternatives (even scripts!) to break the tricky cycles we can find ourselves in.

@TheSecureRelationship is a great follow if you want to learn more about why certain relationship dynamics can exist… And how to approach them.

4. Jenny Tzu-Mei Wang, Ph.D. – @AsiansForMentalHealth

Jenny Wang’s popular Instagram account addresses the common experiences of children of immigrants, with a special focus on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Her content addresses the complexities of growing up within a framework of “otherness” in the United States—a country that often exploits immigrants without always being supportive or accepting of cultural differences.

Jenny’s work meshes the personal with the political and presents content to encourage growth and healing. She seeks to provide guidance on processing the guilt and difficulties that can surface when we attempt to disengage from deeply-entrenched dynamics.

In addition to her own wisdom, Jenny’s account maintains resource lists for Asian mental health providers; info on finding Asian therapists; understanding and combating racism; and parenting Asian children in the US.

@AsiansForMentalHealth is a recommended follow if you struggle with your identity as a child of immigrant parents or are interested in learning more about the AAPI experience in the United States.

5. Allyson Dinneen, LMFT – @NotesFromYourTherapist

Therapist Allyson Dinneen’s “Notes From Your Therapist” account is full of gentle, handwritten reminders  that we’re all figuring out this life thing together. And no one’s really quite gotten there yet.

@NotesFromMyTherapist embraces imperfection at all levels. Allyson’s goal is to model that imperfection and remind us that, as humans, we’re meant to have a wide range of feelings and actually experience them.

Her account is full of lovely musings on emotional intelligence, relationships, and the way neglecting our own truths and feelings can harm us in the long run. She focuses on reminding us of the good that comes from owning our emotions and even befriending them.

Following Allyson’s account is a great way to include pops of deep insight and a bit of poetry in your daily scroll.

6. Sahaj Kaur Koli, MA.Ed – @BrownGirlTherapy 

Sahaj Koli’s Instagram account is focused on being a mental health support community for all children of immigrants. Her content works to challenge the cultural barriers and stigmas that often prevent children of immigrants from seeking mental healthcare.

Sahaj’s posts explore the roots of the internalized belief systems that often result in feelings of anxiety, depression, and “not-enough-ness.” She touches on both personal and professional concerns and goals, cultural norms, and sociopolitical involvement. Sahaj uses these avenues to help children of immigrants—particularly South Asian women–feel seen, understood, and accepted.

As a former journalist for HuffPost, Sahaj has a serious knack for storytelling. This means that her posts are deeply engaging and often personal, as well as relatable.

Her content centers the challenges posed by having a bicultural identity in the Western world—particularly in terms of therapy and mental health.

6. Dr. Jennifer Douglas – @DrJenOfficial

A Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University, Dr. Jen’s interest is in working with perfectionists “to let go and love their lives.” And she’s developed the online coursework to back it up!

Dr. Jen’s Instagram account focuses on recognizing how perfectionism shows up in our day-to-day habits and behaviors. Her content helps us investigate the beliefs we have about ourselves and the ways in which we show up for the world around us.

Often, as perfectionists, we overextend ourselves to such a degree that we can’t help but “fail” by our own standards; we can feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by our mismatched, neverending to-do lists, and our strong tendency to procrastinate.

Dr. Jen reminds us that perfectionism is not a requirement for a great life—and, in fact, it can do us a lot of harm. @DrJenOfficial is a great account to follow if you’d like to learn more about perfectionism, ADHD, and how to break the cycles of procrastination and overwhelm in your life.

Bonus! Supportive Communities, Too.

Social media is here to stay, and the world may not get lighter any time soon. It’s important to recognize that these large, weighty events are mostly out of our control, and because of this, they can feel overwhelming.

But what we can control is our engagement with social media and the streams of content we’re exposed to.

Taking the time to follow accounts that prioritize and express helpful concepts in mental health can be a valuable way to learn more about ourselves and keep grounded in a difficult time.

As a bonus, these accounts often attract communities of supportive followers who lend their own insight to the topics at hand. And while the general rule of Internet thumb is “never read the comments!,” you might consider making an exception in this case!