As many private practice therapists aren’t “digital natives,” the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) might sometimes leave you feeling deskilled – or even prehistoric! However, while it might feel overwhelming at first, AI for therapists can be a game-changer when it comes to creating social media content for your therapy practice.
In this blog, I’m sharing my real-life experience of how I use AI – specifically tools like ChatGPT – to make creating content easier, faster, and more authentic.
If you prefer to listen, I also have a podcast that explores this topic. You can listen below.
If you would like to subscribe to the podcast, click here.
AI for Therapists: A Partner in Your Social Media Creation
If you struggle with thinking up ideas for posts, writing in a structured way, or if writing just feels overwhelming (especially if you’re neurodivergent or dyslexic), AI can take a lot of the pressure off. It acts like a supportive writing partner, offering ideas, improving drafts, and saving you valuable time.
Ways Therapists Can Use AI for Content Creation
1. Generating Ideas
AI is brilliant at brainstorming. I often ask ChatGPT to give me post ideas based on a theme (like anxiety, grief, or relationships). It’s especially helpful when I’m stuck or need fresh inspiration for blogs, podcasts, or social posts.
2. Drilling Down into Topics
Once I have a topic in mind, I use AI to dig deeper. For example, if I’m looking at how to write about anxiety, I might ask it to suggest different aspects to focus on – like social anxiety, health anxiety, or how anxiety affects connection with others.
3. Drafting and Improving Posts
Sometimes I write the first draft myself and ask AI to help me tighten the structure, simplify language, or create a more engaging opening. Other times, if I’m completely stuck or in a hurry, I ask AI to create a draft based on a few prompts and then edit it into my own style.
4. Repurposing Content
I use AI to adapt longer posts (like Facebook updates) into shorter Instagram captions or to break down my blogs and podcasts into bite-sized posts. It’s an amazing time-saver and helps keep content flowing across different platforms.
5. Creating Alt Text for Images
Adding alt text to images is important for accessibility. Instead of staring at a blank box or not providing alt text, I ask ChatGPT to suggest a clear description of my images – saving me time and making my posts more inclusive.
6. Visual Ideas and Image Creation
Newer AI tools now allow you to create visuals too. Some therapists use AI image generators to create artwork that reflects their practice style. (Think fun cartoon-style portraits or illustrations!)
5 AI Prompts for Therapists to Try
If you’re not sure how to start, here are five easy prompt examples you can give to AI tools like ChatGPT:
- “Give me 10 social media post ideas for therapists who work with anxiety.”
- “Suggest an engaging opening sentence for a post about grief and loneliness.”
- “Turn this Facebook post into a shorter caption for Instagram.”
- “Write a list of common myths about therapy for couples.”
- “Suggest alt text for this image.”
Feel free to tweak these prompts to suit your niche or audience. The more specific you are, the better the results you’ll get.
A Few Cautions When Using AI
While AI is incredibly useful, it’s important to be mindful:
- Double-check facts. AI is a “clever guessing machine” but it gets things wrong – a lot. Always fact-check anything it provides.
- Avoid sounding robotic. Posts directly copied from AI can sound formulaic. Edit drafts to reflect your real voice and personal style.
- “Rubbish in, rubbish out”. Although AI can give you ideas, it’s often only as good as the prompts you give it. I tend to work with it, using my knowledge of what is needed, to produce results that have an impact. AI won’t be replacing human intelligence for a while.
- Watch out for giveaways. AI often uses too many emojis, formal language (like “delves” or “clarity”), and odd punctuation (like long em dashes). Edit these out to help post look and sound natural.
Final Thoughts
Think of AI for therapists as a helpful team member, not a replacement for your voice. It’s there to support you, spark ideas, and save you time – but not to take over your authenticity.
When used thoughtfully, AI can make social media content creation easier and less stressful, allowing you to focus more energy on what you do best: helping clients.
Looking for more support?
Inside Therapy Growth Group, there’s a wealth of social media training so that you can learn how to make your content work. I also offer a full social media calendar and fresh post ideas every week – doing the heavy lifting for you, so you can show up consistently and authentically online.
We’d love to welcome you – find everything you need inside Therapy Growth Group.