Showing Up Online as a Therapist — Specifically Social Media

By Caitlin Dang, LMHCA, MACP

How I’m Making My Therapy Practice’s Instagram More Personal—Without Losing Professionalism

As a therapist working primarily with Asian American clients, I’ve often wrestled with how to show up online in a way that feels real, warm, and still grounded in my values. I want to share mental health resources, honor the cultural nuances of the AAPI experience, and make space for reflection—but I also don’t want my feed to feel stiff or overly curated.

Lately, I’ve been rethinking what it means to be a therapist on Instagram. Instead of just providing tips or quotes, I’ve started embracing a softer, more human approach to my content. Something I’ve been calling: “Part-time therapist, full-time human.”

My content still includes valuable mental health reflections, quotes from AAPI authors, and stats around stigma or underutilization. But now, it’s balanced with more personal, lifestyle-oriented posts—photo dumps, daily joys, and even glimpses of my cat, Luna (a familiar face for many of my clients).

Here’s why I think this shift matters:

1. Mental health doesn’t live in a vacuum.

For so many first- and second-generation AAPI adults, healing isn’t just about clinical insights. It’s also about witnessing others living a life that honors slowness, softness, and imperfection. Sharing what grounds me—whether it’s a walk, a meal, or a cozy corner of my day—can be just as powerful as a research-backed tip.

2. Therapists are people, too.

I don’t want to pretend I have it all figured out. When I share reflections like “things therapy has taught me” or “a belief I’ve unlearned,” I’m not giving advice—I’m just offering a little companionship on the path. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling isolated in their experiences. Social media becomes another place where they don’t have to feel so alone.

3. AAPI clients deserve culturally attuned spaces.

Many of my posts still focus on common AAPI client themes: perfectionism, identity confusion, intergenerational trauma, boundary struggles. But instead of always approaching these topics academically, I’m choosing warmth and accessibility.

If you’ve been curious about therapy but aren’t sure what to expect, I invite you to browse through my posts. You’ll find both mental health insight and the small, everyday moments that make this work sustainable and real. Because therapy isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. And that’s what I hope to keep building, one post at a time.

Interested in therapy or consultation? I offer trauma-informed and culturally responsive counseling for clients in Washington State and coaching nationally.