In a September interview with the New York Times, best-selling author, podcaster, and University of Houston research professor Brené Brown was asked about the world of online self-help gurus and her place in it.
“I think there are a lot of well-intentioned, well-intentioned, well-trained people in that space,” she told an interviewer. “And I think they occupy about 30% of that space.” Another 30% of people offering self-help content online are “underqualified” and only sometimes useful, she said.
“And I think there are 40% who are complete scammers. Everything they say is predatory advice,” she said, citing the example of ads for castor oil and brain teasers that promise life-changing results.
Depending on who you ask, people might put her into one of these different categories, she said. “I always tried to be very careful when I was in that space.” And since then, she’s done her best to break up.
At one point, she found herself mincing the points she had made to create clips where people gave provocative advice. “There was a moment when I made a very specific, tactical ‘get the hell out of Dodge’ decision to stay away from that space,” she said.
A licensed mental health counselor and content creator, Lauren Larkin is no stranger to the world of online self-help. She understands what Brown is saying when he refers to “grifters,” but she doesn’t quite put it that way.
“I think there’s probably a lot of people out there trying to sell or create content that really packs a punch and is really ‘self-help’. It’s like offering or offering some kind of quick fix when there really isn’t any,” she says.
Humans are complex creatures. Coping with what they’re going through is a delicate and complex process, she says. Achieving good mental health often takes a lot of time and effort from professionals.
Regardless of what people are trying to sell on Instagram or TikTok, “there’s no one-size-fits-all approach,” she says. “There are no quick fixes.”
Still, Larkin doesn’t necessarily claim that 40% of online self-help gurus are outright scammers. “These blanket statements are what get people into trouble online in the first place,” she says.
Instead, we will provide advice on what to do when you see this content. If you see someone sharing a ton of feedback or promoting a particular product, ask yourself, “Is this person pitching you something that feels like work is involved?” she says. “Or are they selling something that almost glorifies themselves?”
Also check people’s credentials to understand their qualifications and credibility, and tell the actual therapist what you think.
Ask yourself, “Does this apply to my situation?” Larkin says. “If so, who would you like to talk to? A safe, trusted and qualified member of my care team.”
Ultimately, she says, “Take everything you consume with a grain of salt, including your own content.”
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