Hey c/therapists! I recently analyzed a year's worth of posts (2023) from the alien site for research, and I thought you might find the insights useful as we build our own community.

TLDR;

I analyzed 13k posts from a reddit using data analysis techniques. The stats say the most engaging topics were crisis intervention and self-reflection. Posts about personal struggles got significantly (60%+) more engagement.

Key takeaway: Therapist communities thrive when members feel safe sharing challenges and supporting each other. We should aim to provide that so we can thrive.

What do therapists actually talk about online?

The most engaging discussions centered around two areas:

• Crisis intervention situations
• Personal experiences

One fascinating finding: Posts expressing difficulties or challenges got over 60% more engagement than other types of posts. Therapy communities are driven to support those who are struggling or need advice.

The most frequently discussed topics were:

• Client engagement and retention
• Dual relationships
• Ethical dilemmas

What This Means for Us

Here are some ideas I had based on the data:

We should be a supportive place

• Therapists should actively support colleagues who share their struggles. Don't hesitate to be vulnerable about your challenges.

Share your practical experiences

• Theory is great, but others really value hearing about actual experiences.

Encourage Collaboration

• c/therapists should serve as a place for collective problem-solving and learning from others.

Eventually I plan to publish detailed analysis of these findings as part of a larger research effort. If there is interest, I'll post it here.