Why this topic?
Therapists and clients are in a bind when it comes to giving and getting feedback. Therapists can be reluctant to ask for honest feedback and patients can have a difficult time giving honest feedback to their therapists. The question of how people express their thoughts and experiences of therapy over social media, a place that can be honest and importantly, anonymous, lead us to developing this ongoing research project.
Our research project aims to shed light on this question by analyzing discussions on Reddit centered around the phrase “My Therapist.”
Using topic modeling techniques, we’re examining Reddit posts and comments to uncover common themes and concerns shared by individuals who are likely therapy consumers. This approach allows us to explore authentic conversations about mental health and therapy in a unique way.
Why is this important?
By understanding what people are discussing about their therapy experiences, we hope to:
- Gain insights into the concerns and experiences of therapy consumers/patients
- Explore how online platforms like Reddit are being used for mental health support
- Identify potential areas for improvement in mental health support and services
Project Status
Ongoing!
We have collected the data and are currently coding
If you are a George Mason Student interested in getting involved in research in the lab, please contact Dr. Tonge about availability for research assistants.
If you are a person interested in our results and we’re carefully analyzing the data to ensure our findings are accurate and meaningful. We’re excited about the potential insights this project may offer to the mental health community and look forward to sharing more as our research progresses.
TIDL@GMU 