Disrupting the Algorithm: Why Therapists Should Care About TikTok’s PTSD Conversations
- lauragoodall8
- Oct 21
- 2 min read
If you scroll through TikTok, you’ll find thousands of short videos of people saying things like:
“I can’t sleep because of what happened to me.” “I can’t stop reliving that night.” “PTSD? What even is that? Here’s my story…”
These are not just viral clips. They represent a massive shift in how emotional trauma is being talked about. And as a therapist working with trauma, burnout, change and relational breakdowns, I’m noticing two things:
People are seeking help in unexpected places.
The conversation happening online is very different from what happens in a therapy room.
A recent article in Cureus titled “Disrupting the Algorithm: The Role of Medical Professionals in TikTok’s Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Conversations” explores how medical and mental-health professionals can step into this new space. Cureus
Why does this matter for you (and for me)?
Because algorithms + trauma = potential risk and possible opportunity.
The algorithm surfaces stories that drive engagement — sensational, emotional, immediate. That means trauma gets simplified, dramatized, sensationalized.
Many viewers mistake relatability for readiness: they watch, nod, feel heard for a moment — then stop.
And yet: that digital moment is a gateway. It’s a signal that someone is searching — for meaning, connection, healing.
As therapists, we can’t ignore this space. We don’t need to preach or police; we need to understand and bridge.
What can we bridge?
1. From story to structureTikTok nails the “this happened to me” part. But what many videos don’t show is the what next. After the panic, the dissociation, the shame, what’s the path?In therapy we add: awareness → relational repair → body connection → meaning-making. That’s where healing lives.
2. From algorithmic voice to authentic voiceShort-form content thrives on punchy revelations. But healing often requires patience, ambiguity, trust.We can show: “Yes, this is what trauma feels like. And here’s how you might live through it.”We can also model: “It’s okay you didn’t know. Let’s bring you closer to knowing.”
3. From isolated clips to community & containmentTrauma told in isolation may keep the nervous system stuck. Our job is to provide containment: safe relational space, coherent narrative, body-felt processing.We can create bridges from the scroll to the seat-in-the-room.
A challenge I invite you to take with me
For the next 7 days, whenever you feel drawn to a video where someone says “I’ve got PTSD” or “I’m traumatised”, ask yourself:
What kind of help might this person need beyond this video?
What would it be like for someone sitting next to them, offering calm, curiosity and a safe question?
What could the next step be — even just a breath, a check-in, a moment of self-compassion?
Closing thought
Our professional role is changing. The algorithm isn’t our enemy — it’s a doorway.When people are searching, watching, remembering — we can meet them.Not with judgment. Not with hurry. But with presence, invitation, and hope.
💬 What caught your attention in a TikTok about trauma recently?Share it in the comments or drop me a message — let’s reflect together on what really gets said (and what doesn’t).
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