The problem with using internet advice for mental health is that helpful content isn’t always enough. The internet has changed everything.
Today, you can access thousands of hours of therapy-related content in minutes. From YouTube videos and Instagram posts to podcasts and blogs, there is no shortage of advice on anxiety, relationships, trauma, and personal growth. And to be fair, much of it is good.
People are learning emotional language, recognizing unhealthy patterns, and taking their first steps toward healing because of what they’ve found online. In many cases, internet content has lowered the barrier to entry for therapy and helped people realize they’re not alone. But there’s a problem.
Not all advice is created equal—and even the good advice isn’t always easy to apply to your life.
The Strength of Internet Advice
Before we critique it, it’s important to acknowledge what the internet does well.
Online content can:
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Introduce key psychological concepts (like boundaries, attachment styles, and cognitive distortions)
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Normalize struggles like anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict
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Provide practical tools that can be implemented immediately
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Save time and money by offering free or low-cost education
In fact, research shows that psychoeducation—learning about mental and emotional processes—can be an important first step in improving mental health outcomes (Donker et al., 2009).
That matters. For many people, the internet is the first place they begin to understand themselves.
Where Things Start to Break Down
The issue isn’t that internet advice is wrong. It is often great advice. The issue is that it’s generalized.
Most content is designed for a broad audience. It has to be. A 60-second video or even a 10-minute podcast cannot account for your personal history, temperament, relationships, or environment. So what happens?
You hear something like:
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“Set boundaries.”
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“Cut off toxic people.”
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“Choose yourself.”
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“Stop overthinking.”
All of which can be true and perhaps sounds somewhat familiar to your life
But without context, those ideas can be:
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Misapplied
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Overapplied
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Or misunderstood entirely
For example, one person may need to set stronger boundaries. Another may need to repair relationships they’ve cut off prematurely. One person’s “self-care” might actually be avoidance. This is where the gap between information and transformation becomes clear.
This is similar to what happens when we rely solely on friends’ advice. While well-intentioned, friends are rarely neutral; they care about us, which often means they see situations through our lens and reinforce our perspective rather than challenge it. The internet can function in much the same way, feeding us content that aligns with what we already believe.
The Algorithm Problem
There’s another layer to this. Social media platforms are not designed to give you balanced advice. They are designed to give you engaging advice.
That means content that is:
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Simplified
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Emotionally charged
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Highly confident (even when it shouldn’t be)
Over time, this can create an illusion of certainty. You begin to feel like you understand your situation completely… But you may only be seeing one slice of it.
As psychologist Daniel Kahneman noted in his work on cognitive biases, we tend to form strong conclusions based on limited information, a tendency he described as “what you see is all there is” (Kahneman, 2011).
That’s not a character flaw. It’s human nature. But it becomes a problem when applied to complex emotional and relational issues.
Why Personalized Guidance Still Matters
This is where working with a therapist becomes valuable. A good therapist doesn’t just give advice. They:
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Help you apply principles to your specific situation
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Identify blind spots you may not see
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Challenge distortions in your thinking
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Provide accountability and structure
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Understand your history, not just your symptoms
In other words, they help translate general truth into personal clarity. Two people can hear the exact same piece of advice online and walk away with completely different and sometimes opposite conclusions. Therapy helps ensure you’re moving in the right direction for you.
A Better Way to Use Internet Advice
The goal isn’t to reject online content. Often direct clients to videos I think will be helpful and that we can discuss in sessions. The goal is to use it wisely.
Here’s a simple framework for using internet advice
Use the internet for:
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Awareness
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Education
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Language for your experience
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Initial tools and insights
Use therapy for:
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Personalization
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Application
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Deeper healing
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Lasting change
Think of internet advice as a map.
Helpful—but not the same as having a guide who knows the terrain you’re walking through.
Final Thoughts
The internet is one of the most powerful tools we’ve ever had for personal growth. But it has limits. As discussed it can point you in the right direction…
It can give you language for your emotions and even help you take your first steps…
But it cannot replace the depth, nuance, and personalization that real human guidance provides.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’ve been learning, reflecting, and trying to apply what you’ve found online—but still feel stuck—you’re not alone.
That’s often the moment where real growth begins.
At Bill Moran: The Integrated Life – Healing the Mind & Soul, I help individuals and couples take what they’ve learned and apply it in ways that actually work in their lives.
You don’t need more information. You need the right application.
👉 Schedule a private and confidential consultation, and let’s turn insight into action.
References
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Donker, T., Griffiths, K. M., Cuijpers, P., & Christensen, H. (2009). Psychoeducation for depression, anxiety, and psychological distress: A meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 7(79).
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Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
