Social media for psychologists: Building your brand without compromising integrity

Alison Fragel says in her book, Likeable Badass, that when it comes to your personal brand, lean into the following things:

• The three contributions you want people to remember you for at your retirement
• The three characteristics you want people to associate with you

And then ask, what are yours? And how consistent are they throughout your career?

I think these are very interesting questions, because my career has varied, but actually, from the moment I started building a personal brand (before I even knew what one was!!) I think my contributions and my characteristics have stayed the same.

I always:

• Create spaces where people can thrive – whether that's in teaching, coaching or bigger things like our studio or theatre productions
• Make the most of every opportunity
• Seek to inspire by being authentically me

I am:

• A fighter
• An achiever
• A diva (but one you like to have around)

My books, my podcast, my radio and now my TV show – as well as my TEDx talk – have all addressed different aspects of what I can do, but they all do it with the same brand values.

Social media is simply a platform I do it on – not the place that created me…I created me when I had to build my image through the local paper!

So, my upcoming webinar isn't about metrics, algorithms, when to post or what to post…if you want that, you're better off going to a tech whiz, or perhaps your own children or grandchildren (notwithstanding how healthy [or not] social media is for the young mind!) but I will be asking you to think about who you are and what you want your platform – any platform –  to say.

The reason I want to address this is because I see too many professionals of my generation thinking they need to "do the influencer thing" on the socials…take the soft-focus photos or post the "point to words" reels. Don't get me wrong, in my weaker moments I've tried this too, and I was doing OK on TikTok until I realised I hated it – not least because you can't sensibly condense academic theory into a 30 second clip. 

But given that I always have to premise everything with "I'm not a clinician" – it breaks my heart to see clinicians "selling out" for the sake of likes…

I have a social media presence, and for me it works as my showreel – it proves I can speak clearly and coherently with energy. It also keeps me practised for things like media interviews, where I have a short time to say something meaningful…and that is exactly how I use it. I know when I'm about to get offered a contract - visits to my website go up!

For me, social media is a touchpoint, a digital business card – because the brand I've built was established circa 1993, offline.

What about you?

Get a head start with my webinar

Social media has changed the way we do things. As experts (especially those who are self-employed) we are expected to have a social media presence, and many of us are seeing it as "the way" to build a brand. 

However, there is a huge difference between content that influencers – and even journalists – create, and that which experts may wish to impart.

My webinar, Social media: Build your brand and effectively communicate complex messages (3 June 2025), addresses the social media minefield for psychologists and experts – helping us use the tools, but keep our integrity intact.

During the two-hour session you will contemplate and discover:

• Do you actually need social media?
• Where and what should you post?
• The effect on mental health
• A range of useful apps to support your objectives
• How to deal with trolls

Find out more about the webinar on BPS Learn.