Almost 20 years since talking therapy started to become widely available on the NHS, ‘therapy-speak’ is everywhere. You’ll no doubt have seen this language on TikTok and overheard groups of friends deploying it over coffee; perhaps you use it yourself: He’s a covert narcissist. She’s a gaslighter. I’ve got an avoidant attachment style.

These concepts are rooted in legitimate research. But in recent years, they’ve entered mainstream discourse, as psychology and mental health-related content gains traction on social media, in broader pop culture and pub conversations. Popular psychology is now the top non-fiction genre for both e-books and audiobooks in the UK, according to Nielsen, while ‘self-help, mindset and performance’ podcasts account for a fifth of the top 50 shows in the UK’s 2025 Spotify Wrapped. Davina McCall, host of the hit podcast Begin Again, has described this as “a true testament” to the UK’s growing openness “to prioritising our mental wellbeing”.

At its best, our interest in psychology reflects a desire to learn more about human behaviour, emotions and relationships. We’re searching – in McCall’s words – “for tools and advice on how to navigate modern life”. But for many experts, the rise of therapy-speak can also be a cause for concern. A recent survey by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) found that almost two-thirds of UK therapists have observed a rise in mental health and social media influencers spreading misleading or oversimplified advice in 2025, leading to more clients incorrectly self-diagnosing themselves or others.

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