Conversations around mental health are often clouded by confusion, stigma, and the misconception that therapy is only for those in crisis. With Ask a Therapist, our goal was to normalize these conversations by making therapy approachable, relatable, and engaging. The series aimed to break down barriers by having real questions, submitted by Headspace members and answered by a licensed clinician. Therapists Samantha Edu and Ryan Engelstad and coach Neca Smith offered a friendly face and welcoming, compassionate tone that helped humanize the experience of caring for our mental health.
By showcasing their unique perspectives, clinical expertise, and a dash of humor, we sought to show that mental health support is not only valuable but also accessible to everyone. Above all, we wanted this series to be our way of ensuring viewers could find direct, actionable insights that felt just as natural as asking a friend.
Questions from members:
- "I had to “break up” with a friend of over 20 years when I was going through IVF. She was callous and ignorant about the IVF process and then she herself got pregnant naturally and was again completely inconsiderate of what I was going through. This was 3 years ago and it still haunts me because not only did I lose her, I lost two other friends in our group who “sided” with her. How can I move past this deep hurt?"
- "How do I deal with the guilt, worry and the feeling that I am useless that comes from taking time off from work to recover from severe burnout? My body and brain don't work properly but I feel like I absolutely must return to my job as soon as possible otherwise I am letting everybody down."
- "I find it hard to go from work mode to Dad mode in the evenings after work and especially on the weekend. I find the difference between the two really hard to navigate especially when I feel tired and have low patience. Can you offer any advice?"
- "I’m on the road to recovery. When we experience a setback, what are some ways we can learn to forgive ourselves and find the strength to keep moving forward? Very thankful for headspace, it has been an important part of my journey."
- "I'm a teacher and have very very limited headspace at work. Whether it's preparing to teach five times a day, managing student behaviour, issues with colleagues, administrative deadlines, meetings, or a long list of other pressures, my days go by in a whirlwind. I'm often late getting home and feel exhausted, not least because I've barely had a chance to pause all day. How can I be more aware of my thoughts, feelings and emotions, or my physical responses to them, during the day when they're occurring?"
We designed Ask a Therapist as a recurring video series where therapists sit down to answer recorded questions submitted by the Headspace community. Key elements of the strategy include:
- Approachability & Relatability: Our therapists pair clinical insights into mental health conditions with practical, everyday strategies for motivation, coping tactics, goal-setting, and routines. This balance made mental health support feel both professional and personal.
- Community-first Storytelling: By responding to questions sourced directly from real members and using their real voices, the series felt participatory and reflective of genuine needs, not scripted lectures.
- Timely, Relevant Topics: Each episode aligned with top stress triggers identified in a YouGov survey and our own member census research, which touched on themes of uncertainty about the future, political anxiety, job insecurity and burnout, relationships, and loneliness. We also tapped into cultural editorial moments such as New Year’s resolutions, post-holiday stress, and seasonal anxiety, ensuring content was relevant at the right moment.
The series resonated with viewers by making therapy more visible, less intimidating, and deeply human. Episodes sparked thoughtful engagement in the comments, where viewers expressed relief at seeing their own struggles reflected back to them and normalized by experts. It was evident how refreshing it was to hear both clinical advice and practical, real-world strategies side by side, making therapy feel less like a last resort and more like a tool for everyday resilience.
Performance metrics showed strong viewership across both long-form videos and Shorts, resulting in 3M impressions, 3,500 hours of watch time, and 181,000 total views off-platform and in the Headspace app. Most importantly, the series succeeded in its mission: helping people see therapy not as something to be feared or stigmatized, but as an empowering step toward a healthier, more balanced life.
Community highlights:
@tahiraaaa6726: Wow thanks Samantha, loved your take on how comparing yourself to others can diminish your own value and sense of self
@TovarichBramble: Oh my god, Samantha - thank you. The burnout question is what I’m in right now and your reply is amazing. Thank you, I’m going to work on changing my mindset
@SuperchargedHealth: Such practical and insightful advice! 💡 These three steps are a great way to stay focused and motivated in achieving your goals. Definitely going to use these tips to stay on track!
Video for Ask a Therapist
