Filming Your Psychology Today Profile Video (Made Easy)

When you add a video to your Psychology Today profile, you only get to upload a 15-second video. That’s not much time. Here’s our recommendations and tips to help you nail when the director calls “action!”

Step One - Realize your video isn’t about you

It’s a mistake to talk about your certifications, your passions, or how much you would love to work with a client. Why? Because people on Psychology Today are in “shopping” mode. They are looking for a solution to the problem they’re dealing with.

To be frank, they are thinking about themselves. So if you choose to talk about yourself and your life - they’ll tune out. In your video, your job is to talk about them and how you can help.

Step Two - Decide what you’ll say

You want to connect with your audience. To do that you want to speak directly to your ideal client and include three key ingredients.

1. What problem are they experiencing?

2. What does success looks like for them? Can you paint a picture of it for them?

3. What is the next step they should take to work with you?

Now you are going to ask us, how on earth do I communicate all these things in 15 seconds? That one’s easy - just follow this MadLibs Style template:

Hi I’m [First Name],

I’m a therapist that helps [who you serve] struggling with [symptom they’re experiencing] so they can [success they are moving toward].

To see if we are the right fit, you can go to my website to schedule a 15min consultation.

How easy is that? If you use this template you will get something along these lines: 

Hi, I’m Jackie!

I help busy moms with toddlers address their overwhelm so they can be more present to their partner and kids.

To see if we are the right fit, you can go to my website to schedule a 15min consultation.

Now you have your script and are about to start filming. But, before you do, one of the jobs of a Psychology Today profile video is to make a good first impression which needs you need to film it well.

Step Three - Shoot the video

1. No Music
Music on a Psychology Today profile video comes across as forced. Music makes your video feel like a promotional video and a bit market. This should feel more like a meet and greet. So, no music!

2. Camera Position 
Do not place the camera on a coffee table and point it up at you. Place the camera at eye height, even if you have to put it on a stack of books.

3. The Environment Should Look Like A Place You Work At
Record this in your office if possible. Don’t film in a kitchen. Don’t have a bed showing in the background. Less is more here; when in doubt go with a plain white wall background.

4. Lighting
Go for natural light if you can - close to a window is best! Don’t film in a dark room, film in a bright room.

5. Film Vertically
Psychology Today prioritizes vertical videos - or “portrait” orientation - in their search database. So feel free to film with your phone standing straight up.

Lights, camera, action

Okay, you now have the right mindset, words to say, and camera setup. It’s time to film.

Have a sip of coffee, record a few takes, choose the best one and you’ll be good to go. Don’t second guess it.

You can be a life-changing therapist to even more people - but only if they can find you. A Psychology Today video done right will do that.