What If Manifestation TikTok Is Actually Good for Your Mental Health?

‍By Dr. Kimberly Moffit, Founder of KMA Therapy

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If you’ve ever scrolled past a TikTok of someone talking about “manifestation” or how they “vision boarded the love of my life” you’ve probably had one of two reactions.

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One: Wow, love this energy, following immediately.‍

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Two: Is this real life?

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Whether you are a Law of Attraction believer (like me) or someone who's just manifestation curious, the rise of manifestation TikTok, and its slightly more grounded cousin, MentalHealthTok is literally impossible to ignore when you go online these days.

But here’s the twist most people don’t expect:

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Can manifestation practices can actually support mental health?

It’s possible.

Especially when they're done with self-awareness, structure, and a dose of critical thinking.

So no, it’s not all vision boards and delusion. Some of it is quite literally science. Some of it is self-regulation. And some of it is (from a clinical perspective) is actually the increase of hope. It helps us visualize the life we want and feel like it’s actually attainable.

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A Therapist’s Take: Why Law of Attraction Resonates So Deeply Right Now

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At KMA Therapy, our clients are not coming into sessions asking for help “manifesting their soulmate.” But they are coming in with burnout, hopelessness, and a deep craving for control over their lives.

And that’s where manifestation culture gets something right.

At its core, manifestation is about creating a clear vision, aligning with your values, and taking action toward a life you actually want. 

It gives people permission to dream — especially people who have spent their whole lives in survival mode, dealing with trauma, or being told not to ask for too much.

And from a clinical standpoint? That’s powerful.

Honestly it reminds me of Adlerian Psychology. 

The process of setting goals (whether other people see them as reasonable or not!) is incredibly empowering for clients. For everyone.

We know from cognitive behavioural therapy that thoughts influence emotions, and emotions influence actions. Manifestation — when practiced with mindfulness — harnesses that loop. You're training your brain to visualize success, reinforcing belief in your own capacity, and often, reinforcing gratitude along the way. 

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A CEO’s Perspective: Why I Let Manifestation Be Part of My Growth Strategy

As the founder of a multi-location therapy clinic and someone who has spent years in academic and clinical psychology, I used to be skeptical of anything that felt… “woo woo”.

But something shifted when I started building my dream life — not by chance, but by clarity.

There were nights when I’d visualize the kind of business I wanted to run. I’d write “I am a powerful CEO” or “I am a money magnet” (lol) in my journal, even when I didn’t feel like it yet. I’d imagine walking into beautiful hotel suites and speaking on stages I wasn’t invited to yet.

And then those things started happening.

Not because I wrote them down. But because writing them down helped me focus — on values, goals, and actions. It reminded me what mattered. It helped me shift out of spirals and stay aligned when the road got bumpy.

Completing my second Masters Degree at MIT was something that started out as a picture of the campus on my vision board.

I even “manifested” my dream house by putting it on my list of goals and keeping it there for 10 years.

I don’t believe manifestation is magic. But I do believe it can be mentally regulating, emotionally expansive, and creatively freeing. Especially for women, marginalized folks, and people healing from past pain.

Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do for your nervous system is to believe in a life beyond survival.

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The Mental Health Benefits of Manifestation Practices

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Let’s look at what’s actually happening when someone practices Law of Attraction on TikTok or in private:

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• Visualization activates the brain’s reward and goal systems, creating real neurocognitive shifts.
  
  
• Gratitude journaling lowers cortisol, increases dopamine, and reduces symptoms of depression.
  
  
• Affirmations can support self-concept reprogramming (especially helpful in trauma recovery).
  
  
• Future self visualizing gives structure and motivation to long-term goals.
  
  
• Scripting (writing in the voice of your future self) can be a form of narrative therapy.
  
  
• Daily ritual and repetition help regulate the nervous system — the same reason so many evidence-based therapies rely on consistency and structure.
  
  

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It’s not always clinical, I will say, but it IS often therapeutic.

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And in a world where doomscrolling is the norm, giving your brain a moment of possibility and peace can be a radically healthy act.

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Why Critics Are Missing the Point

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Of course, there are extremes. No one is suggesting that visualizing money will override systemic inequities or replace the need for therapy.

But most manifestation creators aren't trying to replace science, they’re trying to reclaim hope.

Critics often say, "This isn't real psychology."

And they’re right. It’s not psychology. It’s a cultural tool. And like any cultural tool, its power depends on how it’s used.

If someone is using manifestation to avoid responsibility, escape reality, or shame themselves for not “attracting” success, that’s harmful. But if they’re using it to connect with their goals, soothe anxiety, or reconnect with purpose?

That’s something we can work with.

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A Therapist’s Take: Where Manifestation Ends and Therapy Begins

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Manifestation can be a meaningful self-care tool, but it’s not a replacement for healing trauma, regulating deep anxiety, or untangling your attachment patterns.

That’s where real therapy comes in. Like the kind we practice at KMA.

Therapy helps you understand why you block good things, why you fear success, why you chase unavailable people even though your vision board says “stable love.”

In other words, therapy gets into the subconscious patterns that manifesting can’t touch on its own.

But here’s the beautiful thing: they can coexist.

Many of our clients use journaling, meditation, and visualization as part of their emotional toolkit. When paired with licensed therapy, these tools don’t distract from healing — they deepen it.

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Want to Build a Healthier Mindset? You Don’t Have to Pick a Side.

You can believe in neuroscience and dreamboards.
You can see a therapist and write affirmations.
You can be a grounded person who also believes in energetic alignment.

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In fact, some of the most successful, healthy, self-aware people I know do all of the above.

At KMA Therapy, we welcome clients who bring their whole selves into the room — including the parts of them that believe in miracles, energy, or just want to feel inspired again.

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📩 Want to talk to someone about your mindset and goals? Reach out here.

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Whether you're scripting, journaling, or just trying to survive your 9-to-5, you're allowed to want more. And you're allowed to get help bringing it into your life.

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