Instagram Auto DM for Therapists: Keywords, DM Scripts and What to Sell

Therapists and psychologists get a specific kind of comment under their reels: "how do I book?", "do you take online clients?", "is this for anxiety?". Those people rarely ask twice. An Instagram auto DM for therapist accounts answers them privately, in about a second, with a booking page or a resource, and keeps the public thread free of anything personal. The Viralyze app does this with a keyword, a message and one tap, on the official Instagram API.

Why private replies matter more in mental health

The first sentence under a reel about panic attacks should never be "DM me your details". Nobody wants to announce in a comment that they need help, so a short keyword like "GUIDE" gives them a low-pressure way to raise their hand.

The reply itself is private, lands in their inbox, and the public comment reply can stay neutral: "Sent you a message 💌". Viralyze rotates a few variations of that public reply so the thread looks human.

Which keywords work for a therapy account?

Use calm, non-clinical words that fit the content you already post. Three that fit most practices:

• "SESSION" on reels where you explain how your first consultation works. The DM carries your booking link.
• "GROUND" on short grounding or breathing clips. The DM sends a one-page PDF with the exercise and a soft note about working together.
• "SLEEP" on sleep-hygiene content. The DM offers a checklist and collects an email so you can follow up.

Keywords are not case-sensitive and Viralyze handles typos and Hinglish spellings, so "sesion" or "session chahiye" still trigger.

A sample DM script for a counselling practice

Keep it warm, short and free of diagnosis. Something like:

"Hi, thank you for reaching out. I work with adults on anxiety and burnout, online over Google Meet or in person in Pune. My first session is 50 minutes. You can pick a slot that suits you here, and you will get a calendar invite with the Meet link. If it is urgent, please contact a helpline today."

Long messages become a downloadable PDF automatically, so if you want to include a longer "what to expect" note, you can.

How to set it up in a minute

1. Open the Viralyze app and pick the reel that gets "how do I book?" comments. 2. Add your keywords: SESSION, BOOK, SLOT. 3. Paste the DM script above and attach your booking page. 4. Use the live tester: type "session please" and check it triggers. 5. Turn it on, or schedule it to start with your next post.

Leave the follow-gate off for therapy content. A person who needs support should not be asked to follow first.

What should a therapist sell through Instagram?

Build one booking link with a small service menu rather than a dozen separate links. A typical menu:

• 50-minute individual session, online or in person
• 80-minute couples session
• Add-on: written summary after the session
• A paid self-paced course on managing anxiety, or a free PDF as a lead magnet

Clients pay upfront by UPI or card, your Google Calendar blocks the slot both ways, and WhatsApp reminders reduce no-shows. You decide whether clients may cancel themselves and until when, with refunds going back automatically.

Every booking and email collected becomes a contact in one list, exportable to CSV.

Does Instagram allow automated DMs from a therapist account?

Yes, provided the tool uses the official Instagram API and the person triggered the message by commenting or replying to a story. Instagram permits one private reply per comment within 7 days, and Viralyze follows that rule automatically. You need an Instagram Business or Creator account, you log in on Meta's own screen, and nothing is ever posted to your feed.

Frequently asked questions

**Can I avoid sending the DM to people who comment something unrelated?** Yes. The DM only goes to comments that match your chosen keywords, so "great reel" gets nothing and "SESSION" gets the booking link.

**Can I stop the automation during a holiday?** Yes. Set auto-pause for a date or after a number of DMs, and mark days off in your calendar so no slots show while you are away.

**Will clients see each other's names or comments?** No. The DM is private, and the only public text is your neutral comment reply.

Start the 7-day free trial of Viralyze today, no card needed, and let your next reel book its own sessions.