Paris (AFP)

"I am aware of the creative power of thoughts", "My power is always in the present moment" ... on the backdrop of paradisiacal landscapes, these quotes are multiplying on Instagram, become a profitable showcase for psychotherapists or coaches in development staff.

On the account of SpiriVie on the social network, under square pictures adorned with advice, a link leads to a site offering training in wellness trades, which SpiriVie sells for companies that provide them.

A recent partnership: the site was created two months ago, specifies Benjamin Tournier de Gabriac, at the origin of the Instagram page which it has existed for two years.

The Instagram account of this sophrologist and sexologist, founder of a meeting site "well-being and spiritual" was initially used to "be present on social networks," he told AFP. It has almost reached 23,000 subscribers.

"Every day I get requests for product placements," he says. Incense, candles, crystals ...

Offers that he claims to have refused because they do not correspond to him, until the proposal of a partnership for training in the professions of well-being.

- Approached by brands -

Benoît Jacob, who decided to devote his account of more than 27,000 subscribers to personal development a year ago, has already received a dozen similar proposals.

"I did not respond to any," he says.

"If I find a product totally in line with my ideas, why not?", He slips.

Two reasons pushed the sophrologist and personal development coach to create his Instagram account, which he spends an hour per day on average: "Being able to interact with more people and gain visibility".

"I gained 50% of patients," he admits. At the same time, he created a telephone consultation service, most of whom come from the social network.

The majority of its subscribers are between 18 and 24 years old according to its statistics. "I thought the personal development came later," he wondered.

Chez Insta does not have therapists among its clients.

"The monetization of these accounts would pass more through the sale of information than by partnerships with brands," says Glenn Vigouroux, founder of this agency influencers.

"Their goal would be to create a community and then sell their book for example."

In this case "we leave the role of the influencer, who sells the product of a brand, since he seeks to sell his own product".

In the United States, some accounts exceed 500,000 subscribers.

- No insta-therapy -

Among the themes addressed on Instagram: self-confidence, anxiety ...

"This allows me to put words on what I can not understand," said Angélique Desbos, 28, subscriber to the page of the psychologist Émilie Antoine.

Lucas Andreoni, 17, subscribed to the "Neuroscience of Happiness" account for his "motivating" advice that allows him to "relativize and remain optimistic".

"For some, these positive words are a work of therapy," observes Benjamin Tournier de Gabriac.

He receives a hundred messages a day: "80% are thanks, testimonials saying that my account has changed their lives," he says.

To answer his messages, Benoît Jacob has set up sessions of "questions and answers", where he enlightens his subscribers in video.

"It does not replace therapy," he says, "When someone talks to me about a serious problem, I refer them to a professional."

The authors of these accounts may be professional psychologists graduated, but not always.

"The risk is that people take it for therapy," says Brigitte Asselineau, president of the French Federation of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.

"The advice is not necessarily adapted to who will read it," she says, adding that her federation is working to frame these practices online.

© 2019 AFP