
418: Human-Centric Marketing: Choosing Connection Over Algorithms
From Selling the Couch by Melvin Varghese, PhD
April 24, 2026 · 43 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the importance of human-centric marketing and how to maintain authenticity and connection in marketing practices.
What does it actually look like to market your work… without losing your humanity? In today’s episode of Selling the Couch , I’m joined by Shayna Vance Roman to explore a powerful and often overlooked idea: human-centric marketing—and how to apply it in a way that feels grounded, ethical, and aligned. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with marketing… overwhelmed by social media… or unsure how to grow your practice without becoming someone you’re not, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we explore: What human-centric marketing really means (and why it matters more than ever) Why marketing can start to feel “transactional” instead of relational The tension between running a business and staying values-driven The rise of therapist influencers, audience growth, and revenue pressure How to create content that feels authentic, not performative Practical ways to build connection, compassion, and trust online The role of AI in marketing and how to use it without losing your voice Why “less but better” content may be the future A few key takeaways: People aren’t just “clients” or “data points”, they’re humans navigating real struggles Your website, social media, and content…
People in this episode
Host: Melvin Varghese, PhD
Guest: Shayna Vance Roman
Topics covered
- human-centric marketing
- connection over algorithms
- ethical marketing
- building trust online
- content authenticity
- AI in marketing
Keywords
- human-centric marketing
- ethical marketing
- trust
- content creation
- AI in marketing
- therapist influencers
- audience growth
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