Kendra Hilty, a 36-year-old ADHD coach from Arizona, has gone viral on TikTok for a series of videos where she says she fell in love with her psychiatrist — and now she’s speaking out after getting both support and hate online.
On Aug. 1, Hilty posted a video claiming, “I fell in love with my psychiatrist and he knew that. He kept me as a patient for years, and I was brave enough to leave him.” She says he influenced her feelings and should have ended their professional relationship once she confessed her love.
Her story became a 25-part TikTok series, with tens of millions of views and over 100,000 new followers. Hilty also claimed that another therapist she saw crossed boundaries by texting her for advice about her own clients. She says an AI bot named Henry helped her understand “countertransference,” when a therapist develops romantic feelings for a patient.
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But the attention hasn’t all been positive. Hilty says she’s been bullied, received violent threats, and even had people try to “dox” her by finding her personal information. Some friends have distanced themselves out of fear for her safety.
Still, Hilty says messages from supporters keep her going. “People are telling me they believe me, they’re grateful I shared my story, and they appreciate my courage,” she says. “It’s made it worth it to be the laughing stock of the internet.”
Hilty has now joined TikTok’s Creator Fund and offers a $2.99 monthly subscription for live chats. She plans to finish her viral series soon and then focus on ADHD advice, like she did before her online fame.
When asked if she’d turn her story into a TV show or movie, she said she would — as long as it was done respectfully. “Clearly I’ve struck a nerve,” Hilty says.
