Strawberry People: Building Closer Friendships
The “Strawberry People” Method for Identifying Supportive Friendships
A therapist named walker has popularized a strategy for identifying and keeping track of emotionally supportive friends, dubbed the “strawberry people” method. This concept draws from the idea of “safe people” frequently enough used with individuals with neurodivergence - those friends with whom one can truly be themselves without fear of judgment. The method involves mentally associating a strawberry emoji with friends who offer emotional intimacy, serving as a visual reminder during times of need.
Walker emphasizes this isn’t just for neurodivergent individuals; anyone can benefit from consciously identifying and nurturing emotionally close friendships. The system is also customizable – users can add further details to the strawberry emoji (like a suitcase for work friends or a flower for casual friends) or choose a different symbol altogether. It can even be taught to children to help them understand what healthy, safe friendships feel like.
To implement the strategy, Walker suggests starting small with just 3-5 “strawberry people,” gradually expanding as one’s capacity allows. This aligns with psychological understanding of limited social and emotional energy, and research suggesting humans can realistically maintain only a small number of very close friendships (around 3-5), alongside larger circles of “best” and “good” friends.