The Rise of Therapy: Why More People Than Ever Are Seeking Help

Did you know that the number of Americans undertaking therapy is bigger than ever? The percentage of people seeking therapy jumped from 9.5% to 12.6% in the space of three years, and the figures are even more impressive when looking exclusively at adults aged 18 to 34. In the same three-year span, that demographic saw a jump from 12% to 18.4%.

And that trend is expected to continue. One study found that nearly half of American adults — some 48% — were planning to start therapy within the next year, with Millennials particularly interested. 70% of adults born between 1981 and 1996 said beginning therapy was a top priority.

So therapy is very much having a moment. The question is, why is that the case? Modern therapy has been around for well more than a hundred years, yet it has never experienced anywhere close to this level of engagement. In this post, we’ll run through just some of the reasons why therapy use is growing so quickly.

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There’s Been a Jump in Mental Health Conditions

People seek therapy for help with a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, which have been on the rise in the past few years. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that there’s been a steady increase in the number of people reporting issues with their mental health. For instance, following the pandemic, the percentage of adults with anxiety rose from 15.6% to 18.2%. The rate of people with symptoms of depression rose from 18.5% to 21.4%. 

With more people than ever facing difficulties with their mental well-being, it’s no surprise that they’re increasingly turning to therapy for support.  

Online Therapy Has Made It More Accessible

Even if someone wanted to begin therapy, it might have been difficult for them to do so in the past. To engage in face-to-face therapy means to live near a therapist, and that’s simply not a reality for many people who live in quieter parts of the country. Even if there was a therapist in town, there’s no guarantee that the therapist would be the right kind of professional for their needs.

Online therapy changed all that, significantly improving accessibility and allowing patients to find the therapist who is right for them regardless of where they live. Online therapy also tends to be cheaper than in-person sessions, further reducing one of the barriers to entry. The rate of insurance coverage for online therapy has also expanded in recent years, which means someone searching for ‘online therapy that accepts my insurance’ is more likely to have a favorable outcome. Indeed, approximately two-thirds of mental health practitioners accept insurance.

It’s More Accepted By Society

It wasn’t so long ago when talking about going to therapy was a taboo, but times have changed — and for the better. Indeed, the ‘taboo’ aspect of therapy from yesteryear is considered to be one of the reasons why the rate of people reporting mental health symptoms is on the rise. It’s not that people didn’t have feelings of anxiety or depression in the past; it’s just that they were less likely to talk about it, out of fear of being judged.

Today, people aren’t just much more likely to say that they go to therapy — they’ll do so happily, often sharing how much of a positive impact it’s had on their lives. That not only normalizes talking about mental health challenges, but can also serve as encouragement to others to seek help. 

Social Media Has Made It Popular

People tend to think that social media is full of memes or doom-and-gloom news, but that’s not the case. There’s a significant amount of health and wellness content on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms, including therapy-related content. Many mental health practitioners share insights and words of wisdom that not only help people who are looking for that type of content, but can also serve as the start of the journey that ultimately leads to the viewer beginning their own therapy practice. 

Workplaces Are Encouraging It 

It’s not only in our personal lives where therapy is being promoted. It’s also increasingly encouraged in the workplace, too, especially at future-focused, modern businesses that understand the importance of looking after their employees’ mental and physical well-being. Many employers offer their staff a wellness stipend that can be spent on anything that improves their well-being, including therapy. 

People Recognize Its Value

There’s a growing understanding that maintaining high standards across relationships, work, and just within yourself is increasingly difficult in an age when there’s more pressure than ever before. As with going to the gym for physical well-being, many people are proactively investing in therapy for their mental well-being. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who goes to therapy is in the midst of an intense mental health condition. In fact, many people who go to therapy don’t have mental health challenges at all. They go because they recognize that it’s an investment in themselves that could have far-reaching, long-lasting benefits, not just for themselves, but for the people around them. 

There’s a Wide Range of Therapists Available

There are more people seeking therapy than ever — and there are more therapists available to help them. Most people find that they have to speak to a couple of different therapists before they land the one that’s right for them. In the past, the limited number of therapists meant that a person might give up their efforts because they were unable to find one who was suitable. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of therapists from different backgrounds and with different experiences and styles, making it much more likely that a patient will find one with whom they connect. 

There’s an Increasing Emphasis On Mental Well-Being

Finally, there’s just broadly a greater emphasis on mental well-being. People are exercising, becoming more conscious of how much time they spend online, and speaking to a therapist. It’s all part of the broader goal to become the best version of themselves.