Published on the Nurocoach Medical Group Blog
There’s encouraging news for anyone who values the power of connection, conversation, and healing: more Americans than ever are turning to talk therapy to manage their mental health.
According to a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry and covered by NPR’s Rhitu Chatterjee, the number of U.S. adults receiving talk therapy increased significantly between 2018 and 2021. At the same time, the number of people relying solely on psychiatric medication (without therapy) dropped for the first time in years.
This marks a major shift in mental health care. Since the late 1980s, psychiatric medication has played a growing role, especially with the rise of antidepressants like Prozac. But now, the tide is turning back toward therapy—and that’s something to celebrate.
Dr. Mark Olfson, the study’s lead author and a psychiatrist at Columbia University, believes this change reflects a growing awareness and acceptance of therapy.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in therapy was increasing. But the pandemic dramatically accelerated the conversation around mental health. Suddenly, it became normal—even necessary—to talk about stress, anxiety, and burnout. That openness made many people more comfortable with the idea of getting help.
Psychiatrist Dr. Jessi Gold adds that knowing what to expect from therapy helps people stay with it longer. If you are more aware of what even therapy looks like, you don’t expect yourself to be fixed immediately,” she said. “You don’t turn off from it immediately.
One of the biggest drivers of this trend? Teletherapy. The rise of telehealth made therapy more accessible than ever—especially for people who:
This new accessibility means people can more easily fit therapy into their lives—and stick with it.
The face of therapy is also evolving. It’s not just psychiatrists and psychologists anymore. Licensed counselors and social workers are playing a larger role in delivering talk therapy, which helps meet growing demand.
We’ve really looked at how to increase access and models of care,” says Dr. Gold. “That doesn’t always require an M.D. or Ph.D.
While the growth in therapy use is promising, the study also found that access is still skewed toward the affluent. Those benefiting most from the increased availability of therapy tend to be people with:
That leaves millions of Americans—especially those in lower-income, rural, or marginalized communities—struggling to access the care they need. Dr. Olfson hopes this research can guide efforts to expand equitable access across the board.
At Nurocoach, we see this study as a sign of hope—and a reminder of the work still to be done.
The growing embrace of therapy shows that as a society, we’re starting to prioritize mental well-being. Let’s keep that momentum going—for everyone. Need support or want to start therapy? Contact Nurocoach today. We’re here to listen.