More American adults with psychiatric problems have been seeking talk therapy in recent years, according to a number of recently published studies. One such study, in the American Journal of Psychiatry, reported that the number of people using only psychiatric medications for treatment declined for the first time in decades. Additionally, the study found that more people who start psychotherapy stay with it than in previous years.
Teletherapy
The studies also examine the disparities in teletherapy access, highlighting the need for addressing the barriers that prevent certain populations from accessing teletherapy services.
Several other studies have examined trends in outpatient psychotherapy in the U.S, all of them highlighting an increase in its use, including the rise of teletherapy. The most significant rise in psychotherapy use among adults was between 2018 and 2021. The studies discuss the factors influencing these trends, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which spurred the in increase of teletherapy. The rise in psychotherapy use was also influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a brief leveling during 2020 followed by aresurgencein 2021.
Another factor that helped increase the use of psychotherapy was access. The ability to use psychotherapy has risen substantially among U.S. adults with mild to moderate distress since 2018. Research has shown that the increase in psychotherapy use has been seen among younger adults, women, college-educated individuals, as well as those with higher family incomes.
Privately insured individuals also experienced greater gains in psychotherapy use compared to those who are publicly insured or uninsured. This is notable since a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey found that about 34% of psychologists do not accept any type of health insurance.
If a therapist bills an insurance company $200 for a session, they’re only reimbursed for half of that or even less. This means that a therapist who chooses not to accept insurance can easily make double the salary of a therapist with the same skills and educational background who does. This has led some people to suggest that the quality of psychotherapy performed by a therapist who does not accept insurance is greater than that of one who does not. So far, there hasn’t been surveys of clients to support this theory.
Other research suggests that a significant portion of California therapists, particularly those in private practice, do not accept insurance. One estimate suggests that 42% of therapists in California do not accept insurance at all. This means that clients may need to pay out-of-pocket costs for therapy, which can average around $130 per session. This number has changed drastically since a decade or more ago when surveys indicated that only around 30% of licensed therapists in California accepted insurance. One theory for this change is that many licensed therapists have been forced to accept insurance in order to stay in business as a glut of newly licensed therapists have entered the field.
A surge in new therapists, especially in states like California with already high numbers of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), can put downward pressure on wages. This is because an increase in the supply of therapists may not be met by a corresponding increase in demand, potentially leading to lower earning potential for all LMFTs and forcing them to accept insurance. This may be somewhat offset in that research has shown that national psychotherapy expenditures also increased between 2018 and 2021.
Trends in Psychotherapy
In the United States, psychotherapy use has been increasing, particularly among socioeconomically advantaged groups, with notable gains in telehealth access and the use of psychotherapy alone for mild to moderate distress. Research found that nearly 40% of adults using outpatient psychotherapy in 2021 accessed at least one session via teletherapy. The number of psychotherapy visits per patient also increased.
Percentages of people receiving psychotherapy increased significantly among those with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related disorders. Researching has discussed the relationship between psychotherapy and psychotropic medication use, noting that while the use of only psychotherapy increased, the use of only psychotropic medication declined.
Overall, research has shown that psychotherapy use increased significantly faster among several socioeconomically advantaged groups and that inequalities were evident in teletherapy access. These trends and patterns highlight a need for clinical interventions and health care policies to broaden access to psychotherapy including teletherapy.
Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Author Bio
Dr. Randi Fredricks is a leading expert in the field of mental health counseling and psychotherapy, with over three decades of experience in both research and practice. She holds a PhD from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and has published ground-breaking research on communication, mental health, and complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Fredricks is a best-selling author of books on the treatment of mental health conditions with complementary and alternative medicine. Her work has been featured in leading academic journals and is recognized worldwide. She currently is actively involved in developing innovative solutions for treating mental health. To learn more about Dr. Fredricks’ work, visit her website: https://drrandifredricks.com
References
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