The Star Tribune brings us a piece earlier this week on the “boom” in psychotherapy practices, ostensibly because of the down economy:
Schoener is, again, seeing more of those things. “We’re busier than ever, and we haven’t had any recent publicity or visibility,” said Schoener, executive director of the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis. “It’s quite striking.”
He estimates that the number of clients is 20 percent higher than just three years ago. Calls are coming from stressed-out couples who can’t stop fighting, from people worried about losing their jobs, from parents whose adult children have been forced to move home. “And we haven’t seen the full bore of the housing crisis,” he said.
The article has a few data points to support its hypothesis, which doesn’t seem all that a stretch to believe that when the economy falters, mortgage defaults are skyrocketing, and more people become unemployed, there’s a lot more to be stressed out about and be more prone to things like depression.
The article notes that, sadly, it’s no easier to find affordable mental health treatment. Many insurance companies and health plans don’t offer equal benefits for mental health concerns as they do for physical health concerns. And when you try and make use of such benefits, you’ll often find a 3 month waiting list before you’re even seen by a mental health professional. The article also offers some general advice on what to do and how to seek out help.
I don’t think a “therapy boom” is necessarily a good thing, but I do have to say that if more people find it acceptable to turn to a psychotherapist to help them through rough economic times, it helps reduce the stigma of seeking out treatment for mental health concerns. Which is a good thing.
Read the full article: Unfortunately, therapists find business booming
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17 Responses to “Down Economy = Therapy Boom?” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
thalia at 1:59 pm on
August 27th, 2008
There’s also been some bad press in the past few years about antidepressants. (The teens and suicide issue which is older, and the ‘don’t work better than placebo’ reports more recently). So maybe people are feeling more disenchanted with biological psychiatry and turning back to the talking cure.
I am from Canada and am one of the fortunate ones in our society here that has free access to a psychiatrist under our Alberta Health Care System. Yes, there is a long waiting list to accomplish this but the payoff is worth it. I had previously seen a social worker who charged $160.00 an hour and my insurance was only good for four or five sessions at the most. First off, where do these people get off charging such outragious rates for their service? If you ask me ,it just comes down to greed. And these are the people that are suppose to be there and help you get through your stress levels of trying to pay your bills on time and keep a roof over your head. Our health care system doesn’t really care about the individual anymore as it has all come down to the almighty dollar sign. What ever happened to those professionals that use to do pro bonal from time to time. I just consider myself very lucky for the help I am getting and all it is costing me is my time and effort to get better without adding a cost to my stress. Good luck to all of you out there and I hope the system comes through for you. Linda
Dano MacNamarrah at 8:05 pm on
August 28th, 2008
I do suppose that some of the “boom” could be attributed to the unemployment issue. This has a yin yang aspect. On the one hand, it will stress you out, whilst on the other hand, you now have time to attend therapy sessions!
therapyfirst at 10:18 am on
August 29th, 2008
Yes, it is a healthy choice to seek out support and guidance when one is troubled or lost, BUT, I am a firm believer we are not a cure for poverty or entrenched societal ills. Helping people navigate through rough times is just that, being an aide, not the answer. And, as a psychiatrist, I am seeing more people come to me for meds to treat their financial woes and poor choices. It will not work, and it is an indictment of numerous aspects of our society when people are directed to think this way.
So, therapy is a good decision, but it is not the only decision. We can’t change people, we can only help people want and act on change.
Careful what you wish for, clinicians!
therapyfirst (psychiatrist)
Ryan - Psychology Today at 2:12 am on
September 4th, 2008
An interesting article, but I wonder if these findings are applicable to all forms of counseling. I find anecdotally from my private practice colleagues that their numbers are down. Perhaps community mental health booms and private practice busts in an economic downturn. Paying high private practice fees seems like a luxury when we’ve got $5 gas.
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There’s also been some bad press in the past few years about antidepressants. (The teens and suicide issue which is older, and the ‘don’t work better than placebo’ reports more recently). So maybe people are feeling more disenchanted with biological psychiatry and turning back to the talking cure.
I am from Canada and am one of the fortunate ones in our society here that has free access to a psychiatrist under our Alberta Health Care System. Yes, there is a long waiting list to accomplish this but the payoff is worth it. I had previously seen a social worker who charged $160.00 an hour and my insurance was only good for four or five sessions at the most. First off, where do these people get off charging such outragious rates for their service? If you ask me ,it just comes down to greed. And these are the people that are suppose to be there and help you get through your stress levels of trying to pay your bills on time and keep a roof over your head. Our health care system doesn’t really care about the individual anymore as it has all come down to the almighty dollar sign. What ever happened to those professionals that use to do pro bonal from time to time. I just consider myself very lucky for the help I am getting and all it is costing me is my time and effort to get better without adding a cost to my stress. Good luck to all of you out there and I hope the system comes through for you. Linda
I do suppose that some of the “boom” could be attributed to the unemployment issue. This has a yin yang aspect. On the one hand, it will stress you out, whilst on the other hand, you now have time to attend therapy sessions!
Yes, it is a healthy choice to seek out support and guidance when one is troubled or lost, BUT, I am a firm believer we are not a cure for poverty or entrenched societal ills. Helping people navigate through rough times is just that, being an aide, not the answer. And, as a psychiatrist, I am seeing more people come to me for meds to treat their financial woes and poor choices. It will not work, and it is an indictment of numerous aspects of our society when people are directed to think this way.
So, therapy is a good decision, but it is not the only decision. We can’t change people, we can only help people want and act on change.
Careful what you wish for, clinicians!
therapyfirst (psychiatrist)
An interesting article, but I wonder if these findings are applicable to all forms of counseling. I find anecdotally from my private practice colleagues that their numbers are down. Perhaps community mental health booms and private practice busts in an economic downturn. Paying high private practice fees seems like a luxury when we’ve got $5 gas.
