The field of mental health is constantly evolving, and new trends, approaches, and therapist trainings emerge all the time to address the changing needs of individuals. Here we share ten notable trends in the mental health profession that every therapist should be aware of. We´ve included some helpful resources and trainings to help you increase skill to match the evolving needs of current and future clients.
NEWLY UPDATED! See our latest curated research here:
Trends in Mental Health 2024: How Therapists Are Preparing to Meet Demand
What were the top trends in mental health in 2023?
1. Teletherapy and DigitalMental Health
The use of technology, such as video conferencing and smartphone applications, has significantly increased accessibility to mental health services, allowing individuals to receive therapy and support remotely. Therapists are encouraged to sharpen their technology skills and open to the benefits of online psychotherapy sessions in order to serve more people in need.
<< Get our expert tips for your best Zoom therapy sessions >>
2. Trauma-Informed Care
Mental health professionals are increasingly recognizing the impact of trauma on individuals’ lives and adopting trauma-informed approaches that prioritize safety, empowerment, and respect for clients who have experienced trauma.
Academy of Therapy Wisdom is a leading provider of trauma-informed training for mental health professionals. Our leading experts in the field include Dr. Janina Fisher, Frank Anderson, Juliane Taylor Shore, Staci Haines, and many more.
<< Watch a free introduction to healing the fragmented selves to get your clients unstuck with Dr. Janina Fisher, founder of the TIST trauma therapy methodology >>
Join Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment Webinar by Dr. Janina Fisher
Helping Trauma Survivors Get Unstuck: A Fragmented Selves Approach in Therapy
In This NEW Janina Fisher Webinar you will learn:
How to understand perplexing clients using the TIST perspective so you can see the fragmented selves at work.
How to organize a treatment plan using the TIST model so you have an effective approach to care.
How TIST helps shift even the most stuck clients so they can finally make progress.
How to relieve your frustration and prevent burnout with more effective trauma treatment.
3. Integrated and Holistic Therapeutic Care
There is a growing recognition of the connection between mental health and physical health. Mental health professionals are collaborating more closely with medical professionals to provide integrated care that addresses both physical and mental well-being.
The body-mind connection has been a growing trend in the therapeutic fields for several years. Somatic therapy approaches marry traditional psychology with physical awareness and intervention to provide deep and lasting change for psychotherapy clients. The growing field of Generative Somatics goes a step further and integrates trauma healing at the individual and systemic levels.
<< Learn more about Staci Haines with her free training Understanding Individual and Collective Trauma Healing. >>
4. Cultural Competence, Diversity, and Privilege
Mental health professionals are emphasizing cultural competence, recognizing and respecting the diversity of clients’ backgrounds, identities, and experiences to provide more inclusive and effective care.
Working with privilege in the therapeutic setting has become an especially important aspect of couples therapy, as couples often come from divergent cultural backgrounds and partners have differing lived experience of social injustice and bias.
Training in cultural competence, diversity, and privilege is critical for any therapist with BIPOC and LGBTQI clients.
<< Learn more about working with systemic trauma in couples therapy and building relational privilege with Akilah Riley-Richardson. >>
5.Mindfulness and Meditation in Psychology
Practices such as mindfulness and meditation are gaining popularity as evidence-based approaches to reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and enhance overall mental health. Mental health professionals are incorporating these techniques into their therapeutic interventions.
In the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, mindfulness techniques are used to connect with and utilize “self energy”, a critical aspect of healing which goes by many names across various healing and spiritual modalities across the world.
Frank Anderson, a globally-recognized leader in IFS and trauma healing, teaches our course New Dimensions in Trauma Healing where therapists are given important insights into helping clients utilize the healing power of self energy.
<< Watch Frank´s powerful (free) 3-part webinar series IFS, trauma, neuroscience, and intuition for therapists. >>
6. Neuroscience, Neurobiology, and Psychology
While traditional mental health approaches often focus on addressing symptoms and disorders on the behavioral levels, neurobiology directly addresses how the brain reacts and gets locked in problematic patterns as a result of trauma and habit. Popular neurobiology in psychology topics include repatterning and memory reconsolidation.
Academy of Therapy Wisdom is proud to offer several highly engaging online therapy courses taught by Juliane (Jules) Taylor Shore. Jules is a leading expert in neurobiology and its applications in the mental health field.
<< Watch our free webinar with Jules Shore on Memory Reconsolidation for Anxiety >>
7. Gender and Sexual Identity Affirmative Approaches to Therapy
Mental health professionals are increasingly adopting affirmative and supportive approaches for clients who identify as LGBTQ+ to create safe and inclusive therapeutic environments that address their unique needs and challenges. Nonbinary gender therapy has become an especially important topic in recent years.
Sarah Burgamy, Psy. D. is a leading training professional in the area of gender and sexual identity in therapy and teaches her course on providing gender-affirmative care (to ALL clients) available exclusively at therapywisdom.com.
<< Watch Sarah´s impressive free training on understanding gender diversity in clinical practice for psychotherapists >>
8. Professional Growth and Continuing Education
An important aspect of therapist self-care and professional well-being is building skills and perspectives that help us become the master therapists we know we can be. Deliberate practice is a key practice therapists can use to grow their clinical practice in a sustainable and successful way while continually deepening their skills within whatever techniques and methodologies they practice.
<< Learn how to become a Master Therapist with a Deliberate Practice Psychotherapy Introductory Webinar with Teri Olds, Ph.D. >>
9. Therapist Self-Care and Wellbeing
Mental health professionals are recognizing the importance of self-care and prioritizing their own well-being to prevent burnout and enhance the quality of care they provide. This includes strategies such as regular supervision, self-reflection, and engaging in personal mental health and somatic wellbeing practices like meditation, yoga, and mindful movement.
<< Support your wellbeing with therapeutic yoga for therapists >>
Learn more about Therapy Wisdom online training for psychotherapists, coaches, social workers on our online therapy courses page.
