Trying to land a therapist these days can be difficult at a time when the world is on fire.
Six in 10 psychologists no longer have openings for new patients, according to a study by the APA. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, about three-quarters of practitioners have seen their waiting lists grow. Almost 80% of practitioners have seen an increase in patients with anxiety disorders and 34% have seen an increase in people needing treatment for depression.
"I started my private practice just before Covid hit, and it was definitely filling up at that time," says Dr. Reid. Since that time, the numbers have gone up a lot. She no longer advertises her practice on Psychology Today, a site where people can find therapists.
anxiety and insomnia have been major players in the swine flu epidemic. People with anxiety, phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder had trouble early on. There was also the isolation and the doom scrolling. People are trying to re-enter the world. She says that people are having anxiety trying to re- engage in social settings that were previously not as safe. They are having to retrain their brain.
She says that sometimes people need to go back to their primary care doctor for a period of time. According to the APA study, the average psychologist is contacted by 15 potential patients every month, and that she usually has room for one new patient every few weeks.
The founder of Therapists of New York has seen an increase. She thinks the demand has gone up since the swine flu hit. All of us were in a trauma. People were isolated, they were losing friends, and they were scared. They had more time to look for help.
Dr Marroqun is a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles and an associate professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University. Marroqun says there is a lot of loneliness. There are more people coming in who say they are emerging from the Pandemic. I've lost my connection with friends, I haven't been dating, and I'm feeling lonely and isolated.
The problem has been compounded by the fact that people can't get care. She thinks that they may have been struggling for months or even a year or two with increasing anxiety when she first sees them. They are with more symptoms and higher levels of depression and anxiety. It's making it more difficult.
As Covid rages on, healthcare workers have had difficulty. The aftermath of what they experienced during the peak of Covid will be an issue in our healthcare community for a long time.
Demand has increased in a few areas. She says she has never had so much calls for couples therapy. During the Pandemic, couples went from living parallel lives to being in a small apartment. She says that she has seen people grappling with "existential anxiety, climate change, political issues, oppression, loneliness".
Many took a moment to ponder, "Who am I?" I don't know what to do. Where would I like to go? What job would you like to do? Is this important? There is a person who says that. We have a little more time to think about ourselves than we ever did.
Another change was brought about during that time. It didn't feel stigmatized to need help during the Pandemic because nobody was doing well There is a therapist in every show I watch. Athletes, musicians, and therapists are seen in the media so it's become more part of our culture.
If the APA study is to be believed, the easing of stigma has fueled demand. What can we do to fix the shortage?
Insurance practices could be changed to help. It can be hard for therapists to accept insurance because the reimbursement rates are too low. Patients may have to pay out of pocket if they want to see a therapist.
Patients need a better system for finding care. It's one of the biggest obstacles to getting into therapy. It's difficult to tell what someone's like from a picture and a three-paragraph bio, and online searches can turn up many profiles to scroll through. I think someone could come up with a way to make it easier to connect people with therapists.
Efforts are being made. It is possible for Philadelphia therapists to see each other's availability. She says that they feel a responsibility to try and get patients some good options if they can't. The Therapy Group of NYC co-founded by Dr. Brad Brenner is working on a platform called WithTherapy, which helps pair patients with providers. It is difficult to know if a therapist is accepting new patients. Knowing if your schedules align is one thing.
Seeking a therapist through word of mouth is a good way to start. Under programs such as PsyPact, a legal framework that allows practitioners to work in multiple states, the increasing use of Telehealth may help.
Prospective patients should investigate therapists who don't take insurance. He suggests contacting the in-network providers on the insurance company website.
Therapist's work may not be possible if they are not accessible. She started writing as a way of reaching people she wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. She says she can't see everyone in one place. A sense of responsibility is what you feel when you have the training.
We wanted to get as many people as we could. We are trying to find a way to do that.
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