TSUNAMI OF PAIN –
Dec. 16, 2021 – Nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise, and most are experiencing a significant surge in calls for appointments, longer waiting lists and difficulty meeting patient demand. Our analysis found that the higher demands for therapy are happening in every region and at similar rates in red and blue states. Former patients have returned for care, and new clients are seeking therapy for the first time for anxiety, relationship problems, racial justice issues, financial stress and other issues that have surfaced during the upheaval of the past 18 months.
“I’m happy that people are actually reaching out for services, but therapists are stressed,” said Shatangela Gibbs, a licensed professional counselor in Bloomfield, Mich. “I hope there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. But it looks like the next few years it’s going to be pretty high numbers. I don’t see it going down anytime soon.”
While most of the therapists we talked to predicted a rough year ahead, I hope our story will make everyone realize that they are not alone, and that many, many people continue to struggle with the stress, isolation and uncertainty that Covid-19 causes.
