47 Therapy Statistics: Effectiveness, Access & Cost (2026)

Therapy works. That is not an opinion -- it is a conclusion supported by decades of clinical research, government surveys, and meta-analyses involving millions of participants. But how well does therapy work, who is actually getting it, and what stands in the way for everyone else?

We compiled 47 of the most important therapy statistics for 2026, drawing from primary sources including the American Psychological Association (APA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and peer-reviewed journals. Every number below is cited with its original source.

Therapy Effectiveness Statistics

The evidence base for psychotherapy is substantial. Across conditions, modalities, and populations, therapy consistently produces meaningful and often lasting change.

75%

Source: American Psychological Association

• 75% of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit. This figure comes from the APA's review of over 50 years of outcome research and represents a consistent finding across multiple meta-analyses (APA, 2012; Lambert, 2013).

• 50--80% of CBT patients report significant improvement, depending on the condition being treated. Response rates are highest for anxiety disorders (up to 80%) and remain strong for depression (50--60%) (Hofmann et al., 2012, Cognitive Therapy and Research).

• 84--90% of single-trauma PTSD victims no longer meet diagnostic criteria after EMDR treatment. This was demonstrated across multiple randomized controlled trials with assessments at 3-month follow-up (Shapiro, 2014; van der Kolk et al., 2007, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry).

• 77% of patients with borderline personality disorder who complete DBT no longer meet diagnostic criteria at one year. DBT remains the gold-standard treatment for BPD, with durable outcomes at follow-up (Linehan et al., 2006, Archives of General Psychiatry).

• 70--73% of couples in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) achieve their therapy goals, and 90% see significant improvement in relationship satisfaction (Johnson et al., 1999, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; Wiebe & Johnson, 2016).

• Therapy produces better long-term outcomes than medication alone for depression. CBT responders are significantly more likely to sustain their treatment response at 12-month follow-up compared to those treated with antidepressants alone (Hollon et al., 2005, Archives of General Psychiatry).

• Combined therapy and medication significantly outperforms either treatment alone. For moderate to severe depression, the combination yields response rates approximately 15--20 percentage points higher than monotherapy (Cuijpers et al., 2014, World Psychiatry).

• The average effect size for psychotherapy is 0.80 (large), meaning the average therapy client is better off than approximately 79% of untreated individuals (Smith & Glass, 1977; Wampold, 2001, The Great Psychotherapy Debate).

For deeper dives into the evidence for specific approaches, see our pages on CBT statistics, EMDR statistics, and DBT statistics.

Therapy Usage and Demographics

More Americans are seeking therapy than ever before. The stigma around mental health treatment has declined sharply, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, driving record levels of engagement.

23%

Source: Gallup, 2023

• 23% of U.S. adults visited a mental health professional in 2022, up from just 13% in 2004. This represents one of the most dramatic shifts in healthcare utilization in recent decades (Gallup, 2023).

• Approximately 30% of American adults have seen a therapist at least once since 2020, reflecting the surge in mental health awareness and demand triggered by the pandemic (APA, 2023).

• 25% of adult women received mental health treatment in the past year, compared to 15% of men. This gender gap persists across age groups, though it has narrowed slightly among younger adults (CDC NHIS, 2022).

• Millennials make up 48.1% of therapy seekers, followed by Gen Z at 31.7%. These two generations now account for nearly 80% of new therapy intake appointments (Thriving Center of Psychology Survey, 2023).

• 46% of Gen Z Americans report having been diagnosed with a mental health condition. This is the highest rate of any generation and reflects both increased prevalence and greater willingness to seek diagnosis (APA Stress in America Survey, 2023).

• 14% of U.S. adults received psychotherapy or counseling in the past 12 months as measured by the National Health Interview Survey (CDC NHIS, 2024).

• White adults receive mental health treatment at the highest rate (23.0%), followed by multiracial adults (19.8%), while Black adults (13.6%) and Hispanic adults (12.9%) access treatment at significantly lower rates (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022).

• Adults aged 26--49 are the most likely age group to receive mental health services (24.3%), followed by those aged 18--25 (22.8%) and those 50 and older (17.1%) (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022).

Therapy Cost Statistics

Cost remains the single most cited barrier to therapy. Understanding the actual numbers helps you plan realistically and find affordable options.

$100–$200

Source: APA, 2023

• The average therapy session costs $100--$200, with significant variation by location. State averages range from roughly $122 in lower-cost areas like Mississippi and Arkansas to $227 or more in Washington, D.C. and New York (APA, 2023; SimplePractice, 2023).

• With insurance, the typical copay is $20--$60 per session for in-network providers. Out-of-network reimbursement varies widely by plan and often covers only 50--80% of the allowed amount (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

• Without insurance, therapy costs $90--$300+ per session, depending on the therapist's credentials, specialty, and geographic market. Psychiatrists and psychologists tend to charge more than licensed counselors or social workers (APA, 2023).

• Therapy costs have risen approximately 13% over the past five years, outpacing general inflation. Rising demand combined with provider shortages has driven much of this increase (Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data, 2019--2024).

• 52% of Americans cite cost as the top barrier to accessing therapy. This exceeds concerns about stigma, availability, and time -- making affordability the dominant obstacle to treatment (NAMI, 2023).

• Sliding scale fees, typically $40--$100 per session, are offered by approximately 60% of therapists in private practice, though availability is often limited (SimplePractice Survey, 2023).

For a full breakdown of therapy pricing by modality, provider type, and region, see our complete therapy cost guide. If you are wondering about coverage, read Does Insurance Cover Therapy?.

Therapy Access and Barriers

Even when people want therapy, getting it is often extraordinarily difficult. Provider shortages, geographic barriers, long wait times, and systemic inequities create a treatment gap affecting tens of millions of Americans.

54.7%

Source: SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022

• 54.7% of adults with mental illness -- more than 28 million people -- receive no treatment at all. For adults with serious mental illness, the untreated rate is still 36.2% (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022).

• 122 million Americans live in federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs). These areas need an estimated 8,000+ additional providers to meet basic demand (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2023).

• Only 26.4% of the mental health workforce need is met in designated shortage areas, meaning nearly three-quarters of the required capacity does not exist (HRSA, 2023).

• 51% of U.S. counties have zero practicing psychiatrists. Rural counties are disproportionately affected, with some patients driving hours for the nearest appointment (NAMI, 2023; Merritt Hawkins, 2022).

• 60% of psychologists reported having no openings for new patients in an APA survey, with 46% reporting that their waitlist had grown since the pandemic began (APA Practitioner Pulse Survey, 2022).

• Wait times for a new therapy appointment range from 3 weeks to 6 months, depending on location, insurance type, and provider specialty. Medicaid patients and those seeking specialized care face the longest waits (NAMI, 2023).

• 95% of people report experiencing at least one barrier to accessing therapy. Beyond cost, common barriers include difficulty finding an available provider (42%), scheduling conflicts (33%), and uncertainty about where to start (29%) (Talkiatry Survey, 2023).

• Racial and ethnic disparities persist in treatment access. White adults access mental health treatment at a rate of 23.0%, compared to 13.6% for Black adults and 12.9% for Hispanic adults. Language barriers, provider cultural competency gaps, and insurance disparities all contribute (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022).

122M+

Source: HRSA, 2023

Therapy Dropout Statistics

Starting therapy is one challenge. Finishing is another. Dropout rates are persistently high across settings and modalities, which limits the effectiveness of treatment at a population level.

34.8%

Source: Swift & Greenberg, 2012

• The mean therapy dropout rate is 34.8%, based on a meta-analysis of 146 studies encompassing over 21,000 clients. This means roughly one in three clients leave therapy before their therapist considers treatment complete (Swift & Greenberg, 2012, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology).

• The majority of dropouts occur after just two sessions. Early termination is the most common pattern, with many clients attending an intake session and one follow-up before disengaging (Barrett et al., 2008, Clinical Psychology Review).

• Internet-based CBT has a higher dropout rate (16.3%) than face-to-face CBT (12.0%) when measured within structured clinical trials. In real-world practice, dropout rates for both formats are considerably higher (Fernandez et al., 2015, PLOS ONE).

• The most common reason for dropout is inability to contact the client (36.1%), followed by lack of motivation (19.5%), practical barriers such as scheduling and transportation (14.2%), and dissatisfaction with treatment (10.8%) (Barrett et al., 2008).

• Younger clients, those with lower income, and racial and ethnic minorities drop out at higher rates, suggesting that structural barriers -- not just clinical factors -- drive premature termination (Swift & Greenberg, 2012).

• Therapeutic alliance is the strongest predictor of treatment completion. Clients who rate their relationship with their therapist as strong after the first or second session are 2--3 times more likely to complete the full course of treatment (Sharf et al., 2010, Journal of Counseling Psychology).

For a deeper analysis of why people leave therapy and what helps them stay, see our therapy dropout statistics page.

Online Therapy Statistics

Telehealth has fundamentally reshaped how therapy is delivered. What began as a pandemic necessity has become a permanent and growing feature of mental health care.

• The global online therapy market was valued at $4.38 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $17.34 billion by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of approximately 14.8% (Grand View Research, 2025).

• 62.3% of all telehealth claims in 2023 involved a mental health diagnosis, making mental health the single largest use case for telehealth across all medical specialties (Fair Health, 2024).

• 73% of employers now offer virtual mental health care as part of their benefits package, up from 39% in 2019 (Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, 2023).

• The share of mental health visits conducted via telehealth rose from 47% in 2020 to 58% in 2023. While the initial pandemic spike has stabilized, telehealth's share continues to grow incrementally (McKinsey & Company, 2024).

• Telehealth therapy shows comparable outcomes to in-person therapy for most conditions. A meta-analysis of 17 RCTs found no significant difference in treatment outcomes for depression and anxiety between videoconference-based and face-to-face CBT (Batastini et al., 2021, Clinical Psychology Review).

• Client satisfaction with telehealth therapy is high. In a survey of over 2,000 telehealth therapy users, 80% rated their experience as "good" or "excellent," and 67% said they preferred video sessions over in-person visits for routine appointments (APA Telehealth Survey, 2023).

For a comprehensive look at the online therapy landscape, see our online therapy statistics page. You can also explore our guide to online vs. in-person therapy.

Youth and Teen Therapy Statistics

Children and adolescents face a mental health crisis of their own, compounded by severe shortages of youth-specialized providers.

• 70--80% of children and teens with mental health disorders never receive professional help. This treatment gap is especially acute in lower-income families and rural areas (World Health Organization, 2021; NAMI).

• 60% of adolescents with major depressive episodes do not receive any treatment. Among those who do receive care, only a fraction get evidence-based therapy like CBT or interpersonal psychotherapy (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022).

• The rate of major depressive episodes among youth aged 12--17 declined from 20.8% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2024, representing the first sustained decrease in over a decade. Researchers attribute this to expanded telehealth access, school-based programs, and increased screening (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2024).

• Suicide attempts among high school students increased 43% between 2009 and 2023, with the sharpest increases among female students and LGBTQ+ youth (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023).

• Only 8,300 practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists serve the entire U.S., far below the estimated need of 30,000+ to adequately address youth mental health demand (AACAP, 2023).

For resources specific to younger populations, see our guides on signs your child needs therapy, teen therapy in Bethesda, and play therapy for anxiety in children.

Therapy Trends to Watch

Several emerging trends are reshaping who gets therapy, how it is delivered, and how effective it can be.

• AI-assisted therapy tools are growing rapidly. While not replacements for human therapists, AI chatbots and digital therapeutics are being used for psychoeducation, skills practice between sessions, and bridging waitlist gaps. The FDA has approved multiple digital therapeutics for substance use and insomnia (FDA, 2023).

• Psychedelic-assisted therapy is advancing through clinical trials. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression have shown response rates exceeding 60--70% in phase 2 and 3 trials (Mitchell et al., 2021, Nature Medicine; Goodwin et al., 2022, New England Journal of Medicine). See our overview of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

• Measurement-based care is becoming standard practice. More therapists are using validated outcome measures at every session to track progress and adjust treatment. Studies show this approach reduces dropout and improves outcomes by 20--30% (Lambert et al., 2018, Psychotherapy).

• Employer-funded mental health benefits are expanding. Average employer spending on mental health benefits has increased 30% since 2020, driven by employee demand and ROI data showing $4 returned for every $1 invested in mental health care (Deloitte, 2022; WHO, 2019).

• Stepped care models are gaining traction. These systems match treatment intensity to symptom severity -- starting with lower-cost interventions like guided self-help and escalating to individual therapy only when needed. Stepped care has been shown to reduce costs by 20--30% while maintaining equivalent outcomes (van Straten et al., 2015, BMJ).

• Diversity in the therapist workforce remains a major gap. Only 4% of psychologists identify as Black, and 6% as Hispanic, while these groups make up 13.6% and 19.1% of the U.S. population respectively. This mismatch contributes to disparities in treatment access and engagement (APA Workforce Survey, 2022).

Methodology and Sources

The statistics in this article come from a range of primary and secondary sources. We prioritize the following in order of reliability:

1. Government surveys and datasets: SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), CDC National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) shortage area designations.

2. Professional organization reports: American Psychological Association (APA) surveys, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports, and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) workforce data.

3. Peer-reviewed meta-analyses and systematic reviews: Published in journals including the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, World Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology Review, Archives of General Psychiatry, and PLOS ONE.

4. Industry and market research: Grand View Research, McKinsey & Company, Mercer, and Fair Health claims data.

All statistics reflect the most recent available data as of March 2026. Where studies report a range, we present the range rather than selecting a single number. We update this page regularly as new data becomes available.

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Therapy is one of the most effective interventions in all of healthcare, yet more than half of the people who need it still do not receive it. Whether the barrier is cost, access, stigma, or simply not knowing where to start, understanding the data is the first step toward closing the gap.

If you are ready to take the next step, our therapy for beginners guide walks you through the entire process, from finding the right therapist to what to expect in your first session.