Therapy in 5 Years: The Looming Crisis of Burnout & Reimbursement

Summary

Terri Parke, LPC reacts to our Future of Therapy report and talks about two big issues shaping the field: therapist burnout and reimbursement rates. Terri shares how the high rate of burnout in therapists is affecting the future of the profession, including why many therapists don’t know if they’ll still be doing this work in the next five years. She connects burnout to reimbursement rates, explaining that when reimbursement rates are low, therapists are required to see a lot of clients just to make a livable living, and that volume contributes to burnout over time. Terri also discusses making therapy more accessible, including workplace flexibility so clients can get therapy during the work day. Her bottom line: we have to start valuing therapy, both from a reimbursement standpoint and from an access standpoint, to make therapy sustainable for therapists and accessible to everybody. This is a conversation about the reality therapists face, and what must change to keep providers in the field and make mental health care work for everyone. If this resonates, like the video, share it with colleagues, and subscribe for more insights on therapist well-being, burnout prevention, and the future of mental health care.