Inside the Therapy Room 2026 Provider Survey

Disclaimer: This data reflects survey results across 204 respondents in Mindful Therapy Group’s 2,300 clinician network.

Overview:

In recognition of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Mindful Therapy Group has compiled survey data from its network of 2,300 providers across 6 states. Mindful’s provider network is on the front lines of mental health every day, and we asked them to share what they are seeing on the ground and in the therapy room to help us better advocate for both patients and providers.

Highlights:

• 59% of providers say client distress is higher than last year (39% say slightly higher, and 19.6% say it’s much higher).
• 67% of providers describe clients as “overwhelmed by everything” (41.7%) or “anxious and on edge” (25%).
• 91% of providers say world events come up in sessions (49% say occasionally, and 42% say almost every session).\
• 5% of providers said “anxiety or fear” is among the responses they see from clients when discussing world events.
• 25% of providers say the number one thing the public misunderstands is that mental health treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all.
• 6% of providers are having a hard time or struggling themselves.

Findings:

Data from Mindful Therapy Group’s 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month Survey shines a light on how the weight of world events is impacting individuals’ mental health. Providers see that distress is rising and that anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed are common conversations in therapy sessions.

With 59% of respondents reporting that their clients have become more distressed since last year and 91% sharing that world events come up in sessions occasionally, these results demonstrate the demands providers face today.

Nearly 42% of providers described the emotional tone of their caseload as “overwhelmed by everything,” which was the top response by a sizable margin.

After reviewing these results, Derek Crain, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mindful Therapy Group, reflected on what the survey respondents revealed:

“The providers in our survey said there is no one individual factor weighing on their clients – not politics, finances, or family. It’s everything, all at once.

“A lot of people seem to be quietly feeling the weight of the world right now, but don’t have the words to describe it, and don’t have a way to pinpoint an intervention. This all points to the need for a cultural shift in how we engage with and support one another.”

Notably, apart from the patients themselves, providers are feeling it too. Twenty-one percent of clinicians say they are having a hard time or struggling right now, which reminds us that supporting provider well-being is critical for sustainable high-quality care across the board. When providers are taken care of and supported, patients in the therapy room benefit, and communities thrive.

Jessica Crain, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Mindful Therapy Group, shared:

“There is often an assumption that therapists are somehow above or outside the distress their clients are bringing in, and this data pushes back on that. Clinicians are doing incredibly demanding work inside the same difficult world everyone else is living in, and their well-being directly affects the quality of the care patients receive.

“These findings are a call to support our mental health professionals. After all, taking care of clinicians is a critical part of creating access to high-quality mental healthcare for our communities.”

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, these insights reflect what clinicians experience every day and reinforce the need to support those who provide care.

Survey Questions and Results:

1. Compared to this time last year, the overall emotional distress you’re seeing across your caseload feels:

• 19.6% stated “much higher.”
• 39% stated “slightly higher.”
• 30.4% stated “about the same.”
• 7.8% stated “slightly lower.”
• 1.5% stated “much lower.”

2. Which phrase best captures the emotional tone of your caseload right now?

• 41.7% stated “overwhelmed by everything.”
• 25% stated “anxious and on edge.”
• 9.3% stated “actively coping and resilient.”
• 8.8% stated “sad, but still functioning.”
• 7.8% stated “running on empty.”
• 4.9% stated “angry and frustrated.”
• 2.5% stated “disconnected or numb.”

3. How often do broader world events (politics, war, social unrest, climate, etc.) come up in sessions?

• 49% stated “occasionally.”
• 42% stated “almost every session.”
• 7.8% stated “rarely.”
• 1% stated “never.”

4. When those world concerns show up, what do clients most often express? (Percentages do not total to 100% because respondents could select multiple responses.)

• 73.% stated “anxiety or fear” is among the responses they see.
• 61.3% stated “anger or frustration” is among the responses they see.
• 58.3% stated “hopelessness or powerlessness” is among the responses they see.
• 47.5% stated “feeling overwhelmed” is among the responses they see.
• 17.6% stated “numbness or disengaged” is among the responses they see.

5. What do you wish the public better understood about mental health right now?

• 25% stated “mental health treatment is not a one-size-fits-all.”
• 23.5% stated “anxiety is being fueled by real, ongoing stressors.”
•  23.5% stated “mental health struggles are real and prevalent, and some people affected need professional help to get better.”
• 13.2% stated “healing takes time.”
• 14.7% stated other messages about mental health.

6. During Mental Health Awareness Month, what type of awareness do you believe matters most right now?

• 18.1% stated “highlighting resilience alongside struggle.”
• 16.7% stated “remind people they are not alone.”
• 16.7% stated “encouraging people to seek help before reaching a crisis.”
• 16.7% stated “emphasizing prevention, not just treatment.”
• 15.7% stated “reducing stigma for people who appear high-functioning.”
• 16.7% stated other types of awareness.

7. As a clinician, how would you describe your own well-being right now?

• 39.7% stated “I’m managing.”
• 38.7% stated “I’m doing well.”
• 13.2% stated “I’m having a hard time.”
• 7.4% stated “I’m struggling more than usual right now.”