New Report Uncovers Growth, Under-Preparation and Changing Expectations as Key Factors Shaping the Future of the Therapist Profession

Report captures the voices of professionals navigating today's challenging mental health landscape to deliver insights from the front line

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While much has been written about the surge in demand for behavioral health services, the supply side has been struggling to keep pace with growing needs. Motivo Health, the first marketplace connecting pre-licensed mental health therapists with clinical supervisors online, today released a report, Workforce Trends: Behavioral Health in Focus, shedding light on critical shifts in the therapist profession. The report highlights how rising demand has intensified challenges in recruiting and retaining therapists, led to changing work conditions, and revealed gaps in graduate preparedness that contribute to high burnout rates. To adapt, behavioral health organizations are rethinking their approaches to human resource management, prioritizing smarter and more sustainable employee management strategies.

Motivo's goal in researching and publishing this report was to help behavioral health organizations better understand the profession's current inherent challenges, and more importantly, to surface actionable strategies that they can use to recruit and retain therapists to ensure high quality care. To gather insights, Motivo interviewed clinical and managerial professionals across a range of behavioral health employers, from small nonprofits to large corporate entities. The report captures the personal experiences and observations of these professionals, offering an authentic perspective on the front-line realities of the behavioral health workforce.

Transforming the mental health profession will require addressing the challenges faced by experienced therapists, such as career advancement opportunities and secondary trauma prevention. However, the most significant impact will come from completely reimagining how we prepare and integrate new graduates into the workforce. "We cannot meet the growing demand for mental health services without fundamentally rethinking how we prepare and support the next generation of therapists," said Rachel Ledbetter, CEO of Motivo Health. "The current model characterized by trial-by-fire training and financial barriers is unsustainable. To build a future-ready behavioral health workforce, we must invest meaningfully in education, professional development, and equitable support systems that empower new graduates to thrive."

"This report offers a much-needed and practical perspective on the realities within therapist employer organizations," said Dr. Carla Smith, Chief Clinical Officer at Motivo. "What I appreciate most is that it equips readers with concrete strategies they can implement immediately to drive improvements in their organizations."

Access the report, Workforce Trends: Behavioral Health in Focus.

About Motivo Health

Motivo Health is the first marketplace connecting mental health therapists with clinical supervisors online. Motivo is helping solve the nation's behavioral health crisis by supporting therapists through the licensure process. Similar to doctors going through residency, therapists must complete two years of supervised experience following graduate school. Historically, these hours had to be completed in person, but the rise of digital health now allows supervision to occur virtually in most states. Motivo partners with community mental health organizations, treatment centers, and digital health companies to provide access to quality, vetted clinical supervisors in a completely virtual environment. To learn more, visit motivohealth.com.

Contact:
Lynn Conran
Marketing Manager
[email protected]
https://motivohealth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivohealth/

SOURCE Motivo Health