Therapy as the Next Career Move: What the Labor Data Tells Us

Careers in therapy are booming right now. Across industries, workers are reevaluating what they want from their careers and from their lives. Many are choosing therapy careers as the next step.

A recent Wall Street Journal article spotlighted individuals leaving creative careers to pursue counseling, as one example. Some names were recognizable, like actor Eliza Dushku and indie musician Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear. Others were everyday professionals: marketers, designers, filmmakers. What they shared was a desire for work with purpose.

Therapy, they realized, offered more than stability. It offered connection. 

The data backs up this trend. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in therapy show strong projected growth in the coming decade.

• Mental health counselors: 18% expected job increases by 2033
• Marriage and family therapists: 15% expected job increases by 2033
• Counseling psychologists: 11% expected job increases by 2033 

That’s significantly faster than the national average of three percent for all occupations. Other roles that are expected to continue growing also include youth therapists, eating disorder therapists, substance abuse counselors, rehabilitation counselors, trauma therapists, and more.

And, on top of the career-switchers, there are also new grads continuing to enter the field every year. 

Why Counseling Careers Are More in Demand

There are two major factors behind the surge in interest in counseling careers.

For one, it’s a mission-driven profession and is incredibly fulfilling for many in the field. Helping people work through grief, trauma, addiction, and other struggles can be the epitome of meaningful human connection. And in a world where more jobs are being automated or outsourced, therapy offers something many people crave: connection and the chance to make a real difference in someone’s life. 

Plus, the surge in demand for mental health-related services is driving new job openings. Overall, adult participation in counseling rose by up to 126% from pre-pandemic levels, according to federal research.

More recently, according to the 2025 State of Mental Health Report, 28.3% of Americans are currently in therapy and another 25% have sought therapy within the last year. New research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry also found that the number of Americans relying on psychotherapy has increased in the past few years, while use of psychiatric medications is on the decline.

These trends suggest a broader cultural shift: people are embracing therapy and therapeutic interventions. And that drives demand for therapists everywhere. 

How Behavioral Health Organizations Can Prepare

The surge in demand for therapy represents a major opportunity for clinics, counseling programs, mental health agencies, and other therapy-related organizations. But you’ll need the right systems in place to support new providers, especially those entering the field with different backgrounds.

Here’s how to get ready. 

1. Simplify the tech

Not every new therapist is fluent in billing codes, compliance workflow, or other clinic-related workflows. Look for tools like ClinicTracker, which streamline everything from scheduling and documentation to psychological testing and treatment planning.

2. Leverage transferable skills

New therapists bring fresh energy and unexpected strengths. Former teachers might excel at school therapy. A creative writer may shine in narrative therapy. New therapists often bring valuable skills, just delivered through a different lens. Tap into these strengths as part of your clinical culture.

3. Make onboarding accessible

Support new hires through structured training on clinical documentation and managing customized treatment plans. Help them succeed with easy-to-use systems like ClinicTracker that reduce the learning curve. 

It’s a field where career paths can align with personal passion and lived experience, making it especially appealing for people seeking meaningful work.

Prepare To Support the Future of Care

Whether you’re expanding your team or refining your systems, ClinicTracker helps you manage care efficiently so you can stay focused on the people behind every session. Learn more about our solutions.