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Anastasiia Krivenok / Getty ImagesThere were in excess of 1.7 million total podcasts at the start of 2021, a number that continues to grow.And the selection and range of health podcasts out there are huge. Scan the 225 most popular mental health podcasts on iTunes and you’ll find shows covering autism, grief, narcissism, complex trauma, codependency, and binge eating.Podcasts are an excellent way to learn more about mental health issues and common interventions, as many discussself-careand provide practical strategies for taking care of your well-being. Listeners can also learn from renownedpsychologists, authors, and lecturers. It is important to note, however, that a podcast should never take the place oftherapy. Read on for our roundup of the best mental health podcasts.Best Mental Health PodcastsBest Overall:The Positive Psychology PodcastBest for Anxiety:The Anxiety PodcastBest for Time Constraints:Meditation MinisBest for Humor:The Hilarious World of DepressionBest for Emotional Trauma:The Trauma Therapist PodcastBest for Complex Topics:Tara Brach
Anastasiia Krivenok / Getty Images
There were in excess of 1.7 million total podcasts at the start of 2021, a number that continues to grow.And the selection and range of health podcasts out there are huge. Scan the 225 most popular mental health podcasts on iTunes and you’ll find shows covering autism, grief, narcissism, complex trauma, codependency, and binge eating.
Podcasts are an excellent way to learn more about mental health issues and common interventions, as many discussself-careand provide practical strategies for taking care of your well-being. Listeners can also learn from renownedpsychologists, authors, and lecturers. It is important to note, however, that a podcast should never take the place oftherapy. Read on for our roundup of the best mental health podcasts.
Best Mental Health PodcastsBest Overall:The Positive Psychology PodcastBest for Anxiety:The Anxiety PodcastBest for Time Constraints:Meditation MinisBest for Humor:The Hilarious World of DepressionBest for Emotional Trauma:The Trauma Therapist PodcastBest for Complex Topics:Tara Brach
Best Mental Health Podcasts
Best Overall:The Positive Psychology PodcastBest for Anxiety:The Anxiety PodcastBest for Time Constraints:Meditation MinisBest for Humor:The Hilarious World of DepressionBest for Emotional Trauma:The Trauma Therapist PodcastBest for Complex Topics:Tara Brach
1Best Overall: The Positive Psychology PodcastThe Positive Psychology PodcastLearn MoreWhy We Chose It:The Positive Psychology podcast covers all sorts of topics such as passion, mindfulness, and strengths with a focus on positive psychology so you can cherry-pick the strategies that work best for you, regardless of what you are going through.What We LikeA variety of topics are coveredMany episodes4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple app storeWhat We Don’t LikeBackbone is positive psychology which may not suit all listenersOlder episodes do not feature guestsHost Kristen Truempy is a seasoned podcaster with a Master’s degree in appliedpositive psychology, a branch of psychology that focuses on helping people become happier without dwelling on negative aspects of their lives. Episodes range in length from 30 to 60 minutes and they often include a special guest speaker. This podcast is widely available on the Apple App Store, Spotify, ACast, Google, and many other platforms and covers a wide range of topics:narcissism, sex, humility, self-love, and more. It’s been around since 2014, so there are many episodes to dig into.
1
Best Overall: The Positive Psychology PodcastThe Positive Psychology PodcastLearn MoreWhy We Chose It:The Positive Psychology podcast covers all sorts of topics such as passion, mindfulness, and strengths with a focus on positive psychology so you can cherry-pick the strategies that work best for you, regardless of what you are going through.What We LikeA variety of topics are coveredMany episodes4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple app storeWhat We Don’t LikeBackbone is positive psychology which may not suit all listenersOlder episodes do not feature guestsHost Kristen Truempy is a seasoned podcaster with a Master’s degree in appliedpositive psychology, a branch of psychology that focuses on helping people become happier without dwelling on negative aspects of their lives. Episodes range in length from 30 to 60 minutes and they often include a special guest speaker. This podcast is widely available on the Apple App Store, Spotify, ACast, Google, and many other platforms and covers a wide range of topics:narcissism, sex, humility, self-love, and more. It’s been around since 2014, so there are many episodes to dig into.
Best Overall: The Positive Psychology Podcast
The Positive Psychology Podcast
Learn More
Why We Chose It:The Positive Psychology podcast covers all sorts of topics such as passion, mindfulness, and strengths with a focus on positive psychology so you can cherry-pick the strategies that work best for you, regardless of what you are going through.
What We LikeA variety of topics are coveredMany episodes4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple app storeWhat We Don’t LikeBackbone is positive psychology which may not suit all listenersOlder episodes do not feature guests
What We LikeA variety of topics are coveredMany episodes4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple app store
A variety of topics are covered
Many episodes
4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple app store
What We Don’t LikeBackbone is positive psychology which may not suit all listenersOlder episodes do not feature guests
Backbone is positive psychology which may not suit all listeners
Older episodes do not feature guests
Host Kristen Truempy is a seasoned podcaster with a Master’s degree in appliedpositive psychology, a branch of psychology that focuses on helping people become happier without dwelling on negative aspects of their lives. Episodes range in length from 30 to 60 minutes and they often include a special guest speaker. This podcast is widely available on the Apple App Store, Spotify, ACast, Google, and many other platforms and covers a wide range of topics:narcissism, sex, humility, self-love, and more. It’s been around since 2014, so there are many episodes to dig into.
2
Best for Anxiety: The Anxiety Podcast
The Anxiety Podcast
What We LikeSolely focused on overcoming anxietyOver 400 episodesWhat We Don’t LikeThe host is not a licensed mental health providerMost episodes are about Tim’s personal experiences or answering listener questions
What We LikeSolely focused on overcoming anxietyOver 400 episodes
Solely focused on overcoming anxiety
Over 400 episodes
What We Don’t LikeThe host is not a licensed mental health providerMost episodes are about Tim’s personal experiences or answering listener questions
The host is not a licensed mental health provider
Most episodes are about Tim’s personal experiences or answering listener questions
Host Tim JP Collins suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, changed his life in order to recover, and now supports others in doing the same. This unique show isn’t just aboutcoping; it’s about moving past anxiety and fear to live the life for which listeners were destined. Tim combines interviews and listener questions in his episodes in the hopes that listeners will relate. This podcast has over 200 reviews on Apple podcast and 4.7 stars out of 5. Episodes range in length from 10–30 minutes and the topics covered vary. Examples of some topics include meditation, forming habits, practicing gratitude, and putting yourself first. Listeners can tune into the podcast on the podcast’s website, Apple, Android, and Youtube.
3
Best for Time Constraints: Meditation Minis
Meditation Minis
What We LikeShort meditations in 10 minutes or lessAll meditations are freeVaried meditations techniques
Short meditations in 10 minutes or less
All meditations are free
Varied meditations techniques
There are sponsored ads at the beginning, cutting into the time of the meditation
Available on iTunes and Spotify, Meditation Minis has over 30 million downloads, 230,000 followers on Spotify, and 2000+ Apple Podcast 5-star reviews. The meditations presented in this podcast are from a wide variety of sources and do not subscribe to any particular ideology. Every effort is made to present the meditation techniques in this podcast series in a non-dogmatic, non-religious way. Host Chel Hamilton’s voice is calming and clear. As one reviewer wrote, “I love these meditations. They bring me balance, they help me start my day off on the right foot or come out of a frenzied headspace when I’m winding down for bed.”
4
Best for Humor: The Hilarious World of Depression
The Hilarious World of Depression
Why We Chose It:When thinking ofdepression, humor does not come to mind…until this podcast. The Hilarious World of Depression is our top pick for a humorous mental health podcast.
What We LikeBrings humor to the topic of depressionWorks to fight the stigma against clinical depressionAvailable on multiple platformsWhat We Don’t LikeUnclear if new episodes will be released
What We LikeBrings humor to the topic of depressionWorks to fight the stigma against clinical depressionAvailable on multiple platforms
Brings humor to the topic of depression
Works to fight the stigma against clinical depression
Available on multiple platforms
What We Don’t LikeUnclear if new episodes will be released
Unclear if new episodes will be released
5
Best for Emotional Trauma: The Trauma Therapist Podcast
The Trauma Therapist Podcast
Why We Chose It:The Trauma Therapist Podcast is the best mental health podcast for trauma because of the wide variety of mental health experts who specialize in trauma that appear on this show.
Specifically focused on trauma
Guests are leading experts in the field
What We Don’t LikeA newsletter for trauma therapists costs roughly $20 per month
A newsletter for trauma therapists costs roughly $20 per month
6
Best for Complex Topics: Tara Brach
Tara Brach
Why We Chose It:Who better to speak about complex mental health subjects than Tara Brach, a renowned psychologist with a PhD. in clinical psychology and a meditation teacher deeply rooted in Buddhism. It is Tara’s expansive knowledge and gentle tone that makes this our top pick for complex topics.
Episodes are varied offering both meditation and lectures
What We Don’t LikeEpisodes do not directly address mental health issues/disordersLectures can be long, over 60 minutes
Episodes do not directly address mental health issues/disorders
Lectures can be long, over 60 minutes
It’s important to note, however, that podcasts are not a form of medical treatment and should not be seen as a substitute for therapy or medication. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, a consult with a mental health provider is recommended.
Best Mental Health PodcastsThe Positive Psychology PodcastBest Overall20–60 minute episodesThe Anxiety PodcastBest For Anxiety10–60 minute episodesMeditation MinisBest For Time Constraints4–15 minute length episodesThe Hilarious World of DepressionBest For Humor~45-minute episodesThe Trauma Therapist ProjectBest For Emotional Trauma30–45 minute episodesTara BrachBest For Complex Topics10–60 minute episodesFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat Is a Mental Health Podcast?A mental health podcast is any type of podcast that discusses some element ofpsychologyor mental health. Topics covered include trauma, depression, self-love, body image, anxiety, addiction, and more. Some podcast hosts may even interview leaders in the field of mental health.How Do I Choose the Best Mental Health Podcast for Me?The best way to pick a podcast is to listen to a few and see what resonates with you. If you struggle with an identified diagnosis, it can be useful to find a podcast that speaks directly to that issue. It is also helpful to identify with or enjoy listening to the host.How We Chose the Best Mental Health PodcastsWe researched more than 10 different podcasts and assessed them based on the number of reviews, ratings, area of focus, and style of episodes. The podcasts listed here offer listeners the opportunity to learn about general and specific areas of mental health and possible interventions that can be used.While not reviewed for this piece,The Verywell Mind Podcast, is another option that is popular with listeners. The podcast covers a range of topics focused on improving psychological well-being and boosting mental strength.10 Podcasts for Depression
What Is a Mental Health Podcast?
A mental health podcast is any type of podcast that discusses some element ofpsychologyor mental health. Topics covered include trauma, depression, self-love, body image, anxiety, addiction, and more. Some podcast hosts may even interview leaders in the field of mental health.
How Do I Choose the Best Mental Health Podcast for Me?
The best way to pick a podcast is to listen to a few and see what resonates with you. If you struggle with an identified diagnosis, it can be useful to find a podcast that speaks directly to that issue. It is also helpful to identify with or enjoy listening to the host.
How We Chose the Best Mental Health Podcasts
We researched more than 10 different podcasts and assessed them based on the number of reviews, ratings, area of focus, and style of episodes. The podcasts listed here offer listeners the opportunity to learn about general and specific areas of mental health and possible interventions that can be used.
While not reviewed for this piece,The Verywell Mind Podcast, is another option that is popular with listeners. The podcast covers a range of topics focused on improving psychological well-being and boosting mental strength.
10 Podcasts for Depression
1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nielsen.The podcast audience is growing, but advertiser focus should be sharpening. Updated Feb. 25, 2021.
1 Source
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nielsen.The podcast audience is growing, but advertiser focus should be sharpening. Updated Feb. 25, 2021.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nielsen.The podcast audience is growing, but advertiser focus should be sharpening. Updated Feb. 25, 2021.
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