Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Therapy Deserts ExistHow Therapy Deserts Impact PeopleWhat to Do If You Live in a Therapy Desert

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Table of Contents

Why Therapy Deserts Exist

How Therapy Deserts Impact People

What to Do If You Live in a Therapy Desert

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“Therapy deserts” are regions in the United States where mental health care is scarce. Often located in rural areas, these areas leave those in need of mental health care out on their own without proper resources. This can result in a long and unfeasible journey to the nearest clinic, a shortage of available therapists in the area,or even a complete inability to access care.

This article will explore why therapy deserts exist, their impact on those who need mental health care, and how you can seek support if you live in a therapy desert.

Are We Closing the Mental Health Treatment Gap?

Rural areas are known for having fewer resources in general. In some areas, it isn’t uncommon to drive over an hour to get groceries or live even further from basic or emergency medical care resources. Mental health care is no exception.

Therapy deserts are a complex combination of:

Location

Let’s begin with exploring how location ties into therapy deserts.

So, consider non-rural states. These states, such as California and New York, include multiple large cities. These states are usually not at risk of having a therapy desert because they have plenty of large universities, varying income levels, and cities with more residents than rural states.

Now, think about states with a lower population and no densely populated cities, like Wyoming or Alabama. While they might have universities in these smaller cities, these cities may not be as large as the ones in California and New York.

Fewer People Equals Fewer TherapistsWhen there are simply fewer people in a state, there will be fewer care providers.

Fewer People Equals Fewer Therapists

When there are simply fewer people in a state, there will be fewer care providers.

Fewer people also usually means people are more geographically spread out. So while there might be a certain number of mental health care providers in that state, they are more likely to be farther away from any given person, requiring much longer travel times in order to have access to therapists.

Income and Education Level

Income and education level are inevitably tied to location and, therefore, the availability of mental health care.

For example,child psychiatristsare less likely to practice in low-income counties because their services are often specialized and thus more expensive. Additionally, they are more likely to practice in areas with higher numbers of people with advanced education.

Again, this can be attributed to the resources available in certain areas. Mental health practitioners often work in the regions where they attended their educational programs. Therefore, areas with significantly fewer educational programs are less likely to attract mental health practitioners.

Furthermore, low-income areas may not compensate a practitioner as well as a higher-income area might, thus leaving the practitioner with less incentive to operate in a rural, lower-income area.

Types and Symptoms of Common Psychiatric Disorders

Put simply, therapy deserts leave those who need mental health care services at risk, and the population of those who need mental health care is only increasing.

Mental Health Disorders Continue to Be On the Rise

In 2020, Mental Health America recorded data from its online screening program. This program allows those seeking care to engage in a screening process and connect to resources immediately. The data gathered from this program was staggering.

Suicidal ideationandself-harmingbehavior is also of great concern, where 37% of participants stated they had suicidal thoughts for more than half the week or nearly every single day in September 2020.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

People Who Need Mental Healthcare Cannot Access It

A 2019 study found that 70% of counties in the United States don’t have a child psychiatrist. This statistic alone is staggering because it illuminates that the phenomenon of mental health care deserts isn’t only devastating for adults, but it negatively impactsour childrenas well.

This same study found that 1 in 5 children lives in a county without a child psychiatrist, and those in lower socio-economic regions are particularly at risk of not having access to a child psychiatrist.

How Poverty During Childhood Impacts the Adult Brain

It can take a lot of courage to seek out mental health care.Stigma,high levels of cost, and theprocess of finding a providerwho is a good fit for you can feel insurmountable. So, navigating these hurdles is a feat in and of itself.

Things may feel particularly bleak if you’re situated in a therapy desert. However, there are still ways for you to access care.

Try Teletherapy

Teletherapy, or online therapy, has become increasingly common, and some providers choose to get licensed in multiple states to increase access to care. If you’re not finding any in-person therapy options, consider heading over to an online therapy directory to see if there’s anyone licensed in your state.

Many Therapists Are Licensed in Several StatesFolks who are licensed in one state but live in another will typically appear in the search results for the state they are licensed in. If you find a provider who states they’re licensed in multiple states, including yours, you may be in luck and can access their services virtually. If you hold a consultation with them and they’re not the right fit, don’t hesitate to ask them if they know of someone else who could help meet your needs.

Many Therapists Are Licensed in Several States

Folks who are licensed in one state but live in another will typically appear in the search results for the state they are licensed in. If you find a provider who states they’re licensed in multiple states, including yours, you may be in luck and can access their services virtually. If you hold a consultation with them and they’re not the right fit, don’t hesitate to ask them if they know of someone else who could help meet your needs.

Different online therapy directories offer different services. For example, if you need to use your insurance to cover your therapy sessions, try usingHeadwayorAlma, which exclusively lists providers who accept insurance. Or, if you are uninsured or underinsured, you can tryOpen Path Collective, where every single therapist listed only charges sliding scale fees between $40 and $70 per session.

You can also research online therapy companies. These can be companies that specifically offer virtual therapy, likeTalkspaceandBrightside, or virtual healthcare companies that offer mental health care alongside physical health care, such asTeladocorDoctor on Demand. Many of these companies have providers available in all 50 states, and because therapy is conducted solely online, you don’t have to worry about where the therapist is located as long as they are licensed to practice in your state.

While these programs aren’t a fit for every mental health concern, they may be able to provide some much-needed relief while you search for a long-term solution.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

A Word From Verywell

While it may be challenging to find a therapist when you live in a therapy desert, it isn’t impossible, and there is hope.

That being said, there are times when a crisis arises and care is needed immediately. If you’re experiencing an emergency, head to the nearest hospital or dial 911. Should you be experiencing a mental health crisis and need extra support getting connected to resources, dial 988.

4 SourcesVerywell 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.The New York Times.‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand.National Geographic.COVID-19 is Taking a Heavy Toll in America’s Mental Health Care Deserts.Mental Health America.The State of Mental Health 2021.McBain RK, Kofner A, Stein BD, Cantor JH, Vogt WB, Yu H.Growth and distribution of child psychiatrists in the united states: 2007–2016.Pediatrics. 2019;144(6):e20191576. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1576

4 Sources

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.The New York Times.‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand.National Geographic.COVID-19 is Taking a Heavy Toll in America’s Mental Health Care Deserts.Mental Health America.The State of Mental Health 2021.McBain RK, Kofner A, Stein BD, Cantor JH, Vogt WB, Yu H.Growth and distribution of child psychiatrists in the united states: 2007–2016.Pediatrics. 2019;144(6):e20191576. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1576

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.

The New York Times.‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand.National Geographic.COVID-19 is Taking a Heavy Toll in America’s Mental Health Care Deserts.Mental Health America.The State of Mental Health 2021.McBain RK, Kofner A, Stein BD, Cantor JH, Vogt WB, Yu H.Growth and distribution of child psychiatrists in the united states: 2007–2016.Pediatrics. 2019;144(6):e20191576. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1576

The New York Times.‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand.

National Geographic.COVID-19 is Taking a Heavy Toll in America’s Mental Health Care Deserts.

Mental Health America.The State of Mental Health 2021.

McBain RK, Kofner A, Stein BD, Cantor JH, Vogt WB, Yu H.Growth and distribution of child psychiatrists in the united states: 2007–2016.Pediatrics. 2019;144(6):e20191576. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1576

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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