With an eye fixed toward commencing 2024 with the healthiest possible mindset, a psychotherapist is sharing the mental health trends that she expects shall be prevalent within the Latest 12 months.
Nicholette Leanza, a psychotherapist at LifeStance Health in Ohio, has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in quite a lot of treatment settings.
She also hosts the “Convos from the Couch” podcast, wherein she speaks with industry thought leaders.
Based on her treatment experience and expert conversations, below are the nine trends that Leanza envisions for 2024 — and ways that every one can achieve higher mental health within the yr ahead
1. Blurred lines between therapists and mental health coaches
Because the variety of non-licensed “mental health coaches” continues to grow, Leanza stressed the necessity for people to search out credentialed therapists.
While the non-licensed coaches might help provide coping skills and mindfulness tools, she warned that they shouldn’t be seen as a alternative for clinicians with training and licensure.
“There may be a difference between therapy and skill-building — so people might want to have a transparent understanding of the suitable role that each kinds of professionals play in terms of mental health support and guidance,” she told Fox News Digital.
2. Spike in community-specific mental health groups
“As people navigate an increasingly disconnected world and begin to be more open about mental health struggles, we’ll see an increasing variety of community and condition-specific groups come together — each over social media and within the workplace,” Leanza predicted.
“Whether this involves finding solidarity and luxury in similar conditions from depression to OCD to ADHD, or struggles faced by specific cultural identities, people shall be naturally drawn together to construct ecosystems and resources for specialised advice and guidance,” she said.
3. Music as rest therapy
The yr 2023 marked one in every of the strongest years for fans’ loyalty to specific artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Harry Styles, Leanza identified.
“Traditionally, soothing and ambient noise has been used as a go-to source for rest, but as artist obsessions deepen, we’re seeing people leveraging their favorite musicians as a strategy to relieve anxiety,” she said.
Within the Latest 12 months, the therapist expects people to proceed turning to music as a type of therapy to lift them up and down through different emotions, moods and life cycles.
4. Culture of rapid weight reduction
As weight-loss medications proceed to change into more popular and accessible, Leanza expects that folks will start coming to terms with the emotional impact of significant weight reduction.
“We’re going to see a ‘catching up’ of sorts, between the physical and psychological facets of weight reduction, and a shifting of mindset that may concentrate on how you are feeling on the within, despite the way you look on the skin,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Individuals are going to want to reflect inside and concentrate on constructing strong body perception now greater than ever.”
5. Moderation and long-term sober living
As an alternative of the annual trend of “Dry January,” Leanza expects to see a shift away from an “all or nothing” mindset in terms of alcohol.
“Reasonably than going cold turkey for one month a yr, I expect to see more people concentrate on being ‘sober-curious’ yr round, and being increasingly mindful about their alcohol intake as they work to construct a more sustainable healthy lifestyle,” she told Fox News Digital.
6. Mental health at work
Leanza foresees a growing trend of individuals prioritizing their mental health over work — something largely led by Gen Z.
This might include using sick days to take care of bouts of hysteria, taking day without work between jobs to concentrate on mental health or taking a leave for intensive outpatient programs, she said.
“That is shifting the way in which we take into consideration work-life balance and communication within the workplace,” said Leanza.
“I see young people being significantly more open and transparent about discussing mental health at work, particularly as hybrid and virtual office settings have blurred the lines between work and life, with Zoom meetings sometimes even shifting into personal venting sessions to exchange water cooler talk,” she said.
In 2024, the therapist also expects more firms to start out offering mental health support and resources to their employees.
7. Discernment of mental health content on social media
In 2023, there was an “explosion” of TikTok self-diagnoses around mental health issues — and the therapist sounded a warning on this.
“It’s gone beyond mainstream and almost became some extent of pride, especially for Gen Z,” she told Fox News Digital.
In 2024, Leanza anticipates that folks will take a more “discerning eye” toward the mental health content they devour on social media.
“I feel they are going to hold it to a better standard, counting on licensed mental health professionals to diagnose and counsel them reasonably than trying to influencers,” she predicted.
8. Higher demand for in-person therapy
“Gen Z is coming of age at a time when mental health awareness is at an all-time high,” Leanza told Fox News Digital.
Although that age group has grown up in a digital world, she said additionally they crave face-to-face interaction, especially in terms of their mental health.
“While it will depend on patients and their specific diagnosis, for a lot of younger clients, it’s their first time seeing a therapist,” she said.
“Having sessions in-person might help them construct a relationship with their therapist and create a more comfortable environment for them to open up.”
9. More holistic Latest 12 months’s resolutions
While physical movement has advantages for overall health, Leanza said it shouldn’t be used as a alternative for therapy.
“Going for a run might help release endorphins and alleviate anxiety within the moment, however it’s still critical to properly address deeper issues and trauma with a licensed skilled reasonably than counting on exercise as a band-aid,” she told Fox News Digital.
“As we glance toward the Latest 12 months and setting resolutions, I anticipate seeing a rise in people committing to therapy — reasonably than simply the gym — as they deepen their understanding of this and recognize that mental health is just as essential as physical health.”