This summer revealed shifting patterns in how people seek mental health support—from couples proactively strengthening relationships to men prioritizing friendships over dating. At Therapy Lab, we tracked ten notable trends that illuminate where mental health awareness is heading and what it means for effective treatment.
10 Mental Health Trends: Summer 2025
1. So many couples were looking for couples therapy this summer.
Is it that there’s less stigma or more bickering? We actually don’t know for sure, but we’ve spotted a trend that more people than ever are looking to start couples therapy. They are looking proactively to bolster the relationship in the midst of so much pressure like work-life balance, communication challenges, and modern stressors.
CBT tip: Counter catastrophic thinking by journaling three positive daily interactions with your partner, reinforcing resilience and perspective.
2. Many want to know: should I start with medication (like Prozac) or therapy.
The question isn't either/or—it's about timing and how you’re doing with one or the other. Research consistently shows combined treatment produces better long-term outcomes than medication or therapy alone. But some people prefer starting with one or the other, and that’s okay. A qualified therapist will provide guidance as you decide what’s best for you and can refer you to a prescriber if need be.
Pro tip: Use a thought and mood log to track patterns, then review findings with a clinician to identify the most effective treatment plan.
3. We’re thinking about how AI companions can support clients between sessions…
Digital companions for mood tracking and coping reminders are filling gaps between sessions. When used strategically, they can enhance treatment outcomes without replacing human connection. We’re super into this at TL...
What we’re thinking: Define clear, achievable goals for AI use—such as practicing balanced self-talk—while ensuring technology complements, not replaces, human care.
4. We’re tracking all the conversations about the use of ChatGPT for emotional support and interpersonal problem-solving.
There is both opportunity for tremendous breakthroughs and potential tragedy as we learn how to implement AI effectively into mental health. As we all figure out the guardrails, we also know that therapy is the #1 use of ChatGPT right now, and, as therapists, we’re hearing all about it! It’s mostly exciting and good, as it’s ideal to have an expert clinician to bounce ideas off of even as you’re sharing with an LLM.
Bottom line: if you are in real distress, reach out to an expert clinician, not ChatGPT, which is an unspecialized chat not designed for healthcare use.
Unspecialized AI (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) can't read body language, detect crisis signals, or provide personalized intervention. Emotional turmoil requires human judgment and nuanced response.
Pro tip: If you're relying primarily on AI for emotional support, schedule regular human check-ins. Isolation plus AI isn't adequate crisis management.
5. Men are looking for more friendship.
Last summer, everyone was talking about dating. This summer, we’re noticing more and more men are recognizing a need for deeper and wider friendships with other men! We’re here for it.
Career demands and family responsibilities squeeze social connection time. Add cultural messaging about male independence, and friendships often become casualties.
CBT experiment: Reach out to one friend weekly, by text or phone or an IRL chat. Just say hi and how’s it going. Or set up time to exercise together, watch a game, play a game, or walk around a fun area. Connection enhances rather than threatens independence.
6. Working on dual citizenship to cope with U.S. political stress is not as rare as you might think.
Creating a new domicile—relocating to a different home or even country—can be a strategy to escape overwhelming political stress and foster a calmer environment for mental well-being. Research on populations facing political unrest, such as in Hong Kong, indicates that emigration can serve as a coping mechanism to reduce stress from international politics.
CBT tip: Use CBT by examining all-or-nothing thoughts about your current situation, then create a pros/cons list for relocation while practicing grounding techniques to manage immediate anxiety.
7. We see peak need for diagnosing (or confirming a diagnosis) of ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, especially in adult women.
Precise diagnosis—especially for ADHD and autism—guides effective intervention and reduces uncertainty. Early identification improves outcomes and access to appropriate support.
CBT tip: Break down avoidance of testing into manageable steps and challenge fears with facts to empower informed decision-making.
8. Spread the word: we’ve got cognitive testing for dementia concerns in middle-age and beyond. Get your baseline now!
A baseline cognitive assessment establishes your current mental functioning, providing a reference point to track any changes and ease worries about dementia. Even before concerns arise, a cognitive test can provide a baseline of a patient's cognitive function, which can then be used to detect changes.
If you worry, use CBT to label worry thoughts as unhelpful predictions and replace them with action by scheduling a baseline test, focusing on controllable health behaviors for peace of mind. Learn more here.
Pro tip: Schedule baseline testing now, while you're functioning well. Focus on controllable factors like exercise, sleep, and mental stimulation rather than worrying about inevitable decline.
9. Everybody’s talking about PERI…menopause.
Women in their 40s are seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes they don't recognize as hormone-related. Many report feeling "crazy" or dismissed by healthcare providers.
We’re thrilled that more people are aware of the science of perimenopause. Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause directly affect neurotransmitters, creating genuine mood and cognitive shifts that can last years before menopause.
Pro tip: Track symptoms alongside your cycle for three months. Bring data to both your therapist and physician. Perimenopause is treatable—you're not losing your mind.
10. Biodata trackers: LOVE or HATE?
Our community seems to fall into two camps: those who find fitness trackers motivating and those who become obsessively stressed by the constant monitoring. That group either ditches the tracker or literally owns all of them and switches around. Whatever the relationship may be, we love working with clients to help maximize the benefits of data while managing the obsessive tendencies that can increase for some.
The split: Some report improved awareness and healthy competition with themselves. Others develop anxiety about hitting daily targets, sleep score perfectionism, or panic when devices malfunction.
Pro tip: If you like to wear a tracker (I’m partial to the WHOOP 🙂), you can occasionally challenge yourself to take it off and go data-less to challenge any dependency. And share your data with a friend or partner to keep it light - bring some levity and humor into the whole situation.
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