How 2020 Reshaped Therapy and Mental Health Support Forever

As we move closer to the year 2025, the turbulent times of the pandemic may feel like a distant memory, almost like a storyline from a movie you watched long ago and tucked away. Yet, despite fading from immediate view, the pandemic’s impact—especially on how we approach mental health care and therapy—remains deeply influential.

If you never got around to learning the basics of psychotherapy before, let’s do a quick recap. Psychotherapy is essentially the practice of working with a mental health professional to tackle emotional and psychological challenges. Its origins trace back at least as far as ancient Greece, but the kind of therapy many are familiar with today began to take shape in the late 1800s thanks to Sigmund Freud.

Freud, an Austrian neurologist, is often credited as the father of psychoanalysis, introducing groundbreaking ideas about how unconscious thoughts influence our feelings and behaviors. You might recall concepts like the Oedipus complex, where Freud suggested people are drawn to partners resembling their parents—pretty intriguing theories that sparked a whole new perspective on mental processes.

Building on Freud’s ideas, psychodynamic therapy focused on the relationship between therapist and client to explore deeply buried feelings and unresolved past experiences. This process aimed to help people recognize harmful patterns and grow beyond them through self-reflection. This foundation still supports many therapeutic approaches in use today.

Moving forward through history, Carl Jung expanded these notions in the early 1900s by introducing the idea of a collective unconscious—a shared mental tapestry of symbols and archetypes among all humans. Then in the 1960s and 1970s, Aaron Beck introduced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which shifted the focus toward recognizing and changing negative thought patterns to foster healthier behavior.

It’s important to remember that therapy as a voluntary, mainstream resource didn’t always exist. For a long time, people with mental health challenges faced institutionalization in asylums, where care was often involuntary and stigmatized.

A landmark change came in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act, which transformed asylums into therapeutic centers and reframed mental illness as a medical issue rather than a moral failing. This law signaled a shift in perception and opened doors to better, more compassionate care.

Another significant breakthrough occurred in the late 1980s with the introduction of SSRIs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These drugs were carefully developed to treat depression by balancing serotonin levels in the brain, often called the “happy chemical.” Compared to earlier antidepressants, SSRIs were safer and more widely accepted, leading to an increase in medication-based treatment alongside therapy. This combination marked a new era in mental health care.

Then came 2020, a year that disrupted routines, challenged every one of us, and unexpectedly transformed therapy into something more accessible, relatable, and human.

Therapists and clients found themselves facing the same global crisis, which changed the nature of their interactions. Instead of maintaining a strict, formal barrier, many therapists began dropping the usual professional distance, showing vulnerability alongside their clients. This shared experience helped build stronger, more compassionate connections.

Therapists are no longer distant, unemotional figures sitting behind a desk. You’re more likely to find real, approachable people who combine professional expertise with genuine warmth. This shift has created room for a new type of therapeutic relationship—one that feels more like a partnership.

Research backs this change, showing that the strongest improvements happen when therapists partner with their clients and adjust their methods based on what each person feels works best. It’s less about the therapist leading the way and more about navigating healing together.

With mental health challenges rising, especially among younger generations, this new style of therapy is more important than ever. It’s helping reduce stigma and encouraging people to seek help with less hesitation.

2020 wasn’t just a pandemic year but also a pivotal moment for social justice, highlighting racial inequities that affect mental health outcomes. These events pushed the conversation forward around creating therapy practices that are culturally sensitive and actively anti-racist.

Mental health professionals are increasingly expected to enhance their understanding of racial dynamics, gender diversity, and sexual identity in order to offer respectful and effective care. Many are now required to engage in education about equity, diversity, and inclusion, which helps reshape the overall approach to therapy in more inclusive ways.

The rapid expansion of telehealth during the pandemic has also been a game changer. Many people who once hesitated to seek therapy because of stigma, lack of access, or time constraints found new opportunities through virtual sessions. This technology has broadened mental health support in unprecedented ways.

Thanks to legislation like the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, psychologists can now work with clients across state lines via telehealth, which means you can connect with specialists who understand your needs without geographic limits. Although challenges related to representation persist, progress is definitely underway.

All these advancements suggest that therapy is undergoing a revolutionary shift, becoming more accepted, easier to access, and even more appealing. This growing openness has encouraged more people to explore mental health treatment, and more professionals are entering the field to meet this demand.

Pop culture has played a huge part in changing perceptions around therapy—from TV shows to influential voices on social media who openly discuss mental wellness. Instead of hiding struggles, people are sharing their journeys, and therapy is becoming a sign of strength and self-love rather than weakness.

If you look back, you might remember when therapy seemed like something only people with serious issues pursued, often in secret. Today, therapy is increasingly seen as a positive step toward self-care and personal growth. It’s as normal—and important—as going to your doctor or your dentist.

So, as we step into the coming years, imagine a world where looking after your mental health is just part of everyday life. Where therapy feels approachable, trustworthy, and is woven into our routines. That future seems within reach, offering hope that more people can experience healing, self-awareness, and genuine happiness.

Your mental well-being matters, and embracing this evolving landscape of therapy can help you feel supported, understood, and empowered every step of the way.