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Why so few older Americans get counseling – and how it could help
National data show just 7.5% of adults ages 65 to 74 and 5% of those 75 and older received counseling in 2024.
- According to national data from 2024, only 5% of adults 75 and older receive counseling or therapy from a mental health professional, compared with 20.2% of adults ages 18 to 29, revealing a significant gap in mental health support for older Americans.
- Stigma, negative beliefs about therapy, and cost frequently prevent older adults from accessing services, research from the University of North Dakota suggests, as many prefer informal sources of help over professional mental health providers.
- Later life brings significant transitions—retirement, disability, and changing independence—which counseling can help navigate beyond addressing mental health diagnoses, illness, or loss. Counseling offers a space to explore identity, purpose, and what comes next.
- Updated 2024 guidelines from the American Psychological Association emphasize individual circumstances and social realities of aging, yet research reveals some counselors may hold age-related biases that limit their effectiveness with older clients.
- With an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide expected to be age 60 or older by the late 2060s, finding a counselor with experience in aging-related issues becomes increasingly critical for ensuring effective mental health care.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
C 64%
R 27%
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