The benefits of billing with practice management software
Whether you thrived in 2025 or found yourself struggling (because, let’s face it—2025 was a tough year for many), we at SimplePractice are continually in awe of the impact you have on your clients and people seeking mental health support. And we’re as committed as ever to make it easy to run and grow your practice.
According to recent data from the World Health Organization, more than one billion people are living with mental health conditions, leading to real tolls on humans of all ages and income levels and costing the global economy nearly a trillion dollars each year.
At the same time, more than 2 in 5 Gen Z individuals now report attending therapy, signaling a meaningful shift in how we talk about and approach mental health.
According to SimplePractice 2025 Year in Review data, the over 250,000 clinicians that now use SimplePractice have made significant impacts in the mental health field.
Let’s take a look at clinicians’ impact and the most engaging articles we published this year.
SimplePractice clinicians’ impact by the numbers
Throughout 2025, SimplePractice clinicians:
Spent 6 billion minutes in appointments
Saw 10.4 million unique clients—or about 3% of the U.S. population
Held 125 million appointments
Wrote 72 million progress notes
Created 4 million diagnosis and treatment plans
Scheduled 63 million sessions covered by insurance
Let’s put this into perspective.
Six billion minutes spent in appointments equates to 11,415 years of continuous time.
This is nearly as long as all of recorded human history.
Plus, you all have served more unique clients than there are people living in New York City, or the entire population of Michigan.
With the rapid growth of AI this year, in 2025 SimplePractice also introduced Note Taker, an AI-powered tool that captures, transcribes, and drafts notes, giving back valuable time to clinicians.
The results speak for themselves: 83% of clinicians who used it agreed that Note Taker’s AI clinical note automation software helped them complete their notes faster, saving them on average up to 5 hours per week.
Additionally, 4 out of 5 clinicians who used Note Taker agreed that it helped them improve notes accuracy. And 9 out of 10 clinicians who used it agreed that Note Taker was easy to use, according to SimplePractice’s May 2025 Note Taker clinician survey.
The 6 emerging trends that will shape therapy in 2026
Through our work, we are grateful to get a window into the types of topics on therapists’ minds.
Looking ahead to 2026, our writer interviewed a diverse array of therapists to find out about the emerging trends that will shape therapy in the year ahead.
Through hearing from therapists, we learned therapy in 2026 won't look exactly like therapy in 2025.
Their insights reveal a field in transformation—from AI clinical notes to VR exposure therapy to therapy intensives that compress months of work into days.
Here are some of the 6 emerging trends they predict will reshape therapy in 2026:
1. AI notes streamlining practice management
HIPAA-compliant AI tools, like SimplePractice Note Taker, that listen to sessions (with client consent) and generate therapy notes. Custom AI assistants handling admin tasks, social media, and prospective client outreach. Therapists get some of their time back for what matters: client care and their own personal lives.
2. TikTok driving demand for EMDR
Clients aren't just seeking "therapy" anymore—they're showing up educated, requesting specific modalities like EMDR. "Therapy speak" on TikTok is influencing the conversation about trauma.
3. VR/AR as therapeutic tools
Virtual reality for exposure therapy is no longer experimental. Clients can safely confront fears—heights, flying, trauma triggers—in realistic environments. The tech has improved dramatically, and research confirms efficacy for phobias, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Read the full article on the 6 emerging trends shaping therapy in 2026 to see the additional 3 emerging therapy trends that will be big in 2026, and get insights from some of the therapists and industry leaders shaping the future of mental health treatment.
The through-line?
Every trend addresses the same challenge: meeting clients where they are, with what they actually need, in ways that work for both therapists and the people they serve.
Do you agree or disagree that these trends will be some of the big ones in 2026?
What trends are you seeing in therapy, mental health, or in your own practice or field?
The SimplePractice content most popular with clinicians in 2025
In 2025 we refreshed our website and significantly expanded our resource library, offering even more guides, checklists, and worksheets to better support your practice.
The cost of therapy
One of the most notable articles we published in 2025 was a 24-page white paper on the Cost of Therapy in the U.S. and The Average therapy session rate by state.
We did a deep dive into SimplePractice internal data and interviewed clinicians in private practice in a wide variety of U.S. states.
This research reminded us exactly why we’re so passionate about this team, SimplePractice clinicians, and the work you all do.
In one of the only studies of this scope and scale, we analyzed 105 million therapy sessions from nearly 204,000 therapists across all 50 states.
The patterns that emerged challenge everything you may think you know about therapy costs.
The states with the HIGHEST therapy costs:
North Dakota: $227
Alaska: $212
South Dakota: $192
The states with the LOWEST costs:
Missouri: $122
Louisiana: $123
South Carolina: $123
The takeaway: When mental health professionals are scarce, session rates climb substantially—creating therapy deserts where care exists, but only at premium prices.
Therapy costs have risen 13% over five years, hitting an average of $139 per session nationally in 2024.
Rates are climbing approximately 4% annually, outpacing general inflation.
Behind every data point is a therapist navigating an impossible ethical tension:
Balancing the commitment to accessible care that drew them to the profession against the financial realities of running a sustainable practice.
This balancing act plays out in every therapist's and clinician's rate-setting decision.
Download the Cost of Therapy white paper, and let us know if you have reactions or questions.
Top 25 Resources of 2025
Here are 25 of the top articles from our Resource library in 2025:
Positive psychology worksheets - These positive psychology worksheets help therapy clients build resilience, practice gratitude, and focus on their strengths.
ADHD worksheets for kids - Use the ADHD worksheets for kids in session to illustrate symptoms of ADHD to family members who think their child might have ADHD.
DBT worksheets: Mindfulness skills - In this article, we provide an overview of the mindfulness skills DBT has to offer, as well as examples of exercises.
Confronting avoidance worksheet - There are several ways therapists can challenge avoidance or equip clients with tools for confronting avoidance in their relationships.
Person-centered therapy techniques - Therapists can download this free, printable handout of person-centered therapy techniques.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) therapy worksheets - This guide to acceptance and commitment therapy worksheets describes this intervention and includes a list of different types of ACT skills.
Self-reflection worksheets - Self-reflection worksheets are valuable tools that mental health clinicians and therapists can share with clients to support therapeutic outcomes.
Attachment styles worksheet - This article covers the different types of attachment styles, includes tips for creating secure attachment, and provides examples of different worksheets to help clients identify their attachment styles.
Start a private practice kit for therapists and clinicians - This article includes a comprehensive downloadable kit for starting a private practice, designed specifically for therapists and mental health clinicians.
Mental health maintenance plan - Therapists can use the mental health maintenance plan worksheet to identify a client’s triggers, warning signs, and coping strategies collaboratively.
Biopsychosocial assessment template - In this article, we provide an overview of what a biopsychosocial assessment is, the biopsychosocial mental health assessment process, key assessment categories, and questions to ask clients.
How much does therapy cost? (Free white paper) - In this white paper, we examine the average costs of therapy over the years, using SimplePractice data on CPT codes for psychotherapy and original research.
Insurance credentialing checklist for therapists - This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of insurance credentialing—helping you understand what to expect and how to navigate the system successfully.
How to write GIRP notes (with examples) - This guide provides a brief overview of GIRP notes, including examples and a free GIRP notes template.
Anger management skills worksheet - This article includes an overview of different types of anger management techniques and exercises to strengthen anger management skills.
How to start a private practice on the side - Get a free 33-page eBook with all the tips and steps to build a private practice.
Cognitive defusion techniques - This article gives an overview of cognitive defusion, its purpose in helping clients, and the different types of cognitive defusion techniques, alongside a free downloadable worksheet.
Tax write-offs for therapists: An ultimate checklist - A list of tax deductions you may qualify for as a self-employed therapist
Catastrophizing cognitive distortion: Worksheet and examples - Help clients stop worst-case thinking with this guide to catastrophizing that includes relatable examples and a downloadable worksheet.
How to create a business plan for your private practice - This article includes a free private practice business plan template that can serve as a roadmap to guide your practice’s growth.
Stages of grief worksheet - This free downloadable worksheet equips therapists with a research-backed framework to guide clients through grief and loss.
Codependency worksheets - This article provides an overview of codependency, tips to overcome these behaviors, and a free, downloadable codependency worksheets PDF.
Cognitive restructuring worksheet - This article explores using cognitive restructuring and Socratic questioning worksheets to help clients overcome cognitive distortions.
CBT model worksheets - CBT model worksheets illustrate the CBT framework, teaching clients how to identify and understand the connection between their beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Family roles worksheet - The free family roles worksheet gives mental health therapists a brief overview of family dynamics and examples.
Top 25 blog articles of 2025
Our top 25 most-read blog articles of 2025 include:
11 overlooked 2025 tax write-offs for therapists and clinicians - Be sure to check this list so you don’t miss out on any tax deductions for private practice therapists.
Art therapy activities for anxiety and PTSD - Download a free PDF with ready-to-use art therapy activities for treating anxiety and PTSD in both individual and group sessions.
4 traits and 5 hidden powers of highly sensitive people (HSPs) - Help highly sensitive clients establish healthy boundaries and cope with overstimulation so they can leverage their strengths.
What are the six main points of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)? - Equip clients with practical DBT tools like radical acceptance, opposite action, and mindfulness practices they can apply to real-life challenges between sessions.
The 2025 average cost of therapy in America for each state - See infographics and access the free 24-page white paper analyzing 105 million therapy sessions to see exactly what therapists charge in your state and region.
How Brainspotting is different from EMDR and other trauma therapies - Explore what Brainspotting is and the differences between Brainspotting vs. EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy).
Group therapy activities for kids and teens - Access proven group therapy exercises organized by age and development levels.
Therapist self-care checklist - Prevent compassion fatigue and burnout with practical self-care strategies spanning mind, body, and soul.
Should therapists get credentialed and join insurance panels? - Decide whether to accept insurance by understanding the pros and cons of joining payer panels, providing superbills as an out-of-network provider, or only accepting self-pay clients.
AI for therapists - Understand best practices for incorporating AI into your therapy practice, from selecting secure tools to reviewing AI-generated notes for accuracy before saving.
A guide to the internal family systems (IFS) model - Guide clients through the six-step IFS process from finding and focusing on parts to understanding what they fear and protect against.
The top 10 therapist websites - See real examples of successful therapist websites and discover how to create your own using SimplePractice's free website builder with customizable templates.
Is it ethical to exchange gifts with clients? - Develop a clear gift policy that balances professional boundaries with cultural sensitivity and protects vulnerable clients from misunderstandings.
List of therapeutic interventions - Find the right intervention for each client's needs, from cognitive techniques for depression to relationship exercises for couples.
Questions about insurance credentialing for therapists - This article explains the steps of mental health credentialing with insurance companies so therapists understand how to join an insurance network as a provider.
The 6 emerging trends shaping therapy in 2026 - Explore how hybrid therapy models, technology integration, and flexible scheduling are reshaping the future of mental health treatment.
Psychologist vs. psychiatrist—key differences - This breakdown clarifies the educational paths, treatment approaches, and scope of practice for these two mental health professions.
What is sensory processing disorder (SPD)? - Sensory processing disorder tends to produce hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity in the individuals it affects.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) - This overview explains how ACT uses mindfulness and behavior change strategies to improve psychological flexibility.
Client retention strategies - Learn methods to keep clients engaged in therapy and prevent them from dropping out.
Couples therapy exercises - This collection of evidence-based activities can help partners strengthen their connection and resolve conflicts.
What’s a superbill for therapy? - This explainer covers what information superbills must include and how they help clients access insurance benefits.
What’s neurofeedback—and how does it work? - This article illuminates how neurotherapy works, which conditions it can help with, and the current research.
Compassion fatigue in therapists - This article outlines the symptoms of compassion fatigue therapists may have, how it develops, and how to manage it.
HIPAA compliant AI note-taking: What every therapist needs to know - A complete guide to implementing AI note-taking while remaining HIPAA compliant in your practice.
Sources
Harmony Healthcare IT. (2025). State of Gen Z Mental Health 2025.
World Health Organization. (2025). Over a billion people living with mental health conditions – services require urgent scale-up.
How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice
SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.
If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to run a fully paperless practice—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.
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