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Behavioral Therapists in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Tina Fine Tina Fine New York, United States Last Updated: September 2025 NAICS OD4164

Revenue

$18.9bn

2025

$18.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

203k

Businesses

37,568

Wages

$X.Xbn

Behavioral Therapists in the US industry analysis

Growing recognition of the economic, personal and societal advantages of mental health treatment has increased funding and demand for behavioral therapists. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2024), nearly one in four adults experienced a mental health condition. The destigmatization of mental health has led more patients to seek behavioral therapy, and healthcare systems increasingly recognize therapists as integral to patient care. Many individuals with behavioral health conditions have coexisting physical issues, prompting healthcare providers to integrate behavioral therapists into care plans, which improves patient outcomes and lowers costs. This enhanced role in traditional healthcare improves access to therapy through more comprehensive employer-sponsored health plans. And as the use of teletherapy increases, industry revenue is expected to climb at a CAGR of 8.5% through 2025, reaching $18.9 billion, growing 2.3% in 2025.

Trends and Insights

  • Behavioral therapists' roles have significantly expanded within collaborative care models. The growing emphasis on integrated mental health services and proven collaborative care outcomes drives strong demand for behavioral therapists.
  • Awareness and prevalence of behavioral health issues have grown. Behavioral therapists are now treating more patients than ever for mental health conditions but are struggling to meet the unprecedented demand.
  • Behavioral health disparities exist between rural and metropolitan areas. Rural regions are critically short on behavioral therapists, but teletherapy might bridge this gap by providing much-needed services remotely.
  • The rise in telehealth companies has spurred competition in behavioral therapy services. These apps offer affordable and accessible mental health treatment, drawing patients away from traditional therapy sessions.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $18.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Technology splits behavioral health services, impacting competition

  • Spurred by recent clinical evidence of efficacy and rapid adoption by enterprise practice, AI-driven therapy platforms are reshaping competition and pricing. A study published in 2025 in the New England Journal of Medicine AI demonstrated that chatbots can deliver measurable improvement, as patients with depression, anxiety, or eating disorders experienced reductions in symptoms comparable to human therapy. This finding supports expanding teletherapy platforms that match clients to therapists nationwide, removing geographic barriers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Behavioral Therapists in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The impact of OBBBA will evolve over time, producing variable impact

  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed in 2025, introduces significant changes to Medicaid and Medicare programs, rolling out new requirements and cost-sharing measures that will impact public insurance coverage. Work mandates, stricter eligibility requalification and greater cost-sharing will lead to fewer individuals qualifying for Medicaid, while Medicare eligibility is narrowed to US citizens, with a phase-out of coverage for some previously-eligible immigrants. Changes to mental health parity requirements mean private insurers are no longer compelled to provide behavioral health coverage at parity with physical health benefits, raising out-of-pocket costs for patients seeking therapy through private plans. Although the Rural Healthcare Transformation Program will support underserved areas more, the overall cuts will impact access to mental health services.

Biggest companies in the Behavioral Therapists in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue
2025
Profit
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Behavioral Therapists in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Behavioral Therapists in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Mental illness treatment, Substance abuse disorder treatment and Mental illness and substance abuse disorder treatment. Mental illness treatment is the largest segment of the Behavioral Therapists in the US.

Trends and Insights

Mental illness treatment is key to steady revenue

  • According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in the US is impacted by a mental health condition. Mental illness treatment includes therapeutic and medical interventions for conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. This segment accounts for nearly half of the revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Behavioral therapists are mental health professionals who specialize in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various mental health issues, with a focus on understanding and modifying behaviors. Therapists can work in an independent or group office setting.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States include Mental illness treatment, Substance abuse disorder treatment and Mental illness and substance abuse disorder treatment.

Companies

Companies covered in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States include outpatient, mental health parity, medicaid and medicare.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 621330 - Behavioral Therapists in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Behavioral therapists' roles have significantly expanded within collaborative care models. The growing emphasis on integrated mental health services and proven collaborative ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Awareness and prevalence of behavioral health issues have grown. Behavioral therapists are now treating more patients than ever for mental health conditions but are strugglin...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Behavioral health disparities exist between rural and metropolitan areas. Rural regions are critically short on behavioral therapists, but teletherapy might bridge this gap b...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The rise in telehealth companies has spurred competition in behavioral therapy services. These apps offer affordable and accessible mental health treatment, drawing patients ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Behavioral Therapists in the US industry.

Analyst insights

Behavioral health has historically been a highly fragmented market. Most behavioral therapists work in small practices, making it difficult for any single company to establis...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

A complex regulatory environment dictates how and where behavioral therapists can practice. As therapists increasingly go digital, a heightened focus on patient privacy and d...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

A shortage of behavioral therapists is driving up wages. Practices are increasing salaries for therapists and nonclinical staff as they struggle to meet growing demand.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States is $18.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 37,568 businesses in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 10.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States?

The Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States?

The Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 8.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States include?

Mental illness treatment and Substance abuse disorder treatment are part of the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Behavioral Therapists industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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