History’s Jonathan Sadowski explains evolution of talk therapy

Experts discuss why talk therapy is on the rise and medication treatment is falling

ideastreamJonathan Sadowski, chair of the Department of History and the Theodore J. Castele Professor, said that once stigmatized, talk therapy has become a widely accepted response to rising post-pandemic mental health challenges. As medication use declines, he said more Americans are turning to therapy. Yet access remains unequal—only half with mental illness receive care. This cultural shift marks a historic change in how society approaches emotional well-being.