Increasing Access to Mental Health Care: Easing Friction Points

SimplePractice, a practice management platform, recently released their Annual State of Private Practice Report. This report draws on data from more than 245,000 practitioners and survey responses from over 2200 clinicians, sharing that independent clinicians collectively delivered 113.6 million sessions of mental health care over the course of the year, and 87.9% of clinicians surveyed indicated they intend to remain in the field of mental health through 2026.^1,2

Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, a full-time faculty member at the Yale University School of Medicine and head of clinical strategy at SimplePractice, shares that finding the right provider, in the right space, with availability can be extremely difficult. The report from SimplePractice revealed that 23% of patients identify navigating the first steps of seeking care as the most frustrating aspect of the process, and 19% cite difficulty finding a provider with availability.

Those seeking care may be confused by navigating systems of mental health care. Improved accessibility, including thoughtful language, can help match patients with the care they need.

Additionally, booking or scheduling appointments online can ease phone anxieties and put control back in the hands of those seeking care. Opening digital front doors on the part of the clinician can also help: share some details about yourself and your practice on your website. This may help patients determine if this is a “good fit,” shared Oberleitner.

“Reasons people don’t seek care are sometimes ‘It doesn’t work for my schedule’ or ‘I don’t know how to schedule it.’ Wherever we can make it very explicit, we can get help for those seeking care,” said Oberleitner.

Dr Oberleitner is a full-time faculty member at the Yale University School of Medicine and head of clinical strategy at SimplePractice.

References

SimplePractice releases first-of-its-kind report on independent mental health practice. News release. May 13, 2026. Accessed May 13, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260513758800/en/SimplePractice-Releases-First-of-Its-Kind-Report-on-Independent-Mental-Health-Practice

2. Annual State of Private Practice Report: 2025 in Review. SimplePractice. May 13, 2026. Accessed May 13, 2026. https://www.simplepractice.com/resource/state-of-private-practice-2025-report/?utm_source=press-release&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=private-practice-report-25&utm_content=announcement