Why Are More & More CEOs Seeking Therapy?

If you’re facing job stress, burnout, or other mental health issues, you’re not alone. According to Inc., 90 percent of top executives in the United States reported experiencing a fear of failure within the last year. At the same time, nearly half faced worries about revenue growth and maintaining a work-life balance. As a result, more and more chief executives in the U.S. seek mental health care, with 32 percent consulting with an executive counselor and 22 percent seeing a psychotherapist.

From welcoming sales teams back to the office after COVID-19 to meeting with investors and suppliers, chief executive officers (CEOs) and senior managers face countless challenging situations each day. This stress can feel overwhelming for some chief executives, affecting job performance, productivity, and home life. When stress becomes overwhelming, psychotherapy provides a valuable source of support, helping top executives to identify their stressors and overcome negative thought patterns.

How can psychotherapy help chief executives?

Boosting your productivity doesn’t always mean pushing through overwhelming stress. Sometimes, it’s helpful to sit down with a third party outside of work to help navigate your mental health. Your mental health problems might stem from anywhere: recent job stress, traumatic experiences in childhood, or relationship problems at home. Above all else, the goal of psychotherapy is to help you learn new skills to manage your mental health.

Psychotherapy isn’t only beneficial to top executives, senior leaders, and account managers who have mental health problems. Psychotherapy can help anyone learn new tools to manage job stress, improve communication skills, or maintain a healthy work-life balance.

What are the best types of therapy for chief executives?

Several different types of therapy can benefit chief executives, and the best kind of therapy for you will depend on your specific challenges, situation, and preferences. Some types of treatment and counseling that can benefit business leaders and senior executives include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT, which combines cognitive and behavioral therapy, can help senior managers identify and challenge problematic thoughts and behaviors by providing tools to help change patterns. CBT can also effectively treat various mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT focuses on validation. By coming to terms with negative thoughts and behaviors, senior leaders can develop a framework to achieve positive change. DBT also emphasizes interpersonal skills, making it an ideal modality for executive sponsors interested in improving customer relationships and developing relationship-building skills.
• Psychodynamic therapy: With roots in psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy uses free association and open-ended questions to help prospective clients identify the origins of their behaviors, feelings, and beliefs.
• Humanistic therapy: Humanistic therapy helps senior leaders and executives understand the importance of being their true selves, focusing on the concept that world views can influence choices and actions.
• Existential therapy: Existential therapy adopts a positive approach that promotes the capacities and aspirations of prospective clients while acknowledging their limitations.

Many psychologists also offer group therapy sessions, family therapy, and couples counseling. Especially if you’re facing relationship problems with family members at home, working with a family therapist can help you navigate these issues and improve your relationships.

What should you look for in a therapist?

Psychotherapy is most effective when you can be open and honest, and forming a therapeutic relationship with your psychotherapist can help boost your success in treatment. The best therapist should provide empathy and emotional support, be an active listener, and express a willingness to answer any questions you might have about the therapy process.

Psychotherapy is hard work, and you might not find the right therapist right away. Before scheduling your first appointment, schedule an initial consultation to ask your psychologist about their credentials and experience. During your first session, you’ll be able to ask questions about health insurance and insurance coverage, the length of your treatment, and the therapeutic process. After a few sessions, if you and your psychologist decide that medication would be helpful in your treatment plan, your psychologist can provide a referral to a psychiatrist.

Many psychotherapists, social workers, and counselors also offer online therapy and online counseling services, providing a discreet, convenient alternative to in-person therapy sessions. Online therapy platforms use HIPAA-compliant, secure systems to provide online therapy via live video or phone, allowing you to access mental health treatment from the comfort of your home.

To find a mental health provider, reach out to a licensed therapist through the Therapy Group of DC. Whether you’re starting psychotherapy for the first time or making the switch to online therapy, our mental health professionals provide confidential, data-driven online therapy to help you feel your best. One of our licensed therapists will help you navigate your mental health, boost your productivity, and learn different ways to cope with challenging situations at work.