The American Psychological Association (APA) released the report “Emerging Trends in the Field of Psychology in 2025” in January. Today, we will interpret it for the students of Uni.
According to the latest survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than half of the surveyed psychologists said they had no availability to accept new clients, and 56% said they did not have an open waiting list for clients (Practitioner Pulse Survey, APA, 2023). CNN analyzed that, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth in the mental health field is expected to be three times that of ordinary jobs in the United States over the next decade.
Dr. Teri Strong, Chair of the APA’s Board of Professional Affairs (BPA), said, “Increasing the training and licensure of master’s – level psychology professionals will enhance the field of psychology by providing more opportunities for leadership, training, and supervision for psychologists, and enable it to play a greater role in the healthcare market.”
The Inexorable Changes in the Psychological Industry Brought by Technological Progress and the Development of AI
Clinicians are leveraging innovative means such as digital therapy, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence (AI) to reach more patients, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce administrative burdens.
In early 2023, the APA established a partnership with the development company Big Health to increase support for the clinical use of digital therapy by psychologists. The company has developed products that provide cognitive – behavioral therapy (CBT) for people with chronic insomnia via mobile devices. After patients undergo an initial sleep assessment, they can receive CBT tailored to their specific sleep problems. The company has also developed another research – validated digital therapy product for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
At the same time, in clinical practice, psychologists are using chatbots based on large – language models. These chatbots can assess depression, suicide risk, and other issues in an empathetic manner. Compared with the traditional nine – item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ – 9), such chatbots may have more advantages, as the PHQ – 9 may become repetitive over time, affecting the accuracy of patients’ responses.
More Countries and Regions Around the Globe Will Participate in Psychological Research
Psychological research is seeking larger and more representative samples and addressing issues that are not only of concern to WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) countries.
Psychologists are committed to overcoming the complexity of projects and establishing international programs. Researchers engaged in this work say that there will be more collaborative projects led by psychological researchers from Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, and other places in the future.
While conducting cross – cultural communication, many researchers are also striving to bridge the gap between academic research and psychological practice. Dr. Ekaterina Pronizius, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of UCLouvain in Belgium, said that international clinical collaborations can have a great impact. Due to differences in national conditions, cultures, and other factors, the risk of residents suffering from specific diseases may also vary. She added that if researchers studying these issues collaborate from the beginning and use the same measurement standards and outcomes, comparative research between countries will become easier.
Psychedelic Drugs Urgently Need to Be Put into Treatment
Although the much – anticipated psychedelic drug treatments were not approved in 2024, the research community continues to work hard to demonstrate the great potential of these non – traditional drugs in mental health treatment.
In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected an application from Lykos Therapeutics to combine MDMA (3,4 – Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as Ecstasy or Molly) with psychotherapy. It is reported that this drug can be used to treat treatment – resistant post – traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This drug was expected to be the first psychedelic drug approved by the FDA, but the FDA required more research to prove that the treatment method is safe and effective.
While federal regulators await more clinical trial data, new research is revealing how psychedelic drugs can change the brain and promote lasting improvements related to substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other conditions. The latest evidence shows that these drugs help people overcome maladaptive behaviors by influencing neural connections related to the sense of identity and memory.
How Can Psychology Improve the Workplace Environment? Answer: Digital Mindfulness and Digital Confidence
Experts focusing on workplace psychology say that employers and employees are in confrontation, and employees are struggling internally to find jobs that align with their personal values without sacrificing themselves. Employees are organizing to express their distrust of management and demanding more rights.
Psychologists are using some strategies to help workers achieve well – being in the workplace. In a 2024 study, Dr. Elizabeth Marsh from the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham in the UK and her colleagues found that digital mindfulness (such as taking conscious breaks and being aware of the emotional and physical impact of technology) and digital confidence (the confidence to use technology) can help digital workers cope with stress, anxiety, and overwork (PLOS ONE, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2024).
Initiatives: Allocate Funds to Support Graduate Programs in the Mental Health Field and Consider Adolescent Mental Health
In March 2024, the APA Services assisted in drafting the ACCESS in Mental Health Act (H.R. 7924).
This act aims to provide grants to institutions that serve ethnic minorities for creating or expanding graduate programs in the mental health field and offer scholarships to students enrolled in these graduate programs. Although the act did not pass in 2024, its proposal laid the foundation for efforts in 2025. APA Services plans to work with new lead sponsors in 2025 to move this legislation forward.
The APA also issued a statement on social media and adolescent mental health (Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023). This statement emphasizes the mental health issues related to social media use, acknowledges the gaps in research, and provides suggestions for children, adolescents, and their caregivers to reduce the negative impacts. The statement also calls on technology companies to prioritize safety and health in user design and share data on the health impacts of their programs.
