While we encourage everyone to see a therapist if they want to, we understand that for some people, it can be intimidating, out of budget, or inaccessible for some other reason. The following therapy podcasts aren’t meant to replace a therapist, but if you’re looking for advice on mental health concerns, from depression and grief to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these therapy podcasts could do in a pinch.
Podcasts for Depression
Maybe you need a bit of kindness to manage or cope with depression. On the other hand, perhaps you respond better to tough love. These depression podcasts offer both perspectives on therapy.
1. The Self Work Podcast
Dr. Margaret Rutherford has been a psychologist for more than 25 years. She brings compassion and expertise to her kind-hearted podcast, helping you tackle depression and all that it entails. If you struggle with giving yourself a break or hold yourself to impossibly high standards, you’ll appreciate Dr. Rutherford.
2. The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast
Dr. Robert Duff’s priority is taking complex, intimidating psychological concepts and breaking them down into understandable, actionable terms you can use in real life. As a practicing psychologist in Southern California, he uses his podcast to help others understand their mental health so they can better treat it.
3. The Hilarious World of Depression
Depression is extremely isolating, and yet, it is experienced by millions of people who are often stigmatized by society. In The Hilarious World of Depression, host and comedian John Moe engages in conversations with other comedians who have dealt with depression, covering serious topics with a bit of levity – because we could all use a laugh, right?
This podcast is certainly useful to anyone who has depression, but it’s also a resource for family members, friends, or colleagues of someone with depression. Think of it as a chance to gain insight, listen to funny people crack jokes, and feel less alone.
4. Happier With Gretchen Rubin
Happier with Gretchen Rubin has nearly 900 episodes, speaking to the depth and range of topics she’s covered over the years. Rubin, who is the bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before, uses her personal story with depression as a touch point to provide practical tips and advice on how to live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life. Her co-host and younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, adds a level of familial comfort and rapport to every conversation.
Podcasts for Couples Therapy
No couple should feel shame for considering couples therapy, but if one or both of you are having trouble agreeing to go, or you want to test the waters out first, these podcasts might help.
5. That Relationship Show
Naomi Rather, Ph.D., LMHC, and Deborah Curtis, LICSW interview top experts in marriage counseling, therapy, and even sexology to give you a therapist-backed toolkit for marriage and relationships.
Episodes range from talking to sex experts, using dating apps after leaving a marriage, and strategies for successful marriages.
6. The Couples Therapist Couch
Shane Birkel works from his own private practice in New Hampshire where he focuses on family and marriage therapy. He’s constantly expanding his knowledge and skills with training and new courses, keeping his work fresh and up to date. If you struggle to know what a healthy relationship looks like, Birkel is here to help with his podcast.
7. Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel
In Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel, the famed and respected couples therapist speaks with real-life couples about the complex details of their conflicts. For example, Perel meets with a couple dealing with the aftermath of guilt and infidelity. Another pair is figuring out how to navigate queerness in a hetero-presenting relationship. In speaking with these people, Perel brings in her listeners, making space for them to contemplate their own lives and relationships, and how they see them reflected back at them in every episode.
Podcasts for ADHD
If you struggle to focus and keep things organized, then these ADHD-approved podcasts can help.
8. ADHD reWired
Licensed social worker Eric Tivers had 21 jobs before he turned 21, which makes sense when you consider that he has ADHD. Now, he specializes in working with individuals with ADHD and those on the autism spectrum. Every week he shares his experience with ADHD as well as expert voices in the field to give advice, share stories, and offer strategies for managing ADHD and mental health.
9. Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast
Nikki Kinzer is a former merchandise manager and professional organizer who now works as a certified ADHD coach through the ADD Coach Academy and the International Coaching Federation. She works alongside Pete Wright to offer insight, advice, and coping strategies for ADHD.
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Podcasts for Anxiety
Anxiety often needs to be treated over a period of time if you want to maintain healthy coping skills; however, relief can still be found in listening to anxiety or meditation-related podcasts. Here are two podcasts that tick the boxes for anxiety relief.
10. Not Another Anxiety Show
Kelli Walker is a certified health and wellness coach who struggled with her own anxiety and panic attacks. Big moves, job changes, even holiday seasons, all of it left her stressed and terribly anxious, so much so that she could barely leave her house.
11. The Mindfulness Meditation Podcast with Danny Ford
If you’re looking for mediation led by an actual psychotherapist, then you’ll like Danny Ford’s guided meditations and mindfulness practices. Their calm, compassionate voice creates a relaxing, safe space to help you reconnect with yourself and feel your emotions in the way you need to.
Podcasts for Overall Mental Health
If you’re feeling like you could use an overall mental health tune up, or aren’t sure where exactly to begin when it comes to mental wellness, these podcasts tackle a wide range of topics.
12. Feeling Good
David Burns is a doctor with impressive distinction in his field. He received his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Burns’ podcast uses his wealth of experience to provide listeners with proven ways to feel better about their lives, their emotions, and their future.
13. Therapy for Black Girls
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is here to tackle the unique and distinct challenges that black women face, especially when it comes to mental health and therapy. She’s especially fond of using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts in ways listeners can relate to.
14. Cleaning Up The Mental Mess
Feeling cluttered, unfocused, and mentally “busy?” Who better to help than an actual neuroscientist? Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist and mental health expert who brings years of experience to the table. She gives you practical tools and tips to use your mind to the best of its ability.
15. Therapist Uncensored
The creators and hosts of Therapist Uncensored, therapists Sue Marriott and Ann Kelley, say they “have fun translating the complex relational sciences and psychology into understandable and practical tools that can give you the power you need to uncover your best self.” Throughout the podcast, they dig into what makes people emotionally tick with well-known guests, breaking down scientific research on attachment, neuroscience, and trauma. It’s all about learning to “update unconscious expectations of yourself and others.”
As an added bonus, 50% of all income from corporate sponsors and merch sales goes to nonprofits dedicated to providing access to mental health services to underserved populations.
When to See a Therapist
Therapy podcasts can be a great resource for those struggling with mental health. They can even be used as a companion to actual therapy. Keep in mind that a trained, licensed therapist can focus solely on you, get to the root of your struggles, and offer personalized insight. If or when you’re ready to see a therapist, here’s how to get started.
