The 15 Best Mental Health Podcasts, As Recommended by Therapists
In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining mental wellness is more important than ever, and podcasts have emerged as a dynamic resource for those looking to support their mental health. With the input from therapists, we’ve curated a list of the 15 best mental health podcasts that stand out for their quality, reliability, and impactful content.
1.The Happiness Lab: Hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos, this podcast dives into the science of happiness and offers practical advice on improving emotional wellbeing.
2.The Mental Illness Happy Hour: Comedian Paul Gilmartin hosts this podcast featuring interviews with a variety of guests discussing personal struggles with mental health.
3.Therapy Chat: With host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, this podcast delves deep into different aspects of psychotherapy including trauma, self-compassion, and mindfulness.
4.Terrible, Thanks for Asking: Nora McInerny presents a refreshingly honest look at the realities of pain, awkwardness, and human struggle that often go unspoken.
5.10% Happier: Dan Harris aims to demystify meditation and its benefits for mental health by talking to mindfulness experts and sharing his own experiences.
6.Mental Health Foundation Podcast: This UK-based podcast provides insight on various mental health issues and interviews experts on steps for prevention and recovery.
7.Anxiety Slayer: Hosted by Shann Vander Leek & Ananga Sivyer, this podcast offers tools and techniques to cope with anxiety and panic attacks.
8.The Trauma Therapist Podcast: Geared towards new therapists, but equally valuable for anyone interested in psychological trauma, Guy Macpherson interviews various mental health professionals about their work in trauma therapy.
9.The Hilarious World of Depression: John Moe brings a comedic angle to serious discussions around depression, helping to destigmatize the condition through laughter and storytelling.
10.The SelfWork Podcast: Dr. Margaret Rutherford provides actionable suggestions to make things better in life addressing common psychological issues and challenges.
11.The Mindful Kind: Rachael Kable explores the world of mindfulness meditation and shares simple strategies to integrate it into daily life to improve wellbeing.
12.Ologies with Alie Ward: In this lighter take on the genre, Alie Ward interviews professional ‘ologists’ about their studies and their relation to mental health in some episodes (e.g., Fearology).
13.The Struggle Bus: Hosts Katharine Heller and Sally Tamarkin answer listener questions about family, friends, work, mental health – none too big or small to discuss.
14.Unfck Your Brain: Kara Loewentheil combines feminism with cognitive psychology principles in her approach to help listeners rewire their thought patterns for better personal empowerment
15.Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: The renowned relationship therapist invites listeners into her office for real couples’ therapy sessions that can be deeply resonant and enlightening.