When considering therapy for depression or anxiety, it’s not unusual to hear very mixed reviews (Yamina Ehrt-Schaefer et al., 2023). Some people describe therapy as life-changing, while others report little improvement, or even a worsening of their symptoms. Understandably, this can be discouraging if you’re hoping therapy will be the solution you’ve been searching for. It’s important, however, to remember that therapy remains one of the most effective treatments for mental health difficulties, particularly depression and anxiety (Oliveira Machado Cecagno et al., 2024).
What recent research shows is not that therapy doesn’t work for young people, but that younger adults – especially those between the ages of 16 and 24 – tend to benefit less than older groups (Saunders et al., 2025). This doesn’t mean therapy won’t help you. Instead, it just highlights that the way services are currently structured may not always be well adapted to the unique needs and challenges often faced during young adulthood.
A recent large-scale study carried out in the United Kingdom examined more than 1.6 million people who received treatment for depression and anxiety through NHS Talking Therapies (Saunders et al., 2025). The findings revealed a consistent pattern: young adults aged between 16 to 24 improved less on average compared with adults aged between 25 to 65. Recovery rates were lower too, with only around 41 percent of young adults meeting the criteria for “reliable recovery” as compared to nearly 49 percent of older adults.
Younger people were also more likely to experience worsening of their symptoms during treatment and more likely to drop out before completing it. While these differences may sound small at first, their impact becomes striking when considered on a population scale. Researchers estimate that if younger people had benefitted at the same rate as older adults, an additional 23,000 young people would have recovered during the four-year study period.
The reasons behind these differences are not entirely straightforward, but several explanations have been proposed. Younger adulthood is a life stage replete with transition and uncertainty (Hochberg & Konner, 2020). Many young people are navigating education, entering the workforce for the first time, forming new relationships, and developing a stronger sense of identity (Hochberg & Konner, 2020). These ongoing challenges can complicate the process of recovery from depression and anxiety, as external circumstances may continue to generate stress even while therapy is underway (Kuwabara et al., 2007).
Another factor is that many young people tend to receive treatment in adult services, which are not always delivered with youth in mind and may feel less accessible or relevant to their particular circumstances (Cadigan et al., 2019). Practical barriers such as difficulties with transport, scheduling, or simply feeling confident enough to attend sessions regularly can also play a role (Cadigan et al., 2019). Clinically, conditions such as social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are more common among younger adults (Riddle et al., 2023), and these difficulties may require therapeutic approaches that differ from standard models currently used in many services.
These findings do not mean that therapy is ineffective for young adults. Many do experience meaningful improvements, and a substantial proportion do go on to recover (Saunders et al., 2025). What the research highlights is that services may not always meet the needs of people in their late teens and early twenties as effectively as they do for older adults (Cadigan et al., 2019).
The challenge lies less in whether therapy works and more in whether it is delivered in a way that is flexible and tailored to the complexities of this particular life stage. Offering therapy in more accessible formats, such as online or evening sessions, could make it easier for young people to stay engaged (Maltoni et al., 2025). Providing additional support, such as between-session check-in calls or peer support groups, might help reduce drop-out rates. Tailoring therapy to recognise the specific pressures of emerging adulthood – the uncertainty, instability, and unique social challenges – may also lead to better outcomes.
Special consideration may also be needed for young women, as they continue to report higher levels of depression and anxiety and were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (Saunders et al., 2025).
The key takeaway here is that therapy remains one of the most effective treatments for depression and anxiety, but it doesn’t always reap the same benefits for everyone. If you are a young adult considering therapy, it’s worth remembering that your journey may not look identical to that of someone older, and it may take time to find the right approach for you. With the right support, persistence, and adaptations, recovery is possible. Ongoing research continues to refine and shape therapy services so that they work better for younger people, ensuring that mental health care is as effective and accessible as it can be (O’Neill et al., 2025).
If you’ve tried therapy or medication but found them less effective, it may be reassuring to know that there are other options. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a safe, non-invasive, and medication-free treatment that has been shown to be effective for both TMS for depression and TMS for anxiety. Unlike traditional treatments, TMS directly targets the areas of the brain linked with mood regulation.
At Smart TMS, we specialise in delivering evidence-based TMS treatment in a supportive and accessible environment. No referral is needed, no hospitalisation is required, and starting treatment is often more straightforward than many people realise. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional therapy or medication, TMS may be the right next step for you.
Written by Johnny, Smart TMS Dublin Practitioner