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HealthQuiet 7d · day 10

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams: Counseling gap for older Americans reflects outdated aging myths

A University of North Dakota researcher explains why only 5-7.5% of older adults receive therapy, despite navigating major life transitions.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 4d ago4 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Only 5–7.5% of Americans 65+ receive professional counseling compared to 20.2% of young adults 18–29, despite facing major life transitions.
  • Barriers include cost, transportation, stigma, and the misconception that counseling is only for grief and loss—not for navigating retirement, identity, and meaning.
  • Older adults often prefer informal help and hold negative beliefs about therapy's efficacy, assumptions Rawlins Williams attributes to outdated stereotypes about aging.

“The role of counseling in older adulthood is broader than addressing illness, loss and bereavement. These are important concerns, but counseling can also help people navigate changes in work, health, abilities, relationships, independence and identity, and consider what comes next.”

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor · The Conversation US ↗

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams Clinical Assistant Professor of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams: Counseling gap for older Americans reflects outdated aging myths
theconversation.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Sep 14, 7 AM; 4 pieces over 10 days (3 articles · 1 post) Sep 14, 7 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Sep 14, 10 AM — quietSep 14, 1 PM — quietSep 14, 4 PM — quietSep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 10 PM — quietSep 15, 1 AM — quietSep 15, 4 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 4 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 12
Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 5:46 AM ET
  1. 2

    The Conversation amplifies article on Mastodon

    The Conversation US shares the article on Mastodon, reframing counseling in later life as enabling growth and change rather than managing decline.

    • TheConversationUS@newsie.social

      Counseling in later life isn’t just for coping with loss and illness. It can help older people change and grow as they retire and deal with mortality. https:// theconversation.com/why-so-few -older-americans-get-counseling-and-how-it-could-help-291036

      TheConversationUS@newsie.socialMastodon6d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2 days quiet
  3. 1

    Rawlins Williams publishes analysis of counseling gap in older adults

    Clinical Assistant Professor Lee Ann Rawlins Williams publishes research-backed essay on The Conversation US explaining why older Americans receive counseling at lower rates than younger adults. The piece cites 2024 national data showing only 7.5% of ages 65-74 and 5% of ages 75+ receive professional counseling versus 20.2% of ages 18-29.

    “Older adults need opportunities to talk about more than dying. They also need someone willing to listen to them talk about living, along with the changes they are navigating, the decisions they are making and what matters to them now.”
    — 79-year-old acquaintance cited by Rawlins Williams
    1. 2 outlets Why so few older Americans get counseling – and how it could help

      first by ca.style.yahoo.com, 9d ago · also The Conversation