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America’s mental health care professionals are in crisis, struggling to cope emotionally and financially as the demand for their services has skyrocketed in recent years while resources to support them are not keeping up. Citing burnout and profound financial stress, therapists are leaving the mental health profession at a rate not seen before – at a time when they are needed more than ever. Many say they are simply overwhelmed by caseloads that have exploded in the wake of COVID 19 and include complex issues exacerbated by the pandemic, such as suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, grief counseling, gender identity, and racial tension. Licensed therapists have long been underpaid and had their work undervalued in a system that has typically favored and funded physical healthcare services over mental health. In comparison to similarly educated and trained physical health professionals, mental health clinicians earn almost 35% less than their counterparts. With the surge in caseloads, that imbalance is simply more than they can handle.