National Psychotherapy Day2026 · Date · History
A contemporaneous 17 September 2012 GoodTherapy/Psychotherapy Foundation announcement identifies 25 September 2012 as the first annual National Psychotherapy Day.
About National Psychotherapy Day
National Psychotherapy Day is observed on September 25 as an awareness initiative focused on psychotherapy and reducing stigma around seeking mental-health support.
The 2012 launch announcement described September 25, 2012 as the first annual National Psychotherapy Day and linked the initiative to The Psychotherapy Foundation with sponsorship from GoodTherapy.org.
Why National Psychotherapy Day matters
The day can support informed discussion about psychotherapy, access and stigma, but it does not determine whether therapy is appropriate for any particular person.
Mental-health information and treatment choices are personal; calendar content should not diagnose, prescribe treatment or pressure anyone to disclose private experiences.
History of National Psychotherapy Day
GoodTherapy announced its sponsorship of The Psychotherapy Foundation and the first annual National Psychotherapy Day on September 17, 2012.
The inaugural observance was scheduled for September 25, 2012. The announcement identified psychologist Ryan Howes as founder of The Psychotherapy Foundation, but it does not require treating him as the sole creator of the observance itself.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
The Psychotherapy Foundation
The 2012 launch announcement presents National Psychotherapy Day as an initiative of The Psychotherapy Foundation, with GoodTherapy.org sponsoring the foundation and first annual observance.
The Psychotherapy Foundation
September 17, 2012 launch announcement
First documented observance
The launch announcement explicitly calls September 25, 2012 the first annual National Psychotherapy Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe National Psychotherapy Day
Read evidence-based information about psychotherapy and how to find qualified care.
Use stigma-aware language when discussing mental health and treatment.
Support organizations working on access to mental-health services if that fits your goals.
Respect privacy and never share someone else’s therapy history without consent.
For personal treatment decisions or urgent safety concerns, use qualified professional or local emergency/crisis resources rather than a calendar page.
National Psychotherapy Day Facts
National Psychotherapy Day is held on September 25.
The 2012 announcement called September 25, 2012 the first annual observance.
The launch involved The Psychotherapy Foundation and sponsorship from GoodTherapy.org.
The observance is an awareness initiative, not individualized mental-health advice.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
GoodTherapy / Psychotherapy Foundation — inaugural National Psychotherapy Day announcement (opens in a new tab)
Original Launch
GoodTherapy — Press Room (opens in a new tab)
First Party Archive
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Psychotherapy Day?
25 September The documented recurrence rule is: 25 September.
Does National Psychotherapy Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Psychotherapy Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / Psychotherapy Foundation-origin professional and public-awareness observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Psychotherapy Day?
The reviewed sources identify The Psychotherapy Foundation as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is National Psychotherapy Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / Psychotherapy Foundation-origin professional and public-awareness observance.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-03.
When is National Psychotherapy Day?
It is observed on September 25.
When was the first annual observance?
The original launch announcement identifies September 25, 2012 as the first annual National Psychotherapy Day.
Who was involved in the launch?
The 2012 announcement links the observance to The Psychotherapy Foundation and GoodTherapy.org sponsorship.
Does this page recommend therapy for a specific person?
No. Individual mental-health decisions should be made using qualified professional guidance and personal circumstances.
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