Mentalyc survey finds 24% of therapists identify as neurodivergent

A Mentalyc survey of 802 mental health professionals found that nearly a quarter report a neurological or developmental condition, while 56% report at least one specific condition overall. The results highlight how common lived experience with disability or difference is among therapists and why documentation tools may matter more for this group.

Why it matters: - Mental health clinicians are often treated as if they are only the helpers, not people with their own disabilities or neurodivergence. - Mentalyc’s survey puts a number on that reality: 24% of respondents reported a neurological or developmental condition. - The finding matters because documentation burdens can hit neurodivergent therapists harder, especially when note-taking depends on memory after sessions.

What happened: - Mentalyc surveyed 802 mental health professionals. - 24% reported a neurological or developmental condition such as ADHD or autism. - 15% reported a mental health or trauma-related condition. - 5% reported a physical disability. - 37% reported no disability of any kind. - 56% reported a specific condition when those categories were combined. - Maria Szandrach, Mentalyc’s CEO, said the data reflects a more human view of therapists and the work they do.

The details: - The survey asked clinicians about their own conditions through a single self-report question. - Respondents were therapists who use or trialed Mentalyc. - The sample is not a random cross-section of all clinicians, so the results describe this user group rather than the wider profession. - Mentalyc said the results are consistent with a broader conversation about neurodivergent professionals in health care. - The company’s full findings focus on what the survey means for clinical documentation. - Mentalyc is an AI documentation tool for mental health professionals. - The product helps therapists draft progress notes, treatment plans and progress tracking from sessions.

Between the lines: - The survey suggests documentation tools are not just a productivity upgrade for some therapists. - For clinicians with ADHD-like challenges such as working-memory load and task initiation difficulty, same-day drafting or voice capture can reduce friction. - The data also reinforces a larger workplace issue in health care: professionals who support others often work while managing their own conditions.

What's next: - Mentalyc is positioning documentation automation as part of the answer to therapist burnout and workflow strain. - The company is likely to use the survey to argue that note-taking tools should be designed with neurodivergent clinicians in mind. - The broader conversation about neurodivergent professionals in health care is likely to continue as more groups publish similar data.