Motivo Health, which bills itself as the first marketplace connecting mental health therapists with clinical supervisors online, raised $14 million in Series A funding led by Cox Enterprises with participation from SteelSky Ventures and Great Oaks Venture Capital. This investment allows Motivo – which was founded by licensed therapist Rachel McCrickard in 2018 – to carry out its mission of providing accessible, affordable clinical supervision to aspiring therapists.
The U.S. faces a mental health crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Motivo said in a press release. A key barrier to accessing mental health care is that demand for licensed therapists outpaces supply.
One key reason for the shortage of mental health providers is the long process to obtain licensure. Much like a doctor is required to fulfill a residency at a hospital, those working toward professions in the mental health sector are required to complete approximately two years of face-to-face consultation with a licensed therapist following graduate school. According to respective licensure bodies, 64% of those who obtain a master’s degree in counseling never become licensed due to the time (two to four years of clinical supervision) and expense associated with completing licensure. Historically completed in person, the rise of telehealth, as well as the global pandemic, prompted most states to allow counseling and supervision hours to be delivered virtually, resulting in a $173 billion total addressable market. Read more.
