Published February 06. 2021 12:01AM Bethany Ao, The Philadelphia Inquirer 2020 was a difficult year for mental health. Feelings of anxiety, sadness and loss were common for many, as lockdown measures were implemented around the country leading to job loss and social isolation, among other concerns. Mental health symptoms, such as depression or increased use of substances to cope, spiked, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Therapy has long been recognized as a highly effective treatment for people experiencing non-emergency mental and behavioral health symptoms, and the pandemic has made it more accessible than ever as nearly all therapists have transitioned to teletherapy.