In Russia, the demand for child psychologists and specialists in the fight against alcohol addiction is growing.

The demand for psychology specialists in Russia at the beginning of 2024 increased by a third compared to the same period last year. Such data was provided to Kommersant by Avito Services. Most often, Russians use the service to seek advice from child family psychologists and specialists in the fight against alcohol addiction. Demand is also increasing for consultations with sexologists and hypnotherapists. Experts explain that taking care of one’s own psychological stability over time becomes “an integral part of the basic hygienic level of citizens.”

In January and February 2024, users began to search for psychologists on Avito Services 35% more often than in the same period last year, the service’s press service told Kommersant. For the second year in a row, child psychologists are leading in the number of requests, with family specialists in second place. Demand for their services, Avito analysts point out, continues to grow: in February of this year, for child psychologists it increased by 63% compared to last February, and for family psychologists – by 52%. In third place are specialists who help overcome problems associated with alcohol addiction. Moreover, the dynamics of demand for their services is even higher – Russians’ interest in them has increased by 85%. There were 126% more specialists working with alcohol addiction on the Avito Services platform than a year earlier.

As Kommersant previously reported, in Russia for the first time in ten years there has been a slight increase in the number of cases of alcohol addiction diagnoses. Kommersant found such data in the Rosstat collection “Healthcare in Russia-2023,” published at the end of December. From 2010 to 2021, the number of newly diagnosed patients with alcohol dependence decreased by almost half – from 100 thousand to 53 thousand people. However, in 2022, doctors identified 54.2 thousand such citizens. Experts attributed the rollback to a complex of reasons, including the pandemic, socio-economic upheaval and “intensifying geopolitical confrontations.” Clinical psychologist of the medical technical company “Doctor Nearby” Olesya Tolstukhina points out that the problems of alcohol dependence, codependency and ACA (adult children of alcoholics) can only be solved with a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, including with the participation of a psychologist. “Any addiction is a disease; only a few can cope with it on their own. Therefore, turning to specialists is as natural as turning to a doctor for help when one of your organs is suffering,” comments Ms. Tolstukhina.

Demand, according to Avito Services, is also increasing for consultations with sexologists (+9%) and hypnotherapists (+60%). The services of psychologists for career guidance became less in demand (-48%). Interestingly, the demand for online communication is more than twice as high as offline and continues to grow – compared to last year, online consultations with psychologists were sought 39% more often. Supply follows demand. In February, the number of psychologists willing to work online increased by 50% compared to the same period last year. The head of the “Beauty and Health” category at Avito Services, Igor Sannikov, emphasizes that the offer on the platform is growing not only due to young psychologists, who “are easier to master working with online platforms,” but their experienced colleagues are not lagging behind. Thus, the number of advertisements from psychologists with 4-7 years of experience increased by 182%, with 8-10 years of experience – by 201%, and with 10 years of experience – by 232%.

The average cost of one consultation, as last year, starts from 1,800 rubles. and can increase depending on the complexity of the client’s request, the duration of the sessions and their frequency, as well as the experience of the specialist. The most affordable sessions are sessions with psychologists with less than a year of experience (from 1,000 rubles). Most often these are graduates of medical universities and psychological faculties. The highest paid are hypnotherapists (from 2,500 rubles). Specialists working with alcohol addiction charge from 1,800 rubles per session, regressologists, sexologists and career guidance specialists – from 2,000 rubles.

The operating director of the online school of psychological professions “Psychodemia” (part of the educational holding Ultimate Education), Alexandra Karavaeva, points out that today the catalyst for demand for relevant services is the growth in the psychological education of the population. Plus, she adds, many still need help with anxiety. According to last year’s study, which Psychodemia conducted jointly with the psychologist selection service Alter and HH.ru, in 2022 the demand for psychologists increased by almost 63% – this was explained both by the socio-political background and by the natural increase in the popularity of psychological help. People’s awareness of mental health will continue to grow, as will the need for quality help, Ms. Karavaeva believes. She cites data from the Psychodemic study, according to which the demand for training in psychological professions has increased by more than 50% during 2023.

Olesya Tolstukhina explains the increase in demand by the effect of virality or popular rumor: “Often, most of psychologists’ clients are clients based on recommendations.” She notes that in large cities it is becoming the norm to recommend discussing problems with a psychologist when talking with friends. Psychologists, the expert continues, in turn, have a toolkit: “These two facts are key, in my opinion: the opportunity to talk about yourself for 50 minutes, plus a way to solve the problem that has arisen. Over time, this form of caring for a person’s own psychological life becomes an integral part of the basic hygienic level.”

Natalia Kostarnova