The Top Psychology Trends Expected for 2026

2025 was a year of rapid change for the field of psychology, and 2026 shows no signs of slowing down. As psychologists across specialties work to adapt to the new technologies, research, and approaches that emerged over the last year, they must also prepare for what’s ahead. By examining the trends likely to shape the field in 2026, we aim to equip psychologists with the insights they need to navigate—and thrive through—what comes next.

In this blog, we highlight several key trends experts are watching closely this year. Each represents an opportunity to learn, grow, and respond thoughtfully in ways that support positive outcomes for clinicians and the individuals they serve. We begin with:

1. Changes to the AI Tools We Use (and How We Use Them)

AI continues to drive innovation across scientific disciplines, but psychologists and other mental health professionals must follow strict guidelines that often limit how they can use general-purpose AI tools. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can support certain administrative or writing tasks, but they cannot be used with protected personal information (PPI) or data essential for reports, analysis, or treatment planning. These restrictions create a need for specialized, secure solutions tailored to clinical work.

While 2025 saw a broad increase in AI adoption, 2026 is expected to bring further shifts in how psychologists engage with AI. Experts anticipate the development of tools that streamline workflows without compromising clinical judgment or data privacy. PAR’s PsychEd Report, released in 2025, is one example. Built specifically for school psychologists, it automatically extracts scores and data from uploaded documents, encrypting all information to meet HIPAA and FERPA requirements. Additional AI Report Writer options are planned for release this year.

Psychologists are also beginning to explore how AI can use data to help identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed, providing insights that support more precise, evidence-based interventions. Used thoughtfully, AI‑enhanced tools like these allow practitioners to spend less time on manual tasks and more time meeting the growing demand for mental health services.

2. Prioritizing Mental Health Across the Lifespan

According to the American Psychological Association, psychologists are reimagining how society supports children. Today’s youth face challenges at levels not seen in previous generations—including climate anxiety, digital overload, and ongoing economic and social instability. As a result, psychologists are shifting from a model that primarily treats children once symptoms appear to a more preventative approach that supports overall mental well‑being from the earliest stages of development.

Research in early childhood brain development shows that the first three years of life are especially critical, inspiring greater emphasis on nature, supportive caregiving, and stable environments. How this trend plays out in practice will vary, but experts predict increased attention on:

• Regular screening for mental health risks in schools, pediatrician’s offices, and childhood care centers
• Reducing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• Identifying emotional disturbance using psychometrically sound instruments
• Childhood trauma and its impact throughout the lifespan
• Supporting students with executive function differences and identifying issues with EF early using tools like the BRIEF2
• Building resilience and managing emotions
• Promoting mental health and emotional wellbeing early in life
• Positive psychology and the idea that lifelong health is shaped by early positive experiences

Transforming childhood mental health requires stronger integrated care systems, as well as ensuring that parents, teachers, and all adults who work with children understand how to identify early signs of concern. By equipping more people with the knowledge and tools to support youth mental health, psychologists can help create healthier developmental pathways across the entire lifespan. 

3. Sharing Stories and Findings from Psychology to Make a Difference

Scientific findings aren’t always engaging to people outside the fields they originate from—but psychology is an exception. Psychological science plays a central role in helping people navigate today’s complex world, from the impacts of the AI revolution and climate change to evolving challenges in communication and social connection. These topics increasingly shape everyday conversations and the content we consume, with discussions about the global “loneliness epidemic” and the rise in adult ADHD becoming part of the mainstream dialogue.

With public interest in mental health at an all‑time high, psychologists have a unique opportunity to share insights that benefit broader audiences. In 2026, this opportunity is expected to expand further—not necessarily because of what is being shared, but how and where it is communicated. For psychological findings to truly resonate, they must be accessible and easy to understand. Facebook groups like PAR's "AI & Innovation in Psychological Assessment" offer a sounding board for psychologists to share new research, discuss ideas, and connect with others in the field. 

The APA anticipates that platforms such as blogs and social media will continue to gain significance in the coming year. These formats offer clear, approachable messaging and the widest potential reach. As a result, psychologists are encouraged to communicate in more conversational language, using fewer clinical terms and focusing on clarity and simplicity.

When creating content for audiences beyond scientific or clinical communities, experts recommend emphasizing three key elements: building an emotional connection, grounding messages in science, and sharing content through channels where people naturally spend their time, especially social media. This approach not only increases visibility but also helps psychological insights make a meaningful, tangible impact.

4. Navigating Financial Strain, Funding Cuts, and Policy Changes

2025 ushered in a new array of challenges for mental health professionals and the individuals they serve. From historic Medicaid changes that make it more difficult for some to access health services to policy changes that resulted in less funding for school psychologists, these hurdles are hardly slowing down in the new year. But while things may not be getting any easier, psychologists are finding new ways to deliver high-quality care while navigating smaller budgets, shifting public ideas on healthcare, legal restrictions, and more.

Cuts to funding and coverage can have far‑reaching consequences, especially at a time when demand for mental health services is at an all‑time high. A recent study found that adults who lost Medicaid due to recent administrative barriers were far more likely to experience anxiety, depression, food insecurity, and functional health challenges compared to those whose coverage was maintained.

These financial strains extend beyond patients. Providers, clinics, hospitals, and community mental health centers are all feeling the impact, making it increasingly difficult to offer the consistent care individuals need. Still, psychologists remain committed to serving their communities. While 2026 may present more challenges than previous years, experts recommend that practitioners continue to:

• Advocate by sharing stories of how policy changes have affected you, your patients, families, communities, and the field of psychology
• Document any new barriers that your patients encounter in order to strengthen future advocacy efforts
• Have open and honest conversations with Medicaid patients about how cuts could impact their care and what their options may be
• Stay updated on any new shifts and get involved to offer guidance on mitigating potential negative effects

  Psychologists across settings may also face problems with keeping assessment materials stocked, but taking advantage of bundles, kits, and bulk pricing can help alleviate this strain on already tight budgets for the year.

5. Digital Tools for Seamless Integration

Rising caseloads means less time to spend on administrative tasks, leading to a need for tools that help streamline psychologists’ workflows. This is where new technologies and a greater focus on digital administration come into play, offering simplified solutions that maintain security and validity.

2025 brought new innovations like the Digital Record Form from PAR (currently available for the RIAS-2), which allows examiners to streamline test administration, reduce scoring errors, and enhance accessibility. AI Report Writer was also launched last year, transforming the way psychologists perform psychoeducational evaluations without the need to bounce between multiple tools or platforms.

In 2026, we can expect to see even more innovation in terms of digital and AI-boosted options designed specifically for the needs of psychologists. Updates to PARiConnect, the leading online assessment platform, will allow for one click iAdmin link copy for faster remote assignments, bulk sending up to 100 for screening days and large groups, and smarter profile fields with auto-filled Parent/Teacher emails for smoother coordination and rapid onboarding. More assessment instruments are also becoming available in digital formats, including Spanish-language options to for even greater accessibility.

The shift towards digital tools reflects a need for more flexibility and less paperwork, offering seamless integration into existing practices and freeing up time for clinicians to spend where it matters most.

6. Developing Psychological Tools and Strategies to Help Understand the Risks of Worsening Weather

Climate change is impacting virtually every scientific discipline, including psychology. Extreme weather events like hurricanes, fires, dangerous heat and cold, and more are happening more often, but not everyone heeds the warnings of these events. The risks have reached a new high in 2026, but some psychologists are studying how people perceive and respond to risk in order to help draft warning messages that resonate with the affected population.

The last few years alone have shown the dangers of people not taking action after receiving warnings of extreme weather coming their way—from flooded homes to entire neighborhoods burned down, the consequences of inaction have become impossible to ignore. As a result, behavioral scientists and psychologists are increasingly collaborating with climate experts, emergency management teams, and government agencies to explore why some warnings motivate people to take shelter or evacuate while others don’t.

In 2026, we can expect to see:

• More research on risk perception, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with low socioeconomic means, or those living in rural areas.
• New models designed to predict behavioral responses to evacuation notices, heat advisories, and disaster alerts.
• Messaging frameworks rooted in psychological science, aimed at improving clarity, reducing confusion, and increasing trust.
• Assessment tools that measure climate‑related stress, anxiety, and trauma, helping clinicians identify who may be at higher risk for long-term emotional challenges following an extreme weather event.
• Growing attention to climate anxiety, especially among children, adolescents, and young adults who are increasingly concerned about their environmental futures.

Weather-related trauma and climate-based distress are becoming more commonplace, making it essential for mental health professionals to integrate climate psychology into their practices. By understanding how individuals interpret threats—and what prevents them from acting—psychologists can help shape safer communities and create interventions that promote resilience in the face of ongoing climate uncertainty.

Looking Ahead: Turning Insights into Impact for 2026

The field of psychology is evolving at a rapid pace, shaped by new technologies, societal shifts, and challenges that stretch across every age group, community, and setting. As we move through 2026, psychologists are faced with both unprecedented demands and powerful opportunities: to adopt innovative tools, to advocate for those experiencing barriers to care, and to translate scientific insights into meaningful public conversations.

Whether it involves harnessing AI responsibly, supporting children through complex modern stressors, or understanding how communities respond to a changing climate, the trends shaping the year ahead all point toward the same goal: providing more informed, compassionate, and accessible psychological support to those who need it most.

By staying aware of these developments and adapting thoughtfully, practitioners can continue to make a profound impact—helping individuals, families, and communities navigate an increasingly complex world with greater confidence and resilience.