Michael Phelps reveals how therapy helps him in Talkspace campaign

Michael Phelps reveals how therapy helps his mental health as part of a new campaign from Talkspace, the online and mobile therapy brand.

The U.S. swimming legend and most decorated Olympian of all time appears in one of several new TV spots for the brand, in which people discuss how their therapists have given them "a little help" to start new chapters in their lives. 

The campaign, created by Known, leans into what members can accomplish with a strong therapist connection and aims to "normalize" the use of therapy to cope with stressors in everyday life, as opposed to in moments of crisis. The other spots depict ordinary people using therapy to make the first move in changing their life: for example starting a new chapter in their career or reconciling with a family member.

Phelps first teamed up with Talkspace in May of 2018 for a national campaign, and has previously appeared in spots in which he has addressed the stigma surrounding therapy and convenience of using the Talkspace app.

He is one of a number of athletes to have talked openly about their mental health over the past year; Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have both been open about their struggles and multiple brands have given their support to them. 

"Our partnership with Phelps has been tremendously successful, in both driving leading brand awareness, as well as addressing the stigma around seeking therapy," said Sam Braunstein, chief marketing officer at Talkspace, in a statement.  "In our latest campaign, we are building on the ways in which therapy has helped Phelps overcome challenges with mental health, but also highlighting how our diverse members also transform their lives “with a little help from” our therapists."

"For me it took a lot of learning to understand my self-love was non-existent," said Phelps in a statement. "So, I had to learn a bunch of things and go through different processes. Honestly, some of the tricks I learned whether it’s saying an affirmation when you walk through a doorway [or] calling my therapist when I need one. I love having those tools, and honestly it’s been a life saver."

The campaign breaks today, Dec. 29, and will run nationally on over 20 TV and streaming properties.