Simone Biles on Therapy: A Fact-Check

Biles describes ongoing therapy as relieving and continues to name it as part of her routine. Psychotherapy is among the better-tested interventions in mental health, with network meta-analyses of randomized trials showing benefit for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. The gap is population: this evidence comes from clinical patient samples, not from elite athletes managing competitive performance. Her narrower statement, that therapy helped her, is exactly the kind of claim the trial evidence makes plausible.

Simone Biles said

“Biles says ongoing talk therapy has been meaningfully relieving for her mental health, including while travelling and competing.”

The science says

Structured psychotherapy has strong randomized-trial evidence for treating depression and anxiety, though almost none of that research was done in elite athletes.

Science Score

Network meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in adults with depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

The verdict

Well-supported treatment, studied in patients rather than podium finishers.

The claimWhat Simone actually said

After withdrawing from events at the Tokyo Olympics, Biles spoke publicly about seeking therapy and has continued to describe it as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time fix. She has said she was reluctant to become a mental health advocate and that different methods work for different people. She has also emphasised using available support systems and asking for help.

Sources

Why it mattersWhy this matters for longevity

Mental health treatment is often discussed as a personality trait rather than a studied intervention with effect sizes.

Athlete disclosures shift help-seeking behaviour, so the accuracy of the underlying claim matters.

Long-term outcomes of psychotherapy are measured less often than short-term symptom relief.

The evidenceWhat the science says

A World Psychiatry network meta-analysis covering efficacy, acceptability and long-term outcomes found psychotherapies effective for adult depression across multiple formats, and a JAMA Psychiatry network meta-analysis found psychotherapies effective for generalized anxiety disorder in adults. These are pooled randomized trials, the strongest study design available for this question.

The evidence does not establish that therapy improves athletic performance, prevents mental health conditions in healthy people, or extends lifespan. Effect sizes shrink as trial quality rises, and most trials measure symptoms over weeks to months rather than years. Biles is describing personal relief, which trials support, not a longevity outcome, which they do not test.

TakeawayThe honest takeaway

The practical lesson

If symptoms of depression or anxiety are interfering with daily life, structured psychotherapy is a treatment with real randomized evidence behind it.

RelatedRelated habits

Cognitive Behavioral TherapySleep RegularitySocial SupportPhysical Activity

Each of these is a habit you can build on its own. Explore them through the Topics index.

SupplementsThe supplement angle: None established

Support a habit, do not replace one

No supplement has been shown to substitute for psychotherapy in treating depression or anxiety. Anyone considering supplements alongside mental health treatment should raise it with their clinician, since some interact with prescribed medication.

Supplements can support good habits. They do not replace sleep, movement, nutrition, or medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting anything new.

This is educational commentary, not medical advice, and does not imply that Simone Biles endorses, is affiliated with, or uses Winning Longevity or any product. We critique the claim and the evidence, not the person. Any direct quote is a placeholder until sourced. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider before changing your routine. See our health disclaimer.

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