Noah Cyrus talks about how therapy changed her life during one of her darkest periods, and shares a deeply personal story of recovery from addiction and loss in the first edition of Tuned In With Billboard, presented by BetterHelp.
The 25-year-old country singer, known for hits such as ‘July’, revealed that therapy “totally saved my life” after she found herself battling addiction and grieving the loss of her grandmother while feeling increasingly isolated from her family. Today, she’s happier than she’s ever been—engaged to fashion designer fiancée Pinkus, who runs COLORS Clothing Company, touring in support of her critically acclaimed second album, and looking forward to starting a family.
BetterHelp’s partnership with Noah Cyrus
The partnership between Noah Cyrus and BetterHelp for the Tuned In With Billboard series represents a meaningful collaboration between one of the world’s largest online therapy platforms and an artist committed to destigmatizing mental health care. BetterHelp, which has served over 5 million people worldwide, provides access to licensed mental health professionals through an online platform that makes therapy more accessible and convenient.
For Cyrus, who has been open about her struggles with depression and anxiety, the collaboration offers an opportunity to share her personal story while encouraging others to seek the help they need. The partnership aligns with BetterHelp’s mission to remove traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health support available to anyone who needs it.
A journey through the dark
In the emotional interview, Cyrus reflected on a particularly difficult time around age 20, when she struggled with substance abuse and had distanced herself from the people closest to her, including her mother.
“When I was 20, turning 21 — about 21 — I was really deeply addicted to downers,” Cyrus explained. “I had recently lost my grandmother at the time, and it just felt like I’d pushed myself so far away from my family and my mother, who I’m so close to, and I’d really just been in such a dark place, and I felt so alone.”
The singer, who is the younger sister of pop star Miley Cyrus, described how seeking help marked the beginning of her recovery journey. “Help for me looked like first reaching out to my therapist and being really honest about the struggles I was facing,” she said. “So I had a lot to deal with and a lot to uncover, and one that started with the addiction, but there were so many layers underneath the addiction.”
The power of therapy resources
Looking back on that period, Cyrus became visibly emotional reflecting on her transformation. “When I look back on it, I think how I didn’t know then that I would be in a place where I’m standing here now in an interview like this, and I never talk about this, so I’m totally losing it right now,” she said. “Sorry, like I feel so lucky to be able to have the resources for therapy.”
The resources and tools she gained through therapy have proven invaluable even as she continues her recovery. Although Cyrus admitted that she still gets triggered from time to time, she now has the skills to handle situations that would have been overwhelming before.
“I encourage [therapy] because of how much I can just sit here and say from my personal experience how much it helped, changed, and saved my life in so many ways,” Cyrus shared, hoping her story would give others the same hope and recovery it gave her.
How BetterHelp makes therapy accessible
BetterHelp’s platform addresses many of the barriers that prevent people from seeking therapy. The service connects individuals with a network of 30,000 licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors. All therapists must maintain proper state licensure and demonstrate a minimum of 1,000 hours of practical experience.
The platform offers several ways to communicate with therapists, including video sessions, phone calls, live chat, and asynchronous messaging. This flexibility allows individuals to engage in therapy in ways that fit their schedules and comfort levels—especially valuable for those dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges that can make traditional in-person meetings difficult.
BetterHelp’s data from 2024 shows that 40% of new members experienced therapy for the first time in their lives, indicating that the platform is successfully reaching individuals who might not otherwise seek mental health support. The platform’s approach to accessibility aligns with Cyrus’ message about the importance of removing barriers to care.
From pain to hope
Cyrus’ latest album, I want my loved ones to come with mereflects her journey from darkness to healing. Released to critical acclaim, the album explores themes of transition and moving forward rather than lingering in pain.
“Even though it’s like a heavier album, it’s felt a lot more hopeful in the room and a lot lighter,” Cyrus explained. “This album is more about transitioning and moving forward and it’s more of a really comforting release, rather than something painful that you walk away from.”
The album came after a difficult period following the release of her single, during which Cyrus struggled with increased public scrutiny and online criticism. “It wasn’t until I experienced these two, three years after releasing the single and realized that life was more seen and more open to public opinion,” she reflected. “And so I think a lot of the things that felt painful to me were when I was more of a victim to these people.”
Therapy helped her develop a different relationship with public perception and criticism, allowing her to move forward instead of remaining stuck in painful patterns.
The long-term effect of therapy
Cyrus’ story illustrates that therapy is an ongoing process that improves daily life over time. The transformation in her life extends beyond her music – she is currently on a North American tour sharing her music with fans and expressing gratitude for their support. Perhaps most importantly, she’s engaged to Pinkus and excited about the prospect of starting a family — milestones she says wouldn’t have been possible without therapy.
BetterHelp’s approach supports this long-term therapeutic work through consistent access to licensed professionals and additional resources between sessions. The platform tracks clinical outcomes through standardized assessments, with data from 2024 showing that 72% of clients experienced symptom reduction within their first 12 weeks of treatment. Live Therapy Sessions received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on more than 1.7 million client ratings in 2024.
Breaking the stigma through advocacy
By sharing her story publicly through BetterHelp’s Tuned In With Billboard series, Cyrus joins a growing number of musicians and public figures who have opened up about their mental health struggles. Her willingness to be vulnerable in the face of her darkest moments—and her recovery—gives hope to others facing similar challenges.
The singer’s advocacy work with BetterHelp helps normalize conversations about therapy and mental health support. “I had a lot to deal with and a lot to uncover,” she admitted, realizing that dealing with addiction was only the beginning of deeper work on underlying issues. That willingness to confront hard truths and do the hard work of therapy ultimately changed her world.
For many people, hearing someone they admire talk openly about therapy can reduce the stigma that prevents them from seeking help themselves. BetterHelp’s partnership with Cyrus reinforces this message, showing that seeking professional mental health is a sign of strength rather than weakness.
Start the journey to recovery
Cyrus’ message to others considering therapy is clear: the resources that helped her are available to anyone who is ready to take the first step. “I feel so fortunate to be able to have the resources for therapy,” she said, emphasizing that those resources changed and saved her life.
BetterHelp offers the same resources through an accessible online platform that eliminates many traditional barriers to care. The service accepts insurance in select states, including Texas, Virginia and Florida, and also offers subscription-based services for those without insurance coverage or in other states. In addition, BetterHelp accepts Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) cards.
The platform’s matching system pairs individuals with therapists based on their specific needs, preferences and therapeutic goals. In 2024, BetterHelp achieved a 93% success rate in meeting client preferences, although this rate may vary by region and range of therapists based on health plan requirements.
A message of hope and healing
Noah Cyrus’ partnership with BetterHelp for Tuned In With Billboard demonstrates the power of combining personal advocacy with available mental health resources. Her story—from struggling with addiction and loss to finding happiness, love, and success—offers concrete evidence that therapy can change lives.
“I encourage [therapy] because of how much I can just sit here and say from my personal experience how much it helped, changed and saved my life in so many ways,” Cyrus emphasized, hoping to inspire others to seek the help they need.
For those struggling with substance abuse, mental health challenges, or simply feeling overwhelmed, seeking help can be the first step toward recovery. As Cyrus’ story shows, therapy not only provides relief from immediate struggles but tools to build a healthier, more hopeful future.
BetterHelp continues to expand access to mental health care through partnerships like the one with Noah Cyrus, making professional support available to millions of people who might otherwise go without the help they need. More information about accessing therapy resources can be found at betterhelp.com/tunedin.
