9 Myths About Psychotherapy and the Truth Behind Them

(by Petya Bankova, psychologist)

The idea of psychotherapy is still surrounded by many misconceptions. These myths often prevent people from seeking help in time, even though therapy can be the key to deeper self-understanding and a more fulfilling life.
Here are nine of the most common myths about psychotherapy – and the truth behind them.

Myth 1: Psychotherapy is only for people with “serious problems.”

Many believe that only those with mental disorders, severe trauma, or deep crises need therapy. If someone is “just sad” or “feels lost,” they often think it’s not serious enough to ask for help. As a result, people wait for years before they reach out – until their suffering becomes unbearable.

Fact:
Psychotherapy is not only a form of treatment – it’s also a path of personal growth.
People go to therapy to improve their relationships, manage stress, anxiety, burnout, the sense of emptiness, or a loss of direction.
Seeking help doesn’t mean you are “sick”; it means you want a better life.
As Dr. Howes says, “There’s no shame in asking for a better life.”

Myth 2: All therapists just give compliments.

Popular movies often show therapists as endlessly kind and agreeable people who nod and say, “I understand, you’re doing great.” This creates the impression that therapy is simply about receiving reassurance that you’re right.

Fact:
A therapist is not there to applaud you but to walk beside you in the process of awareness and change.
Sometimes therapy can feel challenging or even uncomfortable because it helps you face the truths you’ve been avoiding.
As Howes says: “An applauding therapist makes good television, but not necessarily good therapy.”

Myth 3: Therapists do it only for the money.

There is often skepticism toward helping professions. Some people think therapists profit from human pain.

Fact:
Being a therapist requires years of study, personal therapy, and ongoing supervision. It’s a profession that demands emotional depth, responsibility, and maturity.
Good therapists don’t work out of greed – they work out of a deep motivation to help others.
If a therapist were only in it for the money, clients would feel that immediately. Authenticity is at the heart of this work.

Myth 4: Psychotherapy deals with obvious truths.

Many assume that therapy just repeats what people already know – that we should trust ourselves, forgive, calm down, or “think positive.” This view underestimates the depth of the therapeutic process.

Fact:
Therapy doesn’t deal with general truths but with your personal truth.
The insights you discover in therapy shed light on your own patterns, fears, and experiences – often hidden from awareness.
It’s knowledge that can’t be found in books; it’s discovered through experience.
That’s why therapy doesn’t offer ready-made recipes – it helps you discover yourself.

Myth 5: Therapy is unnecessary if you have friends to talk to.

At first glance, this sounds logical – why pay a therapist if you have close friends to confide in? Friends indeed give love, understanding, and advice, so it may seem like the same thing.

Fact:
Therapy is a unique space, different from friendship.
Friendships are reciprocal – both people share and support each other.
In therapy, the entire focus is on you.
A therapist is trained to recognize deep psychological mechanisms that friends often can’t see, and is bound by confidentiality.
You can express anything in therapy – anger, shame, fear, or grief – without worrying that you’ll hurt or burden the other person.

Myth 6: Therapy is too expensive.

The price of a session often seems high, especially when compared to daily expenses. Many believe that therapy is a luxury only for the wealthy.

Fact:
In Bulgaria, session prices usually range between 40 and 100 leva, and many therapists adjust their fees according to the client’s financial situation.
It’s essential to view therapy not as an expense, but as an investment in your quality of life.
Therapy improves emotional health, relationships, work performance, self-respect, and even physical well-being.
As Howes asks, “How much do you spend every year on things that help you live a better life?”
Therapy is exactly that kind of investment.

Myth 7: A therapist can help only if they’ve been through the same thing.

This belief comes from the idea that only someone who’s “been there” can truly understand. People often think a therapist must have personally experienced loss, addiction, or trauma to be effective.

Fact:
A professional therapist doesn’t need to have lived the same experience – they need to understand the psychological processes behind it.
Empathy, education, and clinical experience allow them to support you without being entangled in your story.
Sometimes, it’s precisely the therapist’s inner distance that makes change possible.
They are a mirror, not a participant.

Myth 8: Psychotherapy is for weak people who lack willpower.

In many cultures, we’re taught that strong people “handle things on their own.” Admitting you need help can feel like a failure or weakness.

Fact:
In reality, seeking help takes courage and maturity.
Everyone faces difficult moments, and there’s no shame in asking for support.
True strength is not in pretending to cope alone, but in being aware enough to care for yourself.
Therapy is an act of responsibility, not helplessness.

Myth 9: Therapists become therapists to solve their own problems.

Some believe that people choose this profession because they have unresolved issues and want to “heal through others.”

Fact:
In every serious psychotherapy training, personal therapy is mandatory.
Yes, many therapists are drawn to the field because they have gone through their own struggles – but that gives them depth and compassion.
The difference is that they have worked through their issues, allowing them to be a stable and present support for others.
The therapist is the main instrument in therapy – and if that instrument isn’t tuned, it can’t help anyone.

Psychotherapy is not a luxury, a weakness, or a last resort – it’s a conscious choice of self-care and awareness.
It’s a space where you can be heard, seen, and understood just as you are.
And sometimes, being truly seen is the beginning of real change.

“Change begins the moment a person dares to be seen.”

✨ With love and care,
Petya Bankova
Psychologist and a person who believes in the healing power of the meeting between two human beings.