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10 myths about psychotherapy that you should know

10 myths about psychotherapy that you should know

March 29, 2024

The world of psychology in general, and the profession of psychotherapists in particular , are very likely to be the basis of many myths that circulate through popular culture and that are totally false. Myths about the role of therapists, about mental disorders and about the possibilities of healing, among other things, that make the vision that you have about this area of ​​work is very biased and full of mistakes.

Definitely, these myths about psychotherapy they do not simply make people know less about the work of psychologists, but also, because of them, they create prejudices and false expectations that are harmful in the fit between these services and the people who need them.


  • Related article: "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: what is it and on what principles is it based?"

The main myths about psychotherapy

So, review one by one these different myths about psychotherapists and their work is beneficial to be clear about the usefulness and potential of this important resource. Let's see what are these erroneous beliefs .

1. Therapy is only for people with disorders

People with mental disorders or serious diseases diagnosed may have many reasons to go to the consultation of a psychotherapist, but it is also perfectly normal that people without any of these problems decide to have the services of one of these professionals.


For example, someone who wants to improve their cognitive performance may decide to use work memory training, or learn ways to manage everyday problems.

2. The psychotherapist "cure"

In psychology it is not possible to reverse situations, to make the person return to a previous stage when a crisis appeared or the first manifestations of a disorder. The brain is a set of organs that is always changing, never going through the same state, and the same happens with mental states. When diagnosed disorders appear, you can cushion your symptoms , but not make them disappear completely.

3. The patient maintains a passive role

Nothing is further from reality. Psychotherapists bring their experience and tools, but patients are not limited to entering through the door of the consultation and let yourself be done. They must do their part to progress.


4. Pay for someone to listen to us

The effectiveness of psychotherapy is not simply based on letting patients talk and let off steam, much less. This myth may be based on a simplistic image of the traditional sessions of psychoanalysis, but neither the current psychotherapy is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud nor the service offered consists of giving the possibility of someone listening to us.

In fact, psychotherapists they will only collect the relevant information to guide the process diagnosis, prognosis and intervention, which means that in addition to collecting data on patients use scientifically tested tools for which they have been trained and that, applied to patients, help improve their quality of life. For example, you can see this by going through some cognitive-behavioral techniques.

5. Psychotherapy is about giving advice

This is another of the most widespread myths about psychotherapy, but it is totally false. In psychology there are not just "golden rules" by which to guide our lives , but there are tools to apply in specific cases to improve the quality of life of people. Patients should not expect the therapist to tell them how to organize their life. On the most specific topics.

6. In psychotherapy anything goes while you believe in it

This is completely false. Not all the therapeutic proposals are valid, only those that have a scientifically proven efficacy for a certain type of problem or objective. Believing that a method can work is not enough to be effective.

  • Related article: "The 10 most effective types of psychological therapy"

7. Therapists impose their point of view

In therapies with scientifically proven effectiveness therapists they do not try to impose their own schemes , but they collect information and, based on what they know at that moment, see which intervention is most effective in each case.

8. Optimism is taught in the sessions

Services of therapy they are not limited simply to infect optimism . In fact, in many occasions this is not even necessary, since people show a predisposition to interpret things optimistically.

9. Reading self-help is like going to therapy

Reading self-help books has not shown to have therapeutic efficacy , among other things because it does not allow interaction between patient and expert and, on the other hand, can not offer personalized treatment. Its usefulness is, rather, to offer content from which to reflect.

10. The improvement comes abruptly

The progress that occurs through therapy sessions it is usually arriving gradually , not from one day to the next. In addition, this usually indicates that its effects will be persistent.


Top 10 myths about psychologists (March 2024).


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