Therapy Myths

What Therapy Really Looks Like: Busting Common Myths

When people find out I’m a therapist, they often get this look– somewhere between curiosity and hesitation. Like they’re trying to decide whether to ask me something real or just smile and nod politely. And honestly? I get it.

There are a lot of myths out there about what therapy is supposed to look like. Some of them are kind of funny, and some are heartbreaking… especially the ones that keep people from reaching out for support when they really need it.

So today, I want to pull back the curtain a bit. If you’ve ever wondered what therapy actually looks like, or worried that it’s not for you, this one’s for you.

Myth #1: Therapy Is Only for People at Rock Bottom

So often, I hear: “I’m fine. I’m not sure if I really need therapy.”

And to that, I say: If something’s been weighing on your mind or heart—whether it’s anxiety, relationship struggles, a big life decision, or just that nagging feeling that something’s off—you don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart.

Some of the most powerful work happens when people come in just wanting to understand themselves better or live with more intention. Therapy isn’t just about crisis management. It’s about building a life that feels more authentic to you.

Myth #2: The Therapist Just Sits There and Nods

I’ll be honest with you… I’m not a blank-slate therapist. I show up as a real person in the room. 

Sometimes that means I reflect something back you hadn’t noticed. Sometimes I gently challenge a belief that’s keeping you stuck. Sometimes I laugh at your dark humor.  And sometimes, yes, I do nod (because I’m listening hard and I am right in the moment with you!). Therapy is a conversation. It’s collaborative. You’re not doing this alone.

Myth #3: You’ll Be “Fixed” in a Few Sessions

If I had a magic wand, I’d wave it for you. Truly. But healing doesn’t usually work like that.

Sometimes therapy can bring an immediate relief and sometimes it’s a slow unfolding. We build trust, we find language for things you’ve carried for years, we make space for things that haven’t had space before.

And here’s where my work may look a little different than what you expect:
I don’t just ask, “How does that make you feel?”. I often ask, “What are you noticing in your body right now?”

So much of what we carry: stress, trauma, even joy, lives in the body, not just the mind. Working somatically means we slow down and pay attention to the felt sense of your experience. We notice the tightness in your chest when you talk about setting boundaries. We track the warmth that shows up when you feel safe. We follow the body’s cues, because they often speak more honestly than our words.

That’s where real, sustainable change starts—not just in insight, but in integration.

Myth #4: Talking About the Past Means You’re Stuck in It

This one comes up a lot. People worry that therapy means dredging up the past just for the sake of it.

We go back not to blame or dwell, but to understand. So often, the patterns we struggle with now—the people-pleasing, the fear of abandonment, the difficulty asking for help—have roots. And when we name them, when we gently trace them back, something powerful happens. You get to choose how you move forward, instead of feeling stuck on autopilot.

Myth #5: Needing Therapy Means Something’s “Wrong” With You

This one hurts the most, because I’ve felt it too.

I remember my own first time in therapy. I was scared I’d be judged. Scared that I’d be “too much,” or worse—that I’d dump my life out and the therapist would have nothing to say. Instead I found relief. A sense of being seen and heard fully, without judgment. A place where I didn’t have to perform, or explain, or apologize for feeling.

Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s wrong. It’s about honoring what’s true and creating space to grow from there.

So, What Does Therapy Really Look Like?

It looks like us sitting with each other, week after week, building a space that feels safe enough for you to show up authentically.

It looks like curiosity, and gentleness, and sometimes laughter in the middle of hard things.

It looks like learning how your past shapes your present and how your body holds those stories, too.

It looks like noticing what softens when you’re finally seen.

It looks like showing up, as you are, without needing to have it all figured out.

And from where I sit? That’s some of the bravest work a person can do.

If you’ve been wondering whether therapy might help, I hope this helps you feel a little more grounded and a little more seen. You don’t need to be in crisis to start. You just need to be ready to take that first small, courageous step.

If you’re ready, I’m here. Book a session and let’s begin.

Abby Biehl, LCMHCA