What Actually Happens in Therapy (No, You Won’t Lie on a Couch Forever)
So You’re Thinking About Therapy, But...
Let’s be honest ,therapy still freaks people out. I used to think one had to be extremely down and out to go to one. Until I needed one myself.
Even in 2025, when we can order an inflatable shark for our backyard pool off Amazon at 3 a.m. and think nothing of it,but the idea of talking about our feelings to a stranger makes some feel strange. We picture dimly lit offices, ticking clocks, and therapists asking, “How does that make you feel?” while we cry our eyes out. Or maybe that was just me! The truth is thattherapy today looks a lot more like a conversation than a confessional with your priest. It’s much less sterile and more like having a personal trainer for your mental and emotional workout.
So if you’ve been thinking about it or just wondering what actually happens behind that office door (or Zoom screen), let’s pull back the curtain.
You Lie on a Couch and Talk About Your Mother…
That image? Straight out of 1950s
Modern therapy isn’t about analyzing your dreams of snakes or your unresolved toddler trauma (unless you want to go there in which case, knock yourself out!).
Today’s therapists are interactive, they ask questions, help you identify patterns, and guide you toward new ways of thinking. You’ll probably sit in a normal chair, maybe with tea or tissues nearby, but you’ll be talking, alot…y
ou might even laugh.
In my first therapy session years ago, I was convinced I had to “perform” like I did in many of my internet movies. My therapist just smiled and said, “You don’t have to be Bridgette B, just be honest.”
And that’s when I realized, hmm, this could actually be good.
Therapy works because it literally rewires your brain.
Studies using MRI scans show that consistent therapy especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) it can change neural pathways, improve emotion regulation and reduce overactive stress responses.
That’s fancy talk for
“Your brain learns new ways to chill.”
For people who grew up in chaos or are addicted to emotional intensity (hey, sound familiar?), therapy teaches your nervous system how to relax without shutting down.
You learn to tell the difference between excitement and anxiety, between love and adrenaline.
Therapy helps you realize:
“I want peace & I finally know how to keep it.”
Therapy Myths:
MYTH: “I’ll have to talk about my childhood every week.”
REALITY: Only if your current issues take you there ,which, spoiler, they sometimes do. But therapy is about now., your therapist can help you connect the dots.
MYTH: “Therapy is for weak people.”
REALITY: Saying “I need help” is one of the strongest things you can do. Don’t worry about others, they aren’t the ones lying in your headspace at night overthinking, or constantly getting into relationships that drains every ounce of self love out of you.
MYTH: “Therapy is just venting.”
REALITY: Well, good therapy is structured. You’ll set goals, track progress, and use tools like CBT, EMDR, or mindfulness ,not just talk about how your boss ruined your Tuesday. And as a word of caution, speaking from personal advice, get REFERENCES! It is vital to mesh well with anyone you’re going to pour your heart to, and if you’re like me, wasting time and money is just not a part of my vocabulary, so references allow to get first hand knowledge and eliminate those who don’t share in any commonalities right off the bat. If you are of nonconservative mind frame, going to a conservative therapist will NOT be ideal!
MYTH: “I’ll be ‘fixed.’”
REALITY: Therapy doesn’t “fix” you. It helps you understand yourself well enough to stop breaking your own peace and learn tools for your mental toolbox to help you navigate your life. Life is way to short as it is already and it won’t be perfect, ever, but we can at least be proactive in taking audit of it and seeing where we can make it better not just for us but our families, boyfriends, girlfriends , friends as well.
Reality Check
If you’re still nervous, here’s what really happens at therapy:
You’ll cry about something small, like your therapist saying “that must have been hard.”(insert quiet voice here)
You’ll laugh at yourself. You’ll be mad at yourself. You’ll question yourself.
You’ll start some sentences with “OMG that explains everything.” That was me!
One week you’ll think you’re healed, the next week you’ll spiral, you know just like our dating life.
It’s messy, but it’s human, and this is the kind of chaos you deserve to experience in order to grow and heal.
Finding a therapist shouldn’t feel harder than finding a date ..but sometimes it does.
Here’s where to start:
Psychology Today Therapist Directory : https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists . Search by ZIP code, insurance, gender, and specialty.
TherapyDen: https://www.therapyden.com .A diverse, inclusive directory where you can filter for specifics needed.
GoodTherapy — https://www.goodtherapy.org .Great for articles & verified therapist profiles.
National Hotlines (for immediate help):
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : call or text 988 (24/7)
SAMHSA Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov
Pro Tip: Most therapists offer a free 10–15 minute phone consult. Ask:
“What’s your approach to therapy?”
“Have you worked with clients like me?”
“Do you take insurance or offer sliding scale?”
If it feels wrong, it’s not you being picky ,it’s your intuition doing its job.
Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and shared for entertainment and education only.Always seek guidance from a licensed professional for medical or mental-health concerns.
Movie Review:Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Brittany Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg
Genre: Psychological Drama
Runtime: 2h 7m
Girl, Interrupted isn’t a film about insanity, it’s a film about identity. Set in the late 1960s, it follows Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder), a young woman institutionalized after a suicide attempt, as she navigates life inside a psychiatric hospital. Angelina Jolie’s performance as Lisa Rowe , the beautiful patient who thrives on chaos and as usual steals the show. She’s seductive, terrifying, and unforgettable. It’s no wonder Jolie won an Academy Award for the role!
What makes the movie timeless isn’t its diagnosis of mental illness,it’s its portrayal of emotional addiction.For anyone who’s ever mistaken chaos for connection, this film will resonate. It’s beautifully uncomfortable. Just like your favorite redflag :)
UNFILTERED Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Raw, haunting, and painfully human.
Girl, Interrupted isn’t just a movie , it’s a mirror for anyone who’s ever confused chaos for normalcy. ProTip: If you want to do “Netflix and Chill” date night, make sure you prepare yourself for a conversation during or after. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!