Why Talking to Your Friends Isn’t Therapy

If I had a penny for every time I heard “I don’t need therapy, I can talk to my friends,” I would be rich. No, it really isn’t the same. Here are some of the reasons:

Therapists have training in understanding and addressing the problems of the human mind. Your friends may love you, but they don’t have the years of training necessary to effectively help untangle the knots hiding in your mind.
A therapist is unbiased. Unlike your friends, they won’t promise you to hide your abusive ex’s body, but they will help you get back from being a victim and find your inner strength and balance again.
A therapist doesn’t judge. You can tell them even the things you are too ashamed to tell anyone in your social circle. Even the things you never told anybody and you are too ashamed to admit even to yourself. Especially those things. Because once you say them aloud, the shame loses its hold on you.
A therapist can see the ‘blind spots’ of your mind — the things that cause you so much pain that you hide them even in front of yourself. When you try to think about them, your mind automatically slips away from the topic or goes blank. We all have these blind spots, and most mental health problems hide there. You need professional help to access those hidden corners of your mind.
Therapy isn’t ‘just talking’. It’s real work. A good therapist helps you to discover, understand, and repair things inside your mind, which can be difficult, emotionally exhausting and you need an experienced guide to help you through this process.

I hope this brief article helps you understand the process of therapy a bit more and gives you a better picture of what it is and isn’t. I wish you a successful healing and a happy life. ❤

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Helen Olivier

Helen Olivier is a neurodivergent writer, AuDHD explorer, and professional overthinker with 40+ years of lived experience in the wonderfully weird world of ADHD + autism. She writes for people who’ve been told they’re “too much” or “not enough,” offering comfort, clarity, and the occasional executive dysfunction survival hack. Her blog is her way of turning daily chaos into useful insights for other neurodivergent folks.

This blog is based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health, treatment, or medications.

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