Therapy Is More Than Chatting

therapy

Jun 6

We’ve all heard the phrase, “I don’t need therapy… I just need someone to talk to.” While talking is a powerful and necessary part of being human, it’s not quite the same as therapy.

So what’s the difference between talking to a friend and sitting with a therapist?

Therapy Isn’t Just a Conversation- It’s a Clinical Process

In therapy, the conversation has a structure and purpose. While it may feel like a natural dialogue, your therapist is listening and responding with intention, drawing on evidence-based practices and clinical training to guide the session. That is not to say that therapy isn’t relational or conversational, because it is! But therapists are trained to created structured conversations towards change, healing, and growth.

A friend might validate your feelings (and that is so important!), but a therapist can help you understand why you feel the way you do, identify patterns that aren’t helping you, and build strategies to support real change.

Therapy is goal-oriented. It’s not just about expressing what’s on your mind- it’s about healing, learning, and growing in sustainable ways.

Therapists Are Trained and Licensed to Help!

Becoming a licensed counselor, therapist, or psychologist isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes years of education, supervised clinical experience, ongoing training, and licensure exams. So while therapy may feel like “just talking,” there’s deep expertise behind every question your therapist asks and even the silence they hold with you.

Different Therapists, Different Approaches

Therapists don’t all work the same way. Many are trained in a variety of modalities- or therapeutic approaches, that are tailored to meet specific needs.

A therapy modality is a structured method or approach that a therapist uses to help clients understand themselves, manage emotions, and work toward change or healing. Each modality is based on psychological theories and research, and offers specific tools, techniques, and ways to address mental health.

In simpler terms, a modality is like a therapist’s “framework” or “roadmap” for how they help people.

Think of therapy like physical training. Just as a trainer might use strength training, cardio, or yoga depending on your goals, a therapist chooses a modality- or a mix of them- based on your unique needs.

Sometimes these modalities provide more structure, and sometimes they feel natural and conversational. What to you might feel like “just a question” could in fact be an evidence based practice or a specific therapy technique guiding the conversation.

Therapy Offers a Safe Space

In friendships or family relationships, it’s natural for conversations to be mutual- you talk, they talk, you share advice, they offer opinions and insight.

In therapy, the focus is entirely on you. The space is boundaried, confidential, and ethically protected. You don’t have to take care of the therapist’s emotions, worry about saying something wrong, or stress about being “too much.” That in itself is healing.

Talking is human. Therapy is healing. Both are valuable, but they’re not the same. Therapy brings together clinical expertise, intentional structure, and deep emotional safety to support real, lasting change. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, trauma, life transitions, or simply want to know yourself better, working with a licensed therapist means you don’t have to do the hard parts alone- and you don’t have to guess your way through healing.

Haleigh Culverhouse LCSW

Welcome!

My name is Haleigh, and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Lake Jackson, Texas. My private practice is a safe and inclusive place for all. Whether you need to process an issue significantly impacting your life or explore more of your personality and who you are - you belong here.

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