Psychotherapy: Myths, Mistakes, and What Actually Works

Psychotherapy is surrounded by misconceptions: some people expect it to work like magic; others dismiss it as unnecessary. Over decades of practice, Dr. Saulitis has identified several persistent mistakes that prevent people from getting real help.

Myth one: you can start psychotherapy at any time

If the brain is not functioning properly at a biological level — as in severe depression, for instance — no talk-based method will be effective. The brain needs to be working first. Only then does psychotherapeutic work make sense. Skipping this step is like trying to teach someone to drive a car that hasn't been repaired yet.

Myth two: psychoanalysis is a deep and serious method

Dr. Saulitis is explicit: psychoanalysis is an outdated approach that can make a person's condition worse, not better. Many professionals who started with psychoanalysis eventually abandoned it precisely because it produces no results and can cause harm. Romanticising the psyche is not treatment.

Myth three: psychotherapy is a mysterious art, not a learning process

In reality, psychotherapy is education. A person is shown how their brain works, which mechanisms are failing, and how to recognise those patterns. There is no alchemy involved — just a theoretical part and practice. Rational and behavioural approaches work because they explain principles rather than offer magic formulas.

Myth four: you just need to find the right formula

Popular recipes like "three steps to confidence" do not work — and Dr. Saulitis puts it simply: if they did work, the world would have become a better place. Affirmations, mindset techniques, and exercises all need to be tailored to the individual, like bespoke clothing, not taken off the shelf as a ready-made template.