Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free

by Joe Nucci

Popular psychotherapist Joe Nucci (@JoeNucciTherapy) shares truth and research as he discusses common mental health myths and replaces them with no-nonsense truths and accessible guidance for real healing.

The popularization of mental health content on social media has led to an epidemic of mental health misinformation. In Psychobabble, licensed psychotherapist Joe Nucci argues that too many of us are self-diagnosing, improperly deploying therapy-speak, and even coaching others to engage in harmful activities under the guise of “self-care.”

Nucci dismantles 40 popular misconceptions, such as:

Everyone needs to go to therapy.
Your feelings are credible.
People gaslight you when they disagree.
Mindfulness is good for everyone.
Everyone has trauma.
The reason you can’t focus is ADHD.
This dangerous misinformation encourages well-meaning individuals to make consequential life decisions based on false beliefs, half-truths, and the advice of unlicensed armchair experts. It is time for a professional to call this out. Nucci replaces these myths with liberating truths that can help readers avoid misinformation, navigate important philosophical debates, and better maneuver their own mental health journeys. He shares client examples and evidence-based psychological theory, and draws from reputable studies and research.

TikTok influencers and “life coaches” create viral videos telling people to cut off their problematic parents, and are cheered on by millions of followers. Recent divorcees proudly declare on Instagram that they are finally healing from their “narcissistic” ex-partner, even though you get the sense they can’t actually define that word. Teenage “mental health advocates” lament the struggles of living with autism, but then subtly add that their condition is “self-diagnosed.” It is time for a professional to call out the misinformation and absurdity.

Psychobabble is a must-read book for anyone who values mental health and cares about others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Mental Health

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Katie Goldey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some valuable points and food for thought.

Oversimplification of many important concepts, cherry picked data and examples to support points without well rounded arguments.

Demonstrates poor understanding of the clinical utility of the social model of disability framework which has stood up to scientific rigor across disciplines.

Hoped for more from this. Womp.

Signed - a *clinician* and *scientific* researcher

[Erin Hedges · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched, empathetic book that is very necessary in a time where social media has made everyone think they’re a therapist. Could the writing have been better? Sure. But the message comes across well and I’m glad to see someone trying to bring some credibility and professionalism back to the very important topic of mental health.

[Blake Larson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really interested in the premise of Psychobabble...a book that challenges pop psychology and viral mental health advice sounded like something I’d appreciate. While there are a few solid insights, the overall tone came across more dismissive than helpful. The author makes some valid critiques of social media trends, but the delivery sometimes feels condescending instead of educational.

It also felt kind of uneven. Meaning some chapters dig deep into research, while others skim the surface or rely too heavily on personal opinion. I expected a balanced, evidence-based approach, but it almost felt like the goal was to provoke rather than genuinely teach.

There’s value in questioning popular mental health myths, and I agree that nuance is often missing in online discussions, but this book didn’t quite deliver the depth or compassion I hoped for.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Edited to fix some typos and dictation mistakes, including sentences that got left unfinished*

3.5 stars.

I have a PhD in *ed: a psychology-adjacent discipline*, and while I’m not a clinician, I have a pretty good understanding of research methods related to clinical psychology (and several of my close friends are clinicians). While in graduate school, I also dedicated a lot of time to public science communication, so I know a lot about the research behind how best to communicate scientific and medical facts to the public. I’ve also had a lot of therapy personally, which I have found varying levels of helpful depending on the modality and the therapist. I tend not to read popular self-help or clinical-psych books as often as I once did (partly because my current therapist has specifically warmed me against several very popular ones that she thinks are seriously flawed), but I came across Nucci‘s content on social media and agree with a lot of his points regarding popular misunderstandings of mental health issues (especially how popular discourse has distorted terms like “trauma,” “narcissist” and “gaslighting” and some political concerns with much of the field), so I thought I would give this a try (especially since it’s fairly short and Nucci reads the audiobook, with which he did a very good job).

I strongly agree with pretty much all of the substance of Nucci’s points, and think he presents research and patient stories very well in support of them (I would’ve preferred some more explicit citations, but it’s possible that the print version has reference pages that are not in the audiobook). However, I’m bothered by his framing, as I know from my time doing science communication work and research that the “myth followed by fact” format frequently backfires (people remember the myth more strongly than they do the debunking / truth that follows). But I know that this framework is common on social media, and honestly I’m not sure how Nucci could have written a book aimed at a popular audience that anyone who didn’t already agree with him about the problems he identifies being problems (or at least wasn’t skeptical) would be motivated to pick up if he didn’t use this framing. I think he does a better job at using this frame than many others do—especially because he reiterates the truths very explicitly at the end of each chapter—but I still worry that it will be less effective than the author or I would hope because of using a “mythbusting” format (though it’s much less sensationalized and better grounded in research then using that word might suggest). Two other more minor issues were a bit of unevenness of level of formality in different sections of the book and my being a bit confused by the number of different clinical approaches Nucci seems to use with clients. Most of the therapists I’ve known or worked with have specialized in one or maybe two therapy modalities, so I’m not sure how common the level of flexibility Nucci mentions is. I’m not saying that it’s bad, and Nucci’s explanations of how he picks modalities for use with different patients seem sound, but this approach is unfamiliar to me and so felt strange.

Overall, I think this is a worthwhile book and think lots of people should read it (I have several friends in particular I plan to recommend it to) but I worry that the “myth” framing hampers Nucci’s message.

[Julie]

This one was a mixed bag for me. In it, Nucci (a licensed professional counsellor) takes 40 mental-health and therapy-related myths and provides his take on “the truth.” Some of the things Nucci says, I totally agree with. I do believe that some people use some therapy / psychological terms (like trauma, narcissist, or psychopath) too loosely, and that risks diluting their meaning. I agree that mental health has both an individual and a systemic component, and we probably need to look at both in treating someone. Some of what Nucci says, I think are just semantics. For example, the very first chapter purports to debunk the myth that “everyone should go to therapy.” Nucci’s debunking is, “everyone can benefit from therapy, but not everyone NEEDS therapy.” And some of the things Nucci says, I completely disagree with. One example: he seems very against the idea of self-diagnosis. And while it would be great if all mental health conditions could be diagnosed by a trained medical professional (and in fact must be, if the patient is looking for medication), the autism community has been fighting very hard to assure people that self-identification is valid. Indeed, self-identification is a prerequisite for getting a medical diagnosis. (How else would you know to seek a diagnosis?) And on the flip side, plenty of trained diagnosticians don’t understand how autism can manifest in high-masking adults, especially those from minority communities like women or people of colour. (Oh, also, his source in this chapter was Autism Speaks, which is… not great.) All told, I think there’s more in here that’s helpful than not, but I definitely think it’s a mixed bag.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free by Joe Nucci, LPC

Rating: 4/5

Perspective & Initial Reactions
As a female sociologist and public health professional, I approached Nucci’s work with cautious optimism. While the book targets a general audience inundated with mental health misinformation, its critique of “therapy-speak” and social media diagnostics resonated deeply with my concerns about the commodification of mental health discourse. Nucci’s dismantling of 40 pervasive myths (e.g., “Everyone needs therapy,” “Self-diagnosis is valid”) evoked both relief—for its evidence-based pushback against oversimplification—and unease, as his polemical tone occasionally risked alienating readers genuinely seeking help.

Strengths & Emotional Impact
-Myth-Busting Rigor: Nucci’s use of clinical examples and reputable studies effectively exposes how viral trends (e.g., armchair narcissism diagnoses) can pathologize normal human experiences. As a public health scholar, I appreciated his distinction between normalizing struggles and medicalizing them.
-Structural Awareness: Though not the focus, his critique of unregulated “life coaching” implicitly highlights systemic gaps in mental healthcare access—a tension familiar to sociologists studying healthcare inequities.
-Emotional Resonance: Chapters on trauma inflation and self-diagnosis culture stirred frustration (at their societal harm) and empathy (for vulnerable individuals misled by well-meaning but misinformed communities).

Constructive Criticism
-Nuance Deficit: Nucci’s binary framing (“myths” vs. “truths”) sometimes overlooks structural realities. For example, while critiquing “Everyone has trauma,” he neglects how marginalized groups disproportionately face trauma systemically. A public health lens demands this intersectional analysis.
-Tone Barriers: The book’s confrontational style—while refreshingly blunt—may deter readers who have benefited from self-help content. A more compassionate bridge between critique and guidance would strengthen its impact.
-Prevention Gap: Nucci excels at debunking but offers fewer proactive tools for navigating mental health misinformation. Sociologically informed strategies (e.g., media literacy for teens) could have elevated its utility.

Why This Book Matters
Psychobabble is a timely antidote to the “Instagram therapy” epidemic, offering a much-needed corrective to pop psychology’s excesses. Its limitations in structural critique and tone are outweighed by its potential to empower readers with critical thinking tools—if they can meet Nucci halfway.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the free review copy. This book earns a 4/5 for its brave, if imperfect, stand against mental health misinformation.

Pair With: The Happiness Industry (critique of wellness commodification) or Crazy Like Us (global mental health myths). Ideal for readers weary of oversimplified “self-care” narratives, with caveats for those seeking systemic solutions.

[Vanessa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive but everything I’ve been feeling and thinking for most of my professional career as a therapist. I’m happy to find that I’m not alone.

[Chris M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book that gets to the point about the most common mental health myths. It’s very critical about the mental health awareness content on social media. The author was spot on about the growing medicalization of therapy speak. He also brought up problems with identifying with a mental illness or neurodivergent condition because it can take away a person’s sense of agency, and they might also not take responsibility for their actions. Some might not like this book, especially if your brand revolves around putting therapy speak content online without the proper context.

[Duncan Swann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the stabs at everyday therapy speak.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you want to get behind, but can't fully.

What I loved was the short chapters categorized around mental health myths, explained with clear prose and excellent examples. I really felt like my mind was flowing along with the text, not a single misstep.

A lot of the myths are a bit commonsense, at least to me. Then again, this is geared around the social media generation and avidly online folks. As someone who steers clear of social networks, I found this more enlightening ... learning about the BS that people believe and the memes floating around about mental health.

What grated my nerves a bit were two things. First, the author references a lot of "research" and "studies" without actually referencing anything. Provide your sources!

Second, the author has his criticisms, but some of these seem misplaced or undersourced. For instance, he has a lot of negative things to say about social construction. Please, folks, don't confuse whatever's going on with the yahoos on social media with academic research on social identity and social justice. The author also makes so many logical fallacies. One point is about whether to call people patients or clients. No one's done any research on it! he notes. And then concludes that use of the terms does not affect therapy. Actually, I agree that's probably true generally. But absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

I was also disappointed at the sexist language (like "layman") and underselling sexism. Yeah, it's a real thing.

At the same time, I found myself thinking "hear, hear!" every time the author called out, with patience and kindness, the hogwash, grifters, and real risks to be found in the mental health commons online. The coverage was excellent and despite my criticisms I would argue this is definitely worth the read, especially if you're one of those people who participates in or consumes such content.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Park Row | HarperCollins for the advance copy.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this title in audiobook form from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperOne, and HarperAudio.

I have no psychology training and I have never been to counseling. I am just a lady who questions my sanity at times and tries to understand the world around me.

I found this book to be informative, easy to understand, and very helpful. In an age of social media, self help influencers, and an abundance of psychology books, it is easy for the average person to get overwhelmed by all the information. Everyone has an opinion about mental health. People toss terms around like Narcissist, Empath, People Pleaser, and Psychopath as personalities.
While it is a great thing that mental health is discussed and taken seriously, the overload of information is confusing.

Nucci describes that these are not what a person necessarily is, but traits they may exhibit when dealing with psychological disorders. Disorders that when diagnosed correctly can, in most cases, be treated. He starts by saying that while many benefit from therapy, not everyone needs therapy. He explains Trauma in a way that is understandable. It was interesting to hear his thoughts and the information seems to be well researched. For me, it was refreshing to hear.

The chapters were short and informative. I really enjoyed listening to the title. I believe it was narrated by the author. This is going to be one I recommend to many people.

[Chris Boutté · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best mental health book I’ve read in the last couple of years. For a time, I was a mental health content creator, and I started noticing how mainstream mental health talk was becoming. I noticed a lot of issues with it, and over the years, it’s been getting worse. All over YouTube and TikTok, people are self-diagnosing and advocating for self-diagnosing, and there are so many people slinging mental health terminology around, diluting the meaning of words.

Joe Nucci does a phenomenal job breaking down a ton of “myths” and why they’re wrong. There are 40 myths in this book, including ones about therapists self-disclosing, exes being narcissists, the prevalence of ADHD and autism diagnoses, and so much more. He also debunks all these myths with a lot more chill and compassion than I ever could.

You can tell that Nucci thinks deeply about these topics, and he’s done a ton of research as well to back his opinions. When he doesn’t have an answer or if the answer isn’t black and white, he consults many of his colleagues and other professionals. He has no problem discussing the fact that some topics are still up for debate, and he does a great job making his argument while also explaining other perspectives.

This book is so damn good, and I hope everyone reads it. Did I mention he even argues that not everyone needs therapy? There are just so many good topics in this book, and I wish I had a therapist like him.

[Leanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that makes readers think about how mental health and psychological concepts, ideas, and diagnoses have become commonplace in our lingo and understanding, but for people to really get successful support, they need to seek out professionals. But, beyond that, they have to find the right therapist and approach to meet their needs and goals. I like how Nucci takes a multi-pronged approach in his practice rather than being rigid. It's disturbing to me that professionals take an ideological approach to their work instead of meeting individuals where they are (or helping people at all). I think this is why so many institutions are failing the people and children they purport to help, and also why trust and faith in them have been eroding (in addition to social media). Hopefully, we can get back to common sense and consensus when those of us who are the majority get power back from the fringes, ideologues, and narcissists!

[Sara Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of mental health influencers and enthusiasts online who are not mental health professionals and/or are not basing their content on current evidence.
A therapeutic modality can outlive its usefulness. If you’re not being helped, you should consider a different modality. For example, focusing on understanding the past might not help change your behavior but CBT might.
Personality frameworks are helpful not because they are valid but because they give us language to talk about our differences.
Being an empath is not the same thing as being hyper vigilant due to trauma. If that’s the case, you should get treatment.
Agreeableness is a personality trait and is not the same thing as people-pleasing.
Attachment style shows up more in established relationships, not during dating.
The only thing that truly helps you get ready for a healthy relationship is experience with relationships.

[Papyrusofnani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really great read, a good mix of the facts and story and walks through specific myths and the misconceptions about them. Very necessary read to combat misinformation in the very much online age.

[seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

the format of this book is inventive and fun. nucci’s idea to take on popular social media psychology myths is timely and easy to digest. he cites an appropriate amount of sources and never calls out anyone in a nasty or elitist way, which is refreshing.

[Chantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate the idea of combating psychological myths, the depth just wasn’t there in this book, and much of the “evidence” seemed vague, under researched, and more opinion-based.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book; it brought up many good points to light