You Can’t Think Away Your Trauma

I approach self-help literature with both hope and scrutiny. A client told me that Joseph Nguyen’s Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning and End of Suffering has garnered significant attention for its promise to help readers overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and self-sabotage by challenging the validity of their thoughts. While the book offers accessible wisdom and inspiration, it also raises concerns about oversimplification and practical application in real-world mental health contexts.

Nguyen’s central thesis—that much of our suffering stems from believing our own unexamined thoughts—echoes principles found in mindfulness-based therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He encourages readers to observe their thoughts without attachment, arguing that freedom and peace arise from this detachment. The book’s conversational tone, brevity, and relatable anecdotes make it approachable for those new to these mental health concepts. Nguyen’s message—that suffering is optional and that our minds have the potential to shape our experience regardless of circumstances—can be both liberating and motivating for clients struggling with overthinking and emotional distress.

However, I reject Nguyen’s assertion that the root cause of all psychological and emotional suffering is simply believing our thoughts. It minimizes and dismisses the complexity of mental health conditions. Many clients face deeply ingrained patterns shaped by trauma, neurobiology, or environmental stressors—factors that are not easily addressed by “not believing” their thoughts alone. I worry that readers may feel blamed if the cannot think their way out of suffering—that they are simply not trying hard enough.

CBT, for example, does encourage challenging unhelpful thoughts, but it also involves structured exercises, evidence-based techniques, and a collaborative therapeutic relationship to help clients reframe beliefs and manage distressing emotions. I have also found that changing thoughts alone does not address mental health symptoms so I incorporate somatic work into my sessions with clients.

I would caution readers—and my clients—not to view this book as a substitute for evidence-based treatment or professional guidance. The book’s insights are best integrated as part of a broader therapeutic journey, one that acknowledges the complexity of human suffering and the necessity of tailored, compassionate care.