Gossiping vs. Speaking Your Truth: Understanding the Difference
When you begin therapy—especially trauma-focused therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—you may feel conflicted about talking openly about your experiences. Many clients ask: “Am I gossiping if I talk about what someone did to me?”
The short answer: No. Talking about your experiences is not gossip. It’s healing.
Understanding the difference between gossiping and speaking your truth can help you feel safer sharing your story—whether in therapy or with trusted people in your life.
What Is Gossiping?
Gossiping usually involves:
Talking about someone else’s life without their permission.
Sharing rumors, half-truths, or private details.
Speaking in a way that judges, criticizes, or harms someone’s reputation.
Often done to connect socially or gain a sense of power.
In short, gossiping is about the other person—not about you.
What Is Speaking Your Truth?
Speaking your truth is different. It means:
Sharing your own story, feelings, and experiences.
Naming what happened to you and how it affected you.
Expressing your perspective without the goal of shaming or tearing someone down.
Honoring your emotions so you can process and heal.
In therapy, especially EMDR, speaking your truth is an essential part of healing. Trauma often teaches us to stay silent or minimize our experiences. But silence keeps us stuck. Sharing your truth allows your brain and body to process what happened so you can finally move forward.
Why the Difference Matters in Healing
Gossiping keeps us focused outward. It’s about the other person, not ourselves.
Speaking your truth brings the focus inward. It’s about your healing, your needs, and your growth.
When you speak your truth in a safe space, you’re not gossiping—you’re reclaiming your voice.
How to Know You’re Speaking Your Truth (Not Gossiping)
Ask yourself:
Am I sharing this to process my feelings, or to tear someone down?
Am I focusing on my own experience, rather than speculating about theirs?
Do I feel lighter and more authentic after sharing, or do I feel guilty?
Am I sharing this to protect myself or others from any possible danger?
If your intention is healing, not harm—you’re speaking your truth.
EMDR and the Power of Sharing Your Story
In EMDR therapy, we don’t relive trauma to stay stuck in it—we process it so your nervous system can release it. That process often starts with telling the truth about what happened to you. Naming your story isn’t gossip. It’s the first step toward freedom.
✅ Remember: Talking about your experiences is not wrong. You deserve to share your truth, to be believed, and to heal.
Final Thoughts
It’s common to worry about “talking badly” about someone when you open up in therapy. But there’s a clear difference between gossiping and speaking your truth. Gossip tears down. Truth-telling builds you up.
If you’re ready to process your story in a safe and supportive space, EMDR can help you let go of the weight of the past and step into healing.
Ready to speak your truth? Book with me today! Click here
