Though Oprah's interviewing style has always been similar to that of a therapist, the media mogul revealed that she herself has "never been to therapy" a day in her life during a recent episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.
"I had all my therapy on the show in front of everybody," Winfrey told Barrymore, in reference to her successful, self-titled talk show.
Winfrey became a staple in the talk-show world in the '80s, at a time when she said, "Even speaking about therapy on television was taboo."
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Even speaking about therapy on television was taboo.Oprah Winfrey
"And now everybody has gone to therapy. So I did my therapy in front of everyone at a time when people were still adjusting their consciousness to the idea of accepting somebody else being able to counsel you about your life," she added.
Still, Winfrey feels satisfied with her own life enough to practice gratitude every morning and write a New York Times bestseller about happiness, alongside a Harvard happiness expert.
This raises a major question: Does everyone really need to go to therapy, or are some people just fine without it? Here's what therapists say.
'Not everybody needs therapy, but everybody can benefit from it'
"There are people that definitely need therapy, and then there are people who might be able to function without it but could definitely benefit from it," says Neha Kumar, clinical director at Alter Health Group and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
"What I like to say is that not everybody necessarily needs therapy, but everybody can benefit from therapy."
And Erin Pash, a licensed marriage and family therapist and CEO of Ellie Mental Health, agrees that if therapy is accessible to you, "most people can benefit from it at some point in their lifetime."
In Oprah's case, developing a strong community who she could have deep conversations with, may have been therapeutic on its own, including during her talk show, Kumar tells CNBC Make It.
"To be able to talk to someone that has been in a similar situation as you and be able to share their prospective, or gain new insights [and] a deeper level of understanding is absolutely huge," she says.
"It's nice when you can talk to a therapist who has the training to help you navigate things and process things, but it can be just as powerful sitting down with somebody who can do those same things, whether or not they have a degree."
'There's still a lot of stigma around weakness associated with sharing feelings'
Therapy isn't always accessible to everyone, and for certain generations, including Oprah's, going to therapy hasn't always been welcomed.
"Therapy, nowadays, is not as stigmatized, [but] there's still a lot of stigma around weakness associated with sharing feelings," says Pash.
"The best way to do that is to just take that step and try to advocate or share your emotions with somebody who's close to you. Make sure they're somebody who can help validate that process. It's like an instant, warm [and] fuzzy feeling when somebody is validated for a feeling or an experience that they're having."
Some other ways that Pash and Kumar recommend improving your mental health, outside of therapy, include:
- Connecting with others
- Practicing self-care
- Exercising
- Finding exciting hobbies that you can immerse yourself in
- Practicing mindfulness
- Reading self-help books and articles
Though not everyone is on board with seeing a therapist, there are some circumstances when it would be in your best interest to get professional assistance.
"It becomes evident that you might need therapy when whatever is happening for you mentally or psychologically is affecting your functionality," says Kumar.
If you're battling depression and anxiety that's making it difficult for you to get out of bed or complete your duties, like going to work or dropping your child off to school, then Kumar strongly suggests seeking help from a therapist. Those who are processing trauma or struggling with addiction would also benefit from mental health support, she adds.
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