The Transformative Power of Mental Health: A Reflection on Miley Cyrus’ Journey
- Matthew Herrera
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
In a recent interview with New York Times Magazine, Miley Cyrus offered a glimpse into how therapy and sobriety have reshaped her life. Miley Cyrus talked extensively about how her own mental health journey was not just a celebrity confession – rather, it was a powerful reminder that investing in mental health can lead to deep, lasting change, regardless of one’s background or status.
Miley Cyrus declared that clarity has been an incredible benefit of her sobriety. Clarity is something many of us crave; clarity can bring in mental peace, emotional stability, and enable us to see our lives with more compassion and insight. Therapy is not always about treatment and diagnoses. Rather, therapy is often about self-actualization and learning how to be more present, grounded, and aligned with your values. Therapy can also help us learn to be more compassionate with ourselves overall.
Miley Cyrus also opened up about working through childhood pain, especially the emotional impact of her parents’ divorce. In fact, Miley described a therapeutic breakthrough when she began to re-envision her parents as individuals, not just as her mom and dad. “I had to get out of the idea that my mom and dad were supposed to be perfect,” she said, “They were just people doing the best they could.” For many clients, especially adult children of emotionally unavailable or overburdened parents, this kind of re-framing can allow for understanding, forgiveness, and rejoining —whether or not the actual relationship changes.
Miley Cyrus claimed that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), "Saved [her] life." EMDR is an evidence-based treatment that is effective for a variety of conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and phobias. During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client to recall distressing memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. This process helps to reprocess the traumatic memory, reducing its emotional intensity and allowing the client to move forward in their healing journey. In this instance, EMDR helped Miley Cyrus process several traumatic memories and brought clarity to her life.
Miley Cyrus also discussed the peace that comes from stepping away from performance culture offstage. Choosing to stop performing for others’ approval and instead prioritizing her internal well-being was a major shift. This speaks to something deeply relevant in today’s world: burnout, overachievement, and the constant pressure to “keep it together” while quietly suffering. Therapy provides a place where people can drop the act, set down the mask, and be fully seen, without needing to entertain, impress, or explain.
As a private pay therapist, I work with individuals, many from high-pressure industries like entertainment, tech, and entrepreneurship, who seek the same clarity, stability, and internal peace that Cyrus describes. While insurance can often create barriers to personalized, flexible care, private pay therapy allows for deeper, long-term work without the constraints of diagnosis codes or limited sessions.
When we invest in our mental health, we open the door to life-changing shifts. Whether it’s healing from generational trauma, setting new boundaries, or choosing a lifestyle rooted in mindfulness, therapy is a space to reclaim your story.
Ready to Begin Your Own Mental Health Journey?
If you find yourself overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck, please know that support is available. As a practicing psychotherapist, I have extensive experience working with creatives, performers, and professionals who want to live with more authenticity and balance. Therapy can be your space to pause, process, and grow, just like it was for Miley Cyrus.
Let’s talk about how therapy can work for you.
References:
Cain, S. (2025, May 31). Miley Cyrus Is Telling Her Own Story Now. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/magazine/miley-cyrus-interview.html.
