We often hear the phrase, “There are two sides to every story.” It’s a comforting idea—it suggests fairness, balance, and the assumption that truth lies somewhere in the middle.

However, from listening to some of my counseling clients over the years, I have realized that this mindset is inaccurate and harmful in some situations. Some stories have only one truth, and insisting on “both sides” can create false equivalences, enable manipulation, and cause actual harm.

Take the case of Leona and her former business partner, Darius. After years of running a successful company together, Leona discovered that Darius had been embezzling funds. When she confronted him, he claimed she was “just as guilty” for not catching it sooner.

Some mutual friends tried to stay neutral, saying, “Well, there are two sides to every story.” But were there? The facts were clear—Darius stole, and Leona did not. Treating the situation as if it had two equal sides only gave Darius cover for his........

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