What TV Shows Get Wrong (and Right!) About Therapy

What makes a good therapist? Do you agree with Jonathan’s rankings?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are ranking TV therapists according to their effectiveness and sound therapy techniques, in Jonathan’s opinion. The contenders are Dr. Fieldstone from Ted Lasso, Dr. Kinbott from Wednesday, Dr. Raynor from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Dr. Frome from New Amsterdam, and Drs. Crane and Tewksbury from Frasier. Jonathan talks about the heart and human connection in a good therapist, and Alan explains why that also makes a good storyteller. And they answer a question from a Patron about finding the right therapist for you.

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Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, Alan Seawright, and Corinne Demyanovich
Edited by: David Sant
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis

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[renaegraves]

I know TV Shows really aren’t your thing too often, but The Good Place is an amazing show and challenges a lot of things in me. I’d love to hear you guys talk about it someday.

[Jesstanerd]

The thing that bugged me the most about the TFatWS scene was that James did actually share something real "If he was wrong about you, then maybe he was wrong about me". That was huge. And Sam, who is supposed to be a mental health person, who has connected to veterans (I can't recall his actual job, but I know he worked with vets in TWS), completely glossed over how deep and vital that is to how James' feeling. The therapist didn't even touch on it, either. That really frustrated me to see that moment just dropped for the sake of a laugh.

[kayliels]

For me, the greatest problem with Wednesday's therapist is that she proves almost straight away that she isn't a safe place to talk to. She read Wednesday's work without permission and used it as a way to psychoanalyse Wednesday's relationship with her mother.
I have brought writing into therapy sessions in the past and they can be a really useful insight into me, but if that's the case then every psychologist I've gone to with my writing asks if they can share some of their thoughts on it as a psychologist or if I want them to just focus on the successfulness of having achieved something and that is super important. So many authors pour their private souls into their writing and to tear it apart without their consent can feel like a personal attack on themselves.

[stevenneiman]

He's not a professional therapist, but I've been saying for a while that I would absolutely love to see a video talking about Iroh from Avatar: the Last Airbender. He is an amazing character, both as a wise old man whose wisdom actually feels real, and as a lively and entertaining yet believable character. Mostly it's his relationship with Zuko that draws attention but the advice he gives and the kindness he shows to everyone he meets are always so wonderful.
Also, excellent job David Sant on the captioning. I got quite a chuckle out of "unless it's a kink thing".

[evi_bot]

With the Wednesday example, Dr Kinbot using Wednesday's novels was a huge violation of her privacy. Wednesday had not released those novels to anyone, so it's evident that the adults in Wednesday's life are breaking that privacy and sharing her private creations with each other. Even without knowing the context of the show, I would think it's clear that Wednesday was blindsided by Kinbot bringing up the novels, establishing that this wasn't something that Wednesday had consented to sharing with her therapist. Would be really interested what you guys think about this!

[wesleycolvin]

"If he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about me!" STILL hits hard.

[nightfall]

There’s a scene in a later season of Lucifer where his therapist has already severed their relationship due to ethics. He bursts in with a problem and in response she states that since she’s no longer his therapist she doesn’t have to guide him anymore to his own realization, this is the answer! Part of the comedy had been him taking the wrong lesson and watching her fumble to reframe, and then him understanding after he makes all the mistakes. It was almost refreshing to see her be able to figuratively grab his face and tell him what was obvious to all of us.

[teresamedeiros]

1. Frasier clip had me absolutely in tears. I work in mental health and have a psych background. But also definitely need a lot of therapy myself. And I struggle very hard to find the right fit because they are repeating to me what I already know. Burying in psychaitric excercises. They mean well, but Ive already done it all to myslf. So that definitely hit a nerve.

Only therapist I did find that helped me once (unfortunately retired) said one thing to me that literally changed my entire perspective. Whatever problem I was going through I equated to the Stanford marshmallow expirement. I knew I should wait for the better outcome, i knew the pros of delayed gratification, yet I couldnt manage to stop myself from eating the marshmallow. He said, "you know what variable that experiment doesn't account for, when was the last time the child ate? Its a lot easier to wait 5 min for a second marshmallow if you just ate 30min ago, but if you havent eaten since yesterday, little food now is better than more food later. Your problem is not will power, your problem is starvation."

While I am sad I havent been able tonfind such a good match since him, ilthe kindness I developed for myself becauae of him will always remain.

[cathe]

For me, my real-life therapy was really hitting home at the time I was watching "Lucifer". Now, I know Dr. Linda got a lot of things wrong in her personal relationships with her clients, but her peeling away the mask of Lucifer and his realization of his hurt and covering up kinda got to me. I also found her fear really moving and I wonder how therapists feel when their client is honestly terrifying.

[PakoAth]

Clinical psychologist from Norway here, working with children and adolescents with trauma and borderline personality disorder 🙋🏽‍♀️ Love your channel ❤️ Ok, so I’m nitpicking here, playing the devils advocate: I think Wednesday’s therapist could validate Wednesday’s wish to not get therapy more. I find her method just slightly disrespectful of Wednesday’s autonomy. A sort of “I know better than you what you need”-attitude, wrapped in cute paper. Other than that I agree with your assessment!
Other therapist to react to: the one from Sopranos! 🤓 And just the whole Awakenings film 🩵

[FabulousJejmaze]

I'm a psychologist and I'd like to give the guy having the kid record a video an S (A is too low). He presented it perfectly, helping the kid navigate from his current, simplistic view of the word to a new, more complete view. He did it without the kid noticing at all and he did it from a position of empathy. He already understood the situation enough that he knew exactly which experience the kid needed to see the full picture. It's elegant, experiential, and empathetic. It tracks perfectly with my favorite book on this as well (Finn's In Out Clients' Shoes). Just look at how much sauce is there! Therapy doesn't get better than that, hence, S tier.

[trinaq]

I'm so delighted that more projects are normalising therapy, and that you're not weak for choosing to see a therapist. On the contrary, it shows that the patient is mature enough to recognise that they have issues, and are trying to work them out.

[PlasticBaggerton]

Maybe it's a weird thing to say, but I just wanted to thank you guys.





As someone who is.... vaguely afraid of men, when I went about trying to find a therapist, I avoided men like the plague, but I couldn't find a single female therapist that I felt comfortable with.
It was only through watching your guys videos that I sort of warmed up to the idea that a male therapist might not be so bad.
It's the only reason I found a therapist that Ive learned to trust and has helped me tremendously. He's one of the best, least frightening men I have ever met (he actually reminds me a lot of you guys) and he's very likely the only reason I'm as functional as I am.
So thank you, genuinely, for making this show and pulling back the curtains on therapy and psychology and making it something so fun and non intimidating.

[LostinTheDaisies]

Otis and Jean from Sex Education would be fascinating to explore - not only do they both experience successes and failures throughout the show as sex and relationship therapists but the dyanmic of them as a mother and son and the way that influences their therapy throughout the show really speaks to your point that when a therapist is genuine it shows in the quality of their therapy. Hope to see more of these!

[victorfunnyman]

Can we have Alan react to depictions of directors in movies?
Would be cool too!

[musiciansuphigh]

Thought on the Winter Soldier therapist:
I work with Veterans (I’m actually a board-certified and licensed music therapist), and while I can definitely see the burnout piece you mentioned, I also find that the straightforward approach she takes in calling them on their behavior can sometimes be effective. I wouldn’t display the same attitude, but I find many of my male Vets appreciate when people are straight with them.

[cleverscreenname]

I was really surprised by your take on Dr. Kimbot from Wednesday. When I first watched it, I felt like she pushed really hard and hit at a sensitive area where Wednesday showed her true feelings (her writing), without first building any sort of relationship first

[Rembreiker_lychec]

Dr. Noelle Akopian from "Crazy Ez Girlfriend" might be a positive example of a fictional therapist. She gently helps Rebecca to come to terms with her outlandish behaviour and eventual Borderline personality disorder in a helpful, constructive manner. She's also delighted to hear that Rebecca is listening to her advice, and is getting better. Same goes for Dr. Shin.

[karenwelker]

As a practicing LPC, I love your videos and "refer" you out frequently to my clients. I couldn't wait to see Jono's "vs" because I find most fictional therapists make me cringe to the point that my family will have to talk me down after watching them. Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Ted Lasso) is a favorite of mine and I totally agree with Jono's perspective. I'd love to see more of your opinion on "Shrinking." I could only watch the first couple of episodes. I thought Shrinking did a good job at helping mental health professionals show their human side, but cringed at all the unethical behaviors. THANK YOU to both of you for your vulnerability and hard work making this channel. CinemaTherapy is one of the very rare bright spots on YouTube.

[jamiejones]

I’m not a therapist, but I am a ridiculously introverted writer. Wednesday, she had her writing thrown in her face. Dr Kinbott didn’t ask to read it, she blatantly said she was given her writings as proof of how deeply troubled Wednesday was. You can see it in her face when Kinbott brings it up, there’s panic, betrayal, annoyance, and reluctance written across her face. She doesn’t want to discuss something private like that with someone she doesn’t trust. And sure, you can say ‘well, she’s trying to get the books published.’ But that’s different. When that moment comes, you make a conscious decision to let people read her thoughts and ideas. She hadn’t made that decision with Kinbott, it was taken from her.