On the Silver Screen:

Psychotherapy & Psychological Ethics in Popular Movies, TV Series & Documentaries

This page is about how a wide variety of ethical issues in psychotherapy, psychiatry, counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy are presented in popular movies and TV series.

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“Take a Spielberg and call me in the morning!”

Table of Contents

Submissions

Boundary Crossing – Appropriate Behavior Within the Standard of Care

Creative Ethical Boundary Crossing, Clinically Appropriate & Helpful Interventions

Mad to be Normal
13 This movie is the story of the innovative - visionary British Psychiatrist, R.D. Lang who ferociously fought the pharmaceutical (over medicating) industry.
Stop It
Screen Shot 2022-11-18 at 9.47.20 PM Bob Newhart, in his famous 5 min comedic video clip, "Stop It" brings up the concern that psychotherapists may ineffectively and self-servingly stretch therapy over months or years, while it may be able to cut be down to 5 min. and 2 words.

— OZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhQGzeiYS_Q

Prodigal Son
Prodigal son Bright is a talented profiler for NYPD & the son of a convicted serial killer physician, w/ whom he sometimes consults on murder cases. His rarely seen therapist seems to compassionately understand the immense complexities of Bright's life.

— JZ

Nise: The Heart of Madness
Screen Shot 2022-11-21 at 11.22.04 PM Dr. Nise,a psychiatrist who specialized in Art Therapy stoped horrific/abusive Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) interventions in a psychiatric hospital in Brazil in the 40's & created a community of accomplished artists on the psych ward.

— Jill A.

Therapy session
inbound1874076251251377106.png The Brazilian series is set in a psychoanalysis office. The series follows the daily life of a therapist and the dilemmas, Pains and joys of his patients.

— L. A

Annie Hall
Screen Shot 2022-11-27 at 6.12.48 PM Both therapists ask their individual clients about their sex life. Alvy notes, “Hardly ever, maybe three times a week.” Annie notes, “Constantly! I’d say three times a week.” Important for therapists to understand the individual context.

— OZ

Stutz
Screen Shot 2022-11-27 at 6.36.33 PM Interaction between therapist and client who’ve been working together for sometime. Client is attempting to make a documentary to share the wisdom and helpfulness of the therapist. Therapist is very open and informative.

— Thomas Hollander

Ordinary People
Screen Shot 2022-11-28 at 12.28.34 PM The attentive therapist, Judd Hirsh, creates a cathartic experience for his young traumatized client by, on the spot, setting a session at midnight when the client finally remember and can process the trauma of his dead brother.

— Gilbert

Ceasefire
ceasefire.jpg Sayeh wants to file for divorce, but mistakenly knocks on a psychologist's door instead of a lawyer's. The Persian film demonstrates how the therapist effectively heal the marriage by helping them get in touch w/ their inner child.

— FT

To The Bone
5597.jpg "No talk about food. It’s boring and it’s unhelpful", paradoxically, claimed the psychologist who was interviewing a potentially new pt. for an eating disorder, inpatient (home) unit.

— OZ

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/12/to-the-bone-confirms-there-are-almost-no-good-movies-about-anorexia

K-PAX
Screen Shot 2022-12-28 at 4.53.06 PM A film about a psychiatric pt. who claims to be an alien from planet K-PAX. Pt. seems rational & demonstrates an outlook on life that is inspirational for fellow patients & also to his highly respectful-curious-attentive psychiatrist.

— JZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-PAX_(film)

Shutter Island (2010)
Screen Shot 2023-01-12 at 12.18.46 AM Creative, compassionate & determined psychiatrist, Ben Kingsley, kindly and competently treats a fantastically convincing, Leonardo DiCaprio, in an isolated island for the criminally insane. Movie has a great, worth watching, final twist.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_Island_(film)

Ginny & Georgia (2021-2023)
Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-5.33.45-PM.png A realistic presentation of effective therapy with teenagers and their families in the 2nd season. Inclusion of parents in teenager therapy can be clinically appropriate and helpful.

— OZ

https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/ginny-and-georgia-season-2-mental-health

Ginny and Georgia (2013)
Screen-Shot-2023-02-03-at-10.43.11-PM.png S. 2, Ep. 4: As the therapist suggested, Ginny calls her therapist in the middle of the night when she felt like harming herself (by burning herself). This is an ethical, unusual, rare occurrence and effective intervention.

— OZ

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42416867/ginny-and-georgia-self-harm-mental-health/

Ethical Dual Relationships: Concurrent or Sequential

Antwon Fisher
Antwon Fisher A young military patient is invited to a social holiday family dinner at his psychiatrist's on-base family house. Not an unusual social dual relationships occurrence in military settings.

— OZ

https://drzur.com/resources/dual-relationships/dual-relationships-military-settings/

Silver Lining Playbook
Screen Shot 2022-12-31 at 9.33.57 PM Therapist, accidentally, runs into his patient, Pat, at a football game & tells him that they are "brothers in green." These kind of dual relationships or social encounters are OK & often unavoidable, normal & common in certain communities.

— OZ

https://drzur.com/boundaries-dual-relationships/

Vanilla Sky (2001)
Vanilla Sky David (Tom Cruises) is a spoiled rich publishing executive (through an inheritance). The psychologist, Dr. McCabe, given the task of determining David’s sanity after he is accused of murder and become a close friend & fellow life-explorer.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_Sky

Gifts in Therapy: From Therapists to Clients & from Clients to Therapists

In Treatment - TV Series
2.png Therapist gives his father pilot- hood to a cancer bold-headed female client as a termination of therapy gift.
In Treatment - TV Series
Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 12.49.17 PM Paul noticed that, Oliver, his young client/patient seemed 'low' and probably hungry and offered to make him a sandwich. He invited Oliver to the kitchen, which is next to the home office, to make the sandwich to the boy's liking.

— OZ

Non-sexual, clinically & ethically appropriate touch between counselors and patients

Good Will Hunting
3 Therapist, Robin Williams, referring to Matt Damon, his client's physical abuse, repeatedly tells him, “It is not your fault!” and compassionately holds & hugs him as Matt deeply sobs in Williams' arms..

— O. Zur

https://drzur.com/touch-in-therapy/

David and Lisa (1962)
Screen Shot 2023-01-02 at 9.41.00 PM David, a brilliant patient in a psych. residential treatment center is touch-phobic, which is being honored by the staff. He falls in love with Lisa, a multiple personality pt. who speaks in rhymes. They ultimately heal each other.

— BN

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Lisa

TeleMental Health, Virtual Therapy, Online Counseling, Remote Therapy, (vs in-person or in-office)

In Treatment 4th Season
6 Corona time irreversibly expended telemental health or online therapy to most settings, therapists and clients.
Web Therapy
7 A comedy of conducting 3 min online therapy before telmental health got popular. Fiona Wallice offering clients 3-min sessions over the Internet in hopes of weeding out any unnecessary emotion. She is modeling how to get to the point fast.

— Z

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1930123/?ref_=ttls_li_tt

Therapists-Clients ethical interactions Outside the Office

Hope Springs
5 After a successful couple therapy, the couple therapist, meet with the couple the family to renewed the marriage vows on the beach.
Don Juan DeMarco
De Marko The police psychologist meet a delusional, poetic, heart broken actively suicidal client at the top of the bill board above the highway. He effectively & literally meet the client where he is at, obviously, not at the therapist's office.

— OZ

https://drzur.com/resources/dual-relationships/dual-relationships-police-psychology/

Why Don't You Cry?
inbound1476547655159338912.png The Brazilian film tells the story of two people who meet at an internship at the faculty psychology, where Jéssica is Barbara 's therapist. The coexistence leads the two to question their lives, seeking to change their perspectives.

— L.A.

https://drzur.com/out-of-office-experiences/

Antwone Fisher
Screen Shot 2023-01-03 at 10.36.55 PM Antwone Fisher is a sailor who is mandated to see a psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Davenport. Dr. Davenport invited Antoine to his home for Thanksgiving dinner with his family, not uncommon in military communities.

— Margot E

https://margotescott.com

A Million Little Things (TV series)
Screen Shot 2023-01-03 at 10.51.20 PM Client is on a roof, threatening to jump. A friend of both client and therapist is on the roof with him and has his phone on so therapist and others can hear what's going on. Therapist provides guidance to her client's friends and parents.

— Kathryn Lichty

Shrinking (2023)
IMG_1583 In S.1 Ep.1 the therapist takes the client to a boxing ring to fight as a way of structuring client's anger. He also meets the client out of the office when the clients successfully controlled his temper and restrained himself.

— OZ

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/shrinking-apple-tv-review-2023

Therapists' appropriate self-disclosure in office & online (social media, professional sites, etc)

Good Will Hunting
4 Extensive self-disclosure by the therapist, Robin Williams, about his own childhood physical abuse, in order to gain the trust and cooperation of his client, Matt Damon, who was also, heavily, physically abused as a child.

— OZ

NCIS
NCIS Self Dis A powerful & competent Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Special Agent, client confronts his caring, generous & over extending therapist about her lack of self-care and concern with burnout, which she acknowledges.
Stutz
Screen Shot 2022-11-20 at 5.24.22 PM Directed by actor Jonah Hill about his own struggle with his body & fame, w/ his therapist Dr. Stutz. While the movie focuses on Hill, Dr. Stutz joins with clinically appropriate self-disclosure regarding meds, Parkinson & family dynamics

— LM

Dr. Cat [Comic]
Screen Shot 2022-12-31 at 6.07.15 PM A short episode of self-disclosure in Dr. Cat which is a comic about a doctor who is also a . . . cat. Doctor Cat: "Are you sleeping better" - Patient: "Better than what?" - Doctor Cat: "Better than me?"

— Z

Frasier (1993-2004)
Screen Shot 2022-12-31 at 10.27.48 PM While Frasier, MD, the talk-show host, is not doing therapy per-se his role is clearly therapeutic. In this long series he includes lots of appropriate and helpful self-disclosure in responding and relating to those who call into the show.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frasier

Sharing the Secret (2000)
Screen Shot 2023-01-30 at 8.59.43 AM Highly effective and clinically and ethically appropriate self disclosure by the therapist to a reluctant-resistant bulimic client, about the therapist's own difficult experience with anorexia.

— OZ

https://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/sharing-the-secret-2000/sharing-the-secret-2000.html

Shrinking (2023)
IMG_1584 In S.1, Ep.1. The therapist, clinically appropriately, shares with the client about his own distress, grief and emotional struggle regarding the recent death of his wife.

— Oz

https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/shrinking-apple-tv-review-2023

Unique interventions or interactions that that are not psychotherapy per-se but are psychologically closely related

Stutz
Screen Shot 2022-11-21 at 3.59.36 PM The therapist, Dr. Stutz, in his therapy sessions with Jonah Hill, uninhibitedly and frequently, uses curse words and foul language, like 'Fuck' or 'Shit'.

— Jim K.

Oui, Mais. (Yes, But)
Screen Shot 2022-11-21 at 5.48.25 PM Throughout Therapist helped late age teen in dealing with sexual advances from male friend and dealing with aggressive behavior from friends. Learning boundaries and reversals Re friends and parents.

— Alan Entin

The Sessions (2012)
Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 7.03.06 PM This is not about psychotherapy, but a relevant true story. A paraplegic man in an iron lung who wishes to, finally, loose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate (Helen Hunt) w/ the help of his therapist and his priest.

— Z

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1866249/

The Three Faces of Eve (1957)
Screen Shot 2022-12-04 at 12.54.08 PM In this classic movie, the psychologist helps Eve identify 3 distinct personalities. The movie put the controversial MPD dx on the map of psychiatric disorders (now named DID). Some view the movie as the utmost example of treater's bias.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Faces_of_Eve

Prodigal Son
Screen Shot 2022-12-11 at 12.25.53 PM While not a therapist, Malcolm Bright, is a brilliant successful & talented NYPD profiler, who uses his unique & superior psychological understanding & insights to delve into the minds of murderers & ultimately track, catch & imprison them.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_Son_(TV_series)

Rocketman (2019)
IMG_1426 Elton John in a spectacular devil costume, sits in a 12 step AA meeting. While it isn't psychotherapy per-se it is a fantastic manifestation of Elton John as he tells his story to the support group.

— OZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2066051/

Take a Spielberg and call me in the morning!
Screen Shot 2022-12-17 at 2.29.28 PM Therapists who practice Cinema Therapy 'prescribe' movies to clients. It is a type of therapy that enables the viewer to explore deeper layers by identifying with film characters to develop mental strength, access inner resources and heal.

— Allan Cooperstein, Ph.D.

https://alanjoshua.com/2020/03/01/movie-magic-can-be-therapeutic-by-alan-joshua/?fbclid=IwAR1umLLgkp9rAfdMbldZz9TTFkc_qj69_kYxaMxMh1kUEm3XrPC8Qvd2IKM

Inception (2010)
Screen Shot 2022-12-20 at 10.30.39 PM DiCaprio is a unique 'professional thief' who steals information and directs people's aspirations & behavior by infiltrating the mind or subconscious of his targets by participating and interfering in their dreams.

— QL

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018)
Don’t Worry John Callahan is an alcoholic turned sober paraplegic who discovers a talent for subversive cartoons as part of a soul awakening. He learns to be sexual again with the new physical constraints, thanks to the aid of a willing nurse.

— A. Walker

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6288124/

Girl Interrpted
Screen Shot 2022-12-26 at 2.17.39 PM The movie is focused on the complexities of a psychiatric impatient unit for young disturbed girls. Dr. Wick, an older female staff psychiatrist is ineffectively unfamiliar with the American youth culture of her patients.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl,_Interrupted_(film)

Crazy, not Insane (2020)
Screen Shot 2022-12-26 at 5.27.00 PM HBO documentary about psychiatrist Dorothy Otnow Lewis & her career-long study of murderers, providing a nuanced view that goes beyond simple labels like "evil." She probed the minds of serial killers & concluded they're 'made, not born.'

— OZ

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/11/18/entertainment/crazy-not-insane-review/index.html

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 2336)
Screen Shot 2022-12-27 at 10.28.06 PM Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4 emphasizes the importance of mental health attending to crew's extensive traumas, clearly making the role of ship's counselor Troi (half-human, half-Betazoid) who can 'read' emotions, essential.

— OZ

https://screenrant.com/star-trek-discovery-counselor-culber-troi-tng-improve/

King of Hearts (Le Roi de cœur) (1966)
Screen Shot 2022-12-28 at 6.09.24 PM Movie raises questions of who is sane or insane and of morality & war culture. Scottish soldier was sent to a French town to disarm a bomb discovers that area is deserted except for psychiatric asylum patients who made him the . . . king.

— OZ

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/956-king-of-hearts

Kinsey (2004) & Masters of Sex (TV Series 2013–2016)
Screen Shot 2022-12-30 at 3.23.56 PM First extensive investigation of human sexuality, which touched off the sexual revolution. Kinsey was a reformer bent on changing sexual ethics. His critiques were traditional-religious-conservatives accused him of being . . 'unethical'.

— OZ

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/kinsey-sf_survey/

I Am Maris (2018)
I am Maris Maris, who struggles with an eating disorder, receives inpatient psych care & finds new healthy ways through yoga & mindfulness. The main message of this fantastic documentary is that recovery is an ongoing journey, not a destination.

— Jim

https://www.iammarismovie.com/home/

The Sixth Sense (2001)
Screen Shot 2023-01-09 at 11.00.57 PM A child psychologist (Bruce Willis) meets a frightened, confused 8 yr old boy & he is completely unprepared to face the truth of what haunts the boy. Over time the psychologist understands the boy's unique & extra-ordinary abilities.

— AH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixth_Sense

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Therapy: Virtual Human & Multimodal Perception for Healthcare
Screen Shot 2023-01-14 at 12.53.19 PM AI is undeniably the way of the future in the culture at large, including psychotherapy. It is cheap, available 24/7 on phones or computers. AI Therapy is improving, exploding and . . . controversial.

— Ofer Zur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejczMs6b1Q4

Wild Tales (2014) Argentinian Movie
Wild-Tales-Argentina-.png Everyone on the flight was negatively connected to Pasternak, who locked himself in the cockpit. As Pasternak's former psychiatrist tries to reason with him behind the closed door, Pasternak crashes the plane into his parents' house.

— T.N.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sbHF6gqFDE

Stromboli (2022)
Screen Shot 2023-02-12 at 10.15.37 PM Sara, a Dutch woman, who recently divorced signed up for a 'From Fear to Love' self-help retreat on the Italian volcanic island of Stromboli & uncovers the painful, denied, ignored past that has ruled her life. The retreat healed her.

— OZ

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stromboli_2022

Swallow
Screen Shot 2023-06-21 at 9.46.25 PM Unique arrangement between the client (conceived by rape), who dangerously swallows metal objects (disorder called PICA), Her therapist agreed to disclose important info to the client's husband.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_(2019_film)#/media/File:Swallow_film_poster.png

Ethically Questionable & Boundary Violation Initiated by Therapists

Boundary Violations, Exploitation and Harm by Unethical Therapists

Prime
Screen Shot 2022-12-07 at 9.10.52 PM The therapist/supervisor/consultant wrongly and unethically advised the therapist, Meryl Streep, to continue to treat her client, even though the client is not aware that she is dating the therapist's son.

— Mary Q

The Shrink Next Door
images A shrink had a patient who is inadequate in most spheres of his life accept business. The shrink, exploitatively, takes over his life for 20 yrs.(!!) and separates him from his money by grooming and manipulating him.

— Marla Friedman

Mirrors
Screen Shot 2022-11-22 at 11.33.30 PM Mirrors is an unusual 30-min psychological thriller about a psychotherapist, who is suffering from a failed marriage, own descent into madness.

— Q

Deconstructing Harry
Screen Shot 2022-11-25 at 6.33.05 PM Harry is married to a therapist who has a home office. Harry's wife learns that Harry had an affair with one of her clients. The next client hears his therapist raging uncontrollably at her husband during breaks in their session.

— -

Bad Therapy (2020)
Screen Shot 2022-12-03 at 10.37.46 PM A 'psycho' LA couples therapist, hopes to split a couple apart by sexually seducing the husband & tying him up. Based on a true story and the novel 'Judy Small'. As the title suggests, this is indeed 'bad therapy,' as bad as it gets.

— O

Silver Linings Playbook (2013)
Screen Shot 2022-12-17 at 8.01.54 PM The therapist unethically & intentionally plays a song in the clinic waiting room triggering the patient to uncontrollable rage.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Linings_Playbook

Side Effects (2013)
Unknown-1 The psychiatrist did illegal insider trading in the pharmaceutical market with her client and colluded with the client in . . . killing client's husband. (All this on top of having sex with client.)

— OZ

Running with Scissors
Unknown An adolescent goes to live with his mother’s psychiatrist at her request. The doctor and his wife adopt the teen. It’s a home with hoarding, major dysfunction, and a lot of humor.

— A. Walker

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0439289/

Clinical (2017)
Screen Shot 2023-01-03 at 9.40.34 PM This is a highly unrecommended horror movie about a drug addicted, traumatized psychiatrist who suffers from PTSD and sleep paralysis because a patient terrifyingly attacked her.

— JZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5577742/

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Screen Shot 2022-12-27 at 7.00.00 PM Psychiatric nurse Ratched is a fictional character, while not psychologist, is the ultimate stereotypical cold, cruel, controlling, heartless tyrant of the care-giver on a psych-ward.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo's_Nest_(film)

Shrink (2009)
Shrink Kevin Spacey, plays a psychologist who is traumatized by his wife's suicide. As one of LA's top celebrity shrinks he turns into a pothead w/ no concern for his appearance or his inability to help his patients. Then... healing takes place.

— KL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrink_(film)

Nightmare Alley (2021)
Nightmare Alley A deceptive psychiatrist (Cate Blanchet) teams w/ a manipulative carnival man, (Bradley Cooper) to grift the wealthy. As part of her evil nature she ‘sold’ confidential info to the ‘magician’ about her mafia-boss patient. (Unrecommended)

— JZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7740496/

Patch Adams (1998)
Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-9.58.04-PM.png Psychiatrist & staff in a mental ward, treat patients demeaningly & disrespectfully. Patch Adams (Robin Williams) who was voluntarily admitted, experiences the inhumanity & decides to become a 'different' and compassionate medical doctor.

— OZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk9mR3zjrkk

Therapists - Unethical 'Sexual Behavior' (including Sexting) with Current or Recently Terminated Patients

The Prince of Tides
10 The therapist ends up having hot sexual affair with her hospitalized client’s brother.
Gypsy
Gypsy The (married & mother) therapist is attracted to her male client's girlfriend and convinced her client to leave his girlfriend as she is sexually and socially courting her
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Screen Shot 2022-11-21 at 12.25.17 PM in Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy, The Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played w/ Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, we have evil psychiatrist, who sexually molest adolescent client & is addicted to Internet kiddie porn

— ZQ

The Departed
Screen Shot 2022-11-29 at 1.03.16 PM The movie is about police officers in Boston. The police psychiatrist has a relationship with one police officer and then has an affair with another, who is an active patient at the time,

— D. R.

Lovesick
Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 6.07.41 PM An 1983 popular movie about a psychiatrist, who falls in love with a patient and became her lover, is visited by the spirit of Sigmund Freud, who gives him advice on how to handle it.

— O

In Treatment - (Original Israeli) TV Series
Screen Shot 2022-12-07 at 8.09.22 PM CounterTransference 101: Paul unethically confesses to his pt. Laura, his love for her, in the final episode of S.1, but a last minute stressful call from his daughter stops him from consummating the relationship. No actual sexual violation

— A.N.

https://ifpe.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/critique-of-in-treatment-on-hbo/

Anger Management (TV Series)
Screen Shot 2022-12-14 at 10.14.24 PM Lindsay Lohan hires Charlie to be her anger management therapist on the set of a commercial, but Charlie winds up sleeping with her and gets her in trouble after the paparazzi get a hold of it.

— OZ

Side Effects (2013)
Screen Shot 2022-12-18 at 8.29.40 PM The psychiatrist was not only sexual with her client but also did illegal trading with client and colluded in . . . killing client's husband.

— OZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_Effects_(2013_film)

Not A Word Of Truth (2021) - אף מילה אמת
Screen Shot 2023-01-02 at 10.57.36 AM A Israeli documentary about a sexually exploitative, grandiose, psycho-guru Israeli psychologist who created a huge cult-like mental health clinic in the 1970's and had long-term sexual relationships with several of his women clients.

— Z

https://nfct.org.il/en/movies/not-a-word-of-truthv/

Binge
Binge Kissing A highly disturbed, bulimic-alcoholic-sexually inappropriately client, unconsciously seeks help from an eating disorder clinic where the director 'reciprocates' to her kissing him passionately on the mouth during the intake interview.

— OZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6284550/

Therapists -- Patients unexpected unethical dual relationships

Prime
Screen Shot 2022-11-21 at 3.15.08 PM Unbeknownst to the therapist, she was coaching her client how to be intimate and sexual with her new young unemployed boyfriend, who turned to be the therapist's son. The ultimate nightmare for a therapist.

— Mary L.

House
Screen Shot 2022-11-27 at 7.54.30 PM Dr. House saw Dr. Nolen in a psychiatric-medical hospital. Dr. House and Dr. Nolen developed an intricate Doctor-patient relationships that extended to a complex-extensive social & professional multiple relationship.

— LMA

Shrinking (2023)
Screen Shot 2023-02-02 at 1.12.30 PM S.1: Therapist invites a veteran, PTSD client to move in with him and his daughter after client was kicked out of his parents' house. Client integrates well into the household & have an affair w/ the therapist's daughter.

— OZ

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/vitalogy/202302/meet-jimmy-laird-the-renegade-tv-therapist

Therapists and Clients, Regularly Talking on Phone, Texting or Engage in Social Media in the Middle of the Night

In Treatment – 4th Season
9.png The therapist answers a client’s call at midnight and talk to him for a long time in the middle of the night. Not unethical per-se but must be handle with caution.
NCIS
Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 1.16.42 PM Tricky, but not uncommon, practice of connecting with clients in the middle of the night via texting, phone, social media, Facetime, etc. Due to the 'Disinhibition Effect' at times (not in this movie) texting translate to . . . sexting .

— L.K.

Therapists Crossing the Line

50/50
images A young trainee-therapist gently connects with her (also young) 3rd client ever, who suffers from a rare life-threatening cancer. They gradually develop an increasingly emotional connection.

— QM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50/50_(2011_film)

Mumford (1999)
Screen Shot 2022-12-26 at 11.35.02 AM Mumford is a newly unlicensed, untrained, 'psychologist' in town, who, paradoxically, in spite of violating many professional & licensing regulations, seems to be liked and be VERY effectively helping all sort of clients.

— OZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140397/

Good Will Hunting
Screen Shot 2022-12-28 at 12.40.21 PM When the client disrespectfully mocked his therapist's deceased beloved wife, Williams reacted in a highly extreme manner, reaching out with a chocking gesture, signaling that the client crossed the line of decency and respect.

— OZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0FEFWNRJRQ

Awakenings (1990)
Screen Shot 2022-12-28 at 5.23.15 PM While Dr. Sayer was medically 'irresponsible' in using untested L-Dopa drug w/ hospital patients, it gave them at least ONE day of real vibrant life. Clearly, better than just letting them to live psychotically-senselessly and . . . die.

— OZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099077/

Mumford
'Therapist' and patient on a walk and the patient asks her therapist if this is unethical behavior

— Alan E

Shrinking (2023)
Screen Shot 2023-01-31 at 9.41.50 PM In S.1, Ep.1 the therapist who is grieving his wife's death, gets drunk one night and is emotionally not fully regulated with his clients, his mentor/supervisor Harrison Ford and office-mate therapist.

— OZ

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-01-30/shrinking-apple-tv-brutal-honesty-therapy

Boundary Violation Initiated by Patients or Clients

Clients who are Clearly more Powerful than their Therapists - Clients who Harass, Exploit, manipulate their Therapists

The Sopranos
12 A powerful and dominant NY mafia boss surprisingly kissing his psychologist in the middle of a therapy session.

Silence of the Lambs
15 Anthony Hopkins, as imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist who, literally, ate (!!!) his clients, intimidating and frightening Jodie Foster, an FBI agent (whom he read as an open book) who came to interview him.

— OZ

In Treatment
MIa An ex client, Mia, who is now a successful attorney 'grabbed' the legal case of her former (20 years past) therapist, Paul, to connect with him, 'settle the score', share her disappointments

What about Bob
Screen Shot 2022-11-18 at 8.53.55 PM A sobering & hilariously funny view of client-therapist relationship, boundaries, neediness, and projections and most noticeable client's capacity to follow his therapist to his vacation home & uninvitedly appears on TV with his therapist.

A Dangerous Method
Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 12.29.41 PM Carl Jung's patient surprises him with a passionate kiss on the lips.

— OZ

Analyze This
Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 6.19.40 PM A comedy about a psychiatrist whose # one patient is a highly insecure/neurotic big mob boss. When the client has a panic attack, his 'soldier' interrupts the psychiatrist's wedding to immediately attend to the mafia boss' crisis.

— QA

The Voices
Screen Shot 2022-11-19 at 6.29.59 PM A struggling schizophrenic patient, physically ties up his elderly therapist, covers her mouth and kidnaps her to an open field where he places her on the trunk of his car, and asks her important questions about hallucinations & voices.

— QZ

The Patient
th-4280823978-1.jpg The Patient is a TV series about a serial killer who kidnaps his psychotherapist and keeps him chained in his basement in hopes of the psychotherapist curing him of his need to kill.

— Dana S.

Clients who Intrude on or Hacked their Therapists

Mr. Robot
11 A powerful hacker client who knew about his therapist’s life and lover much more than she knew as he hacked her and her boyfriend online records.

Extreme Situations: Psychologists risk the lives of clients or impose indefinite incarceration

Therapists who actually, deliberately, kill their clients

Dress to Kill
Screen Shot 2022-11-25 at 12.07.40 PM Robert is a psychiatrist & transgender w/ split personality; his female side wants to become a woman, his male side won't allow. Healer by day murderer by night. Bobbi punishes him by killing women he feels attracted to, including a client.

— OZ

Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal_Lecter_in_Silence_of_the_Lambs Anthony Hopkins, as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist who, literally, ate his clients. Before his capture, he was a respected forensic psychiatrist; after his incarceration, he is consulted by FBI to help them find other serial killers.

— L

Therapists who Increase the Chance of Clients’ Death

Band of Brothers (2021)
Screen Shot 2023-01-13 at 4.40.48 PM A military medic helped Blithe, a soldier who lost his sight from hysterical blindness in a traumatic WWI battle, regain his eye-sight so he could return to the next battle, in which he did get shot and could easily have lost his life.

— OZ

https://www.hbo.com/band-of-brothers%20&%20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Blithe

The Report (2019)
Screen Shot 2022-12-02 at 10.27.23 PM The movie follows Senate Intelligence Committee staff as they investigate CIA's use of torture following 9/11 attacks. It exposed more than a decade of the illegal horrendous torture, generally designed by 2 psychologists (not treaters).

— QL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Report_(2019_film)

Psychologists Who Set the Stage for . . .. Executions
Screen Shot 2023-01-13 at 12.41.43 PM There isn't a movie on the topic. Per the Supreme Court, psychologists who determine IQ of a death-row inmate is above 70, has absence of problem coping and early disability, can be EXECUTED. Powerful role of psychologists is unmatched.

— OZ

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/opinion/death-penalty-mental-disability.html

z Psychologists who impose indefinite incarceration

Washington State's Sex Offenders Are Sent To This Island (HBO - 2018)
Screen Shot 2023-01-12 at 11.08.36 PM Psychologists in many states, have great power to assess that sex offenders aren't supposedly 'safe' to be released EVEN AFTER they served their sentenced prison time & are sent indefinitely to post-sentence prisons, like McNeil Island, WA

— BQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBUJREw_aqE

New: Therapy Sessions Recorded for the Public to Watch

Actual movies & TV-shows that depict psychotherapy & counseling sessions in real time

Stutz
stutz’ Candid conversations of, actor, Jonah Hill and his psychiatrist Phil Stutz

— OZ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21819228/

Blue Therapy
Couples Therapy
COUPLES THERAPY Dr Orna Guralnik’s treatment of couples

— OZ

https://www.sho.com/couples-therapy/cast/dr-orna-guralnik

Esther Perel: Where Should We Begin?

Articles/Essays on movies that depict actual psychotherapy sessions on film

‘It was actually beautiful’: the wild rise in people turning their therapy sessions into devastating TV
article1-logo From explosive couples’ dramas to painful struggles with parental death, fly-on-the-wall footage of counselling is pulling in huge audiences. But is it just unhealthy voyeurism?

— Megan

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/11/wild-rise-in-people-turning-their-therapy-sessions-into-devastating-tv-tough-talking-bbc

The Therapist Remaking Our Love Lives on TV
article2-logo How Orna Guralnik, the star of “Couples Therapy,” gets the world on her couch.

— OZ

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/23/couples-therapy-showtime-orna-guralnik

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