In Treatment was a series about psychotherapy. The show ran from 2008-2010. Gabriel Byrne received a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of Dr. Paul Weston. The series later revived in 2021 with Uzo Aduba portraying therapist Dr. Brooke Taylor. Years ago, my colleague in the UK forwarded this article about In Treatment that appeared in The Guardian. She new I was an avid fan.
Portrayal of Therapists in Film
Most of the time when I watch films or television and a therapist is portrayed, I grimace, hold my breath, and sometimes shout my dismay aloud. How many times has a therapist had sex with the client or breached confidentiality on the screen? Boundary violations, dual relationships and other unethical nuances usually abound when mental health practitioners are weaved into movies and television shows.
In Treatment is not much different. But what makes the experience complete is that the near ethical scrapes are brought into the forefront and interwoven into the dialogue- the first season even found Dr. Weston meeting with his clinical supervisor. His character openly discusses amorous feelings for a client and he rasply says he is burned out. All the while, we see his therapeutic work, sometimes on the mark and sometimes not so much, as we the audience peer in on sessions and glimpse ever so briefly into his private life.
The story line is entertaining; nonetheless during certain episodes, I feel like I am viewing a day in the life of my own work. But overall, In Treatment provides a rich snapshot into the world of a psychotherapist, and with the intensity of a 25 minute one-act play. The show is not one that is tolerated in dribs and drabs- one episode here and there does not do it justice, so if you decide to give it a whirl, tune in for at least two or three episodes in succession before you decide if this series is for you.
Clinical Supervision
Receiving clinical supervision as therapists and helping professionals is critical to the work we do with clients. And perhaps that is what stands out most for me now about the portrayal of therapists in In Treatment. We don’t only see the therapist doing therapy; we see the therapist needing a place to think about the therapy. Dr. Weston brings his uncertainty, frustration, attraction, countertransference and burnout into supervision. The therapist is not portrayed as an all-knowing expert untouched by the work, but as a human being whose reactions to clients are themselves worthy of reflection. Good therapists don’t do this work in isolation.
Counselor Training
For further exploration of the use of film and media in counselor training:
Sutherland, J. (2016). The role of film and media in mental health. In S. Goss, K. Anthony, L. Stretch, & D. M. Nagel (Eds.), Technology in mental health: Applications in practice, supervision and training (pp. 223–228). Charles C Thomas Publisher.
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