Words: Maddison Nisbet (she/her)
CW: Mental Health, Sexual Assault
Netflix has definitively shaped popular culture and how we consume media in the modern world. It seems every genre or form has received a “glow up”, transforming reality TV’s reputation from trashy to insightful and opening up the teen drama to a range of audiences, like the hugely accessible hit Sex Education. One shared aspect of many Netflix productions, from Vanderpump Rules to Sex Education, is the depiction of therapy onscreen, something that seems to be driving TV ratings globally. Viewers enjoy the voyeurism of getting into someone else’s head, and also find comfort watching issues be talked through on-screen. When executed to a high standard, therapy on TV can reach people who do not have access to the help they need, and normalise seeking support amid the ongoing mental health crisis in the UK. The issue is, therapy on TV is often simply not executed properly. These depictions catalyse the spread of misinformation, creating further issues for participants and viewers alike, and misguidance around mental health support that might be too great to ignore.
All generations face their fair share of issues, but young people today have a unique set of challenges to take on. Alongside a global pandemic, the inescapable presence of social media might have Gen Z turning to therapy in record numbers. These problems are extremely new and so caregivers whom Gen Z generation might usually turn to for guidance simply can’t offer much expertise. Therapy on the other hand offers a professional, objective opinion and helps a person foster the skills needed to navigate issues self-sufficiently. A therapist is not a person with limitless answers, but they do possess specialist training to help people develop solutions and better their mental health.
The portrayal of therapy in the media is not only influential, but to some extent informative. In the hit Netflix series Sex Education, we see the protagonist’s mother Jean, who specialises in sexual therapy, deal with issues ranging from body dysmorphia to sexual trauma, particularly in relation to the body and the consequences of its mistreatment. One impactful scene focuses on teen Aimee Gibbs coping with the aftermath of sexual assault; she struggles to understand that she shares no blame in the situation, and that her feelings are valid. Jean’s qualifications in the field are apparent when she introduces talk therapy to Aimee and encourages her to use art as a therapeutic outlet, embracing her creative talents as a coping mechanism. In one of the most beautifully crafted scenes in the series, Aimee powerfully burns the pair of jeans she was wearing at the time of the assault. Through productive communication, an extremely difficult topic is explained with the utmost care and respect for real-life victims. It is portrayals like these which may be able to reach viewers struggling with heavy issues and encourage them to speak out, which helps contribute to a safer environment and society as a whole.
Reality TV increasingly features a therapy element, though it is often a misguided depiction of a therapy-client relationship. Married at First Sight is a hugely popular international franchise in which complete strangers are paired together to get married and live as a couple, and finally decide whether to stay together or separate. In between the weddings and the concluding sequence, participants receive therapy to work through anything that may be causing grievance in the relationship. What remains unclear is whether the therapy scenes, in which couples often cry, leave the set and shout, border on too invasive (or if this line even exists in the genre). In the most recent UK series, the show’s ‘therapists’ can be seen passing judgement on participants Adam and Casper for their behaviour. In an ironic parallel, they have since been criticised by real life therapy professionals for unprofessional and judgemental behaviour towards a client. Relationship counsellor Lou Campbell discourages this outward shaming, stating that ‘qualified professionals should challenge behaviour, but not scold clients’.
The impact on the participants’ own mental health is equally concerning. The therapy scenes are readily available in condensed clips online where they are decontextualised, open to public debate and comment. In a snippet of the US Married At First Sight, participant Emily receives counselling to develop an understanding of her own troubles, and unsurprisingly the YouTube comments attack her character, with one user branding her as ‘narcissistic’ and ‘immature’.
In many ways, therapy in the media is a heartening example of progress around mental health activism. Its role in normalising seeking support and speaking out is clear, and yet the repercussions of showing real people instead of fictional characters in therapy sessions may be greater than anticipated. Perhaps the vulnerability of the therapy room is inherently unsuited to the media, which enables the expression of emotion to be readily exploited for clicks, views, and ratings.
References:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4glkklvjrvo
