Comments on: Are You Watching United States of Tara? How About In Treatment? http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/ ACA blogs, written by counselors, for counselors: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:15:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tristana Harvey http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Tristana Harvey Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:06:50 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-44 I have actually used segments of In Treatment to promote discussion on ethics, talk about client counselor relationship (school counselors) and multicultural counseling (male/female; race/ethnicity). They actually enjoyed seeing contemporary video of therapy sessions. The show was something their generation could relate to easily. I'm going to take a look at United States of Tara, Intervention and others this summer to consider their use in future classes. twitter.com/hcptweets I have actually used segments of In Treatment to promote discussion on ethics, talk about client counselor relationship (school counselors) and multicultural counseling (male/female; race/ethnicity). They actually enjoyed seeing contemporary video of therapy sessions. The show was something their generation could relate to easily.

I’m going to take a look at United States of Tara, Intervention and others this summer to consider their use in future classes.

twitter.com/hcptweets

]]> By: Randy Clark http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Randy Clark Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:59:32 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-40 My overall opinion is that Americans are becoming increasingly interested in human behavior (witness the plethora of reality shows) and dramas that include counseling are a natural extension of that. The Sopranos did an excellent job of this. The other examples cited - as well as the first season of Mad Men - don't do the profession any favors. They ignore ethics and professionalism so much that it is apparent to me that the writers do very little research into how counseling works. I watched the first segment of the second season of In Treatment and was appalled that the therapist did not immediately ask for another attorney when he found out his assigned attorney was a former client. That was enough for me. I won't be watching any more episodes. While I enjoy "The United States of Tara" I find the counselor difficult to watch. In particular, I am amazed at her seeing Tara's husband on an informal basis. I can only hope the scenes of superviosry sessions were left on the cutting room floor. Otherwise she is learning about DID on the fly. I could write a dissertation on the ethical issues the show raises. As for Intervention, I find the show fascinating. I am riveted by the unfolding of the family dynamics as the show progresses. I think the counselors are very professional and are willing to call out family members when they are detracting from the process. It is my only reality TV indulgence. I think it is very informative, though. My overall opinion is that Americans are becoming increasingly interested in human behavior (witness the plethora of reality shows) and dramas that include counseling are a natural extension of that. The Sopranos did an excellent job of this. The other examples cited – as well as the first season of Mad Men – don’t do the profession any favors. They ignore ethics and professionalism so much that it is apparent to me that the writers do very little research into how counseling works.

I watched the first segment of the second season of In Treatment and was appalled that the therapist did not immediately ask for another attorney when he found out his assigned attorney was a former client. That was enough for me. I won’t be watching any more episodes.

While I enjoy “The United States of Tara” I find the counselor difficult to watch. In particular, I am amazed at her seeing Tara’s husband on an informal basis. I can only hope the scenes of superviosry sessions were left on the cutting room floor. Otherwise she is learning about DID on the fly. I could write a dissertation on the ethical issues the show raises.

As for Intervention, I find the show fascinating. I am riveted by the unfolding of the family dynamics as the show progresses. I think the counselors are very professional and are willing to call out family members when they are detracting from the process. It is my only reality TV indulgence. I think it is very informative, though.

]]> By: Martha Utchenik http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Martha Utchenik Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:01:53 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-37 Yes, I agree that many shows and movies seem ridiculous in how they portray therapists and clients. But I can't help wondering how many people who watched The Bob Newhart show were able to laugh at themselves for the first time, both as therapists and clients. Sometimes, we really do take ourselves too seriously and it's easier to see ourselves up on a screen rather than to have someone say directly to us "stop taking yourself so seriously". Ouch, that can hurt! And then there are movies like Snake Pit and Sybil (w/Sally Field and Joan Woodward), that inspired me to even pursue this field. Maybe we need more shows and movies like those... Yes, I agree that many shows and movies seem ridiculous in how they portray therapists and clients. But I can’t help wondering how many people who watched The Bob Newhart show were able to laugh at themselves for the first time, both as therapists and clients. Sometimes, we really do take ourselves too seriously and it’s easier to see ourselves up on a screen rather than to have someone say directly to us “stop taking yourself so seriously”. Ouch, that can hurt! And then there are movies like Snake Pit and Sybil (w/Sally Field and Joan Woodward), that inspired me to even pursue this field. Maybe we need more shows and movies like those…

]]> By: Anonymous http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Anonymous Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:35:28 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-36 Out of the shows listed I have only seen "Mental" and only one episode, but I had to laugh when the client in the show who was admitted to the psychiatric unit of a hospital because of a suicide attempt was placed in a room that had a vase with flowers. The room looked pretty, but to put glass in a room with a suicidal client is just asking for trouble. Regardless of their accuracy, television shows featuring mental health bread familiarity with our field. Familiarity breads comfortablity. As people feel more comfortable with the mental health field, I believe and hope that they will be more likely to seek help when they need it. Out of the shows listed I have only seen “Mental” and only one episode, but I had to laugh when the client in the show who was admitted to the psychiatric unit of a hospital because of a suicide attempt was placed in a room that had a vase with flowers. The room looked pretty, but to put glass in a room with a suicidal client is just asking for trouble.

Regardless of their accuracy, television shows featuring mental health bread familiarity with our field. Familiarity breads comfortablity. As people feel more comfortable with the mental health field, I believe and hope that they will be more likely to seek help when they need it.

]]> By: Trinka Polite, LPC http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Trinka Polite, LPC Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:25:29 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-31 I was simply speechless when I saw the previews for United States of Tara. I did feel as if the only result of shows like that would be to drive people further away from seeking much needed help. Now my thoughts on Intervention are different. I do think some shows are beneficial in that they paint a bigger picture of some issues. It allows us to see that the people effected are just as diverse as the problems. I was simply speechless when I saw the previews for United States of Tara. I did feel as if the only result of shows like that would be to drive people further away from seeking much needed help.
Now my thoughts on Intervention are different. I do think some shows are beneficial in that they paint a bigger picture of some issues. It allows us to see that the people effected are just as diverse as the problems.

]]> By: Anthony http://my.counseling.org/2009/07/01/are-you-watching-united-states-of-tara-how-about-in-treatment/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Anthony Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:14:12 +0000 http://my.counseling.org/?p=134#comment-27 Also: -"Obsessed" on A&E features the treatment of OCD using CBT techniques like exposure and response prevention -"Head Case" is a comedy on Starz follows an over the top therapist to the stars Dr. Goode. Best- http://twitter.com/anthonybonita Also:
-”Obsessed” on A&E features the treatment of OCD using CBT techniques like exposure and response prevention
-”Head Case” is a comedy on Starz follows an over the top therapist to the stars Dr. Goode.

Best-
http://twitter.com/anthonybonita

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