Therapists in Pop Culture

Putting on a good comfort show when upset is almost instinctual nowadays. While we laugh with our favourite characters and eagerly follow engaging plotlines, it becomes hard to not be influenced by certain aspects of this media. Research has found that media can significantly influence people’s perceptions and opinions (Liao, 2023). Many of our actions are governed by the opinions we have. Consequently, it’s logical to assume that this influence the media has on our opinions can affect the actions we choose to take. And while good messages can be conveyed in the most beautifully heart-wrenching ways, harmful ones can come wrapped up under the disguise of humour and drama. One grossly misrepresented concept in popular media is therapy, with plotlines that distort the reality of what good therapy is actually like, creating this idea of it being useless or doing more harm than good. Not only does this discourage people from seeking help themselves, it also mars the reputation therapy has as a professional career. 

A common idea that is often portrayed in shows that involve therapists is that of a therapist-client romantic relationship. One would think a show like Suits, with most plotlines surrounding the law, would attempt to not partake in this common misconception. Despite this, the main character, Harvey Specter, is seen starting a relationship with his therapist, Dr. Paula Agard. Although they wait for the ethical amount of time they should wait for before starting their relationship, it still encourages the idea that it is a possibility. The show also compresses the ethical waiting time— normally 2-5 years— with the two characters starting to date after just a couple of months. Regardless of timing, the possible harmful consequences of this entail that  this concept should most definitely not be normalised. Therapy creates a one-way relationship, with one individual knowing more about the other. A power imbalance like this would make for an unstable and unhealthy relationship where vulnerabilities may be exploited. The idea that romance can be built on a purely therapeutic relationship should never be encouraged. Additionally, it has no bearing on real-life therapeutic situations, as therapists are taught how to manage erotic transference, which is a phenomenon where clients develop sexual or romantic feelings for their therapists (Lans et al., 2025). This is a training that teaches therapists to understand and set respectful but strict boundaries in a way that TV shows can never seem to portray. 

Furthermore, therapists are also portrayed as unsympathetic authoritative figures who give unhelpful advice without listening. And what better example of this than Dr. Kevin Porter from 13 Reasons Why. He is an almost nightmarish version of a school counsellor, with his failure to support Hannah when she tells him about the sexual assault she suffered. While it’s easy to villainize a character like him, it’s also important to realize the negative effect this could have had on children in school considering counseling. Such a terrible first impression would be enough to deter children from seeking any kind of help from their guidance counselors. Good therapists take on more of a passive and encouraging role to help clients regain their sense of agency, unlike the almost authoritarian approach Dr. Porter uses. 

Another misleading representation of therapists can be seen in crime shows. In these shows, some criminals are convicted because their therapists break confidentiality under duress in court, and Law and Order shows just this in multiple episodes. While things work out in the show, since dangerous criminals are put away due to this breaking of ethical guidelines, it reinforces the idea of how loosely confidentiality can be broken after sessions. Confidentiality is a core part of therapy, allowing people to speak freely and without judgement. When people are shown scenarios where it is easily broken it can discourage them from seeking help, especially if the problem they want to address is something they are ashamed of. According to actual therapeutic guidelines, the only scenarios where confidentiality can be broken are when someone is in danger of being harmed. For reasons like these, it makes sense for a therapist to have to break confidentiality to protect people, but shows often portray unnecessary breaking of the same.  

With popular and well-liked shows such as these showcasing such a misleading view of therapy, it can contribute to the existing taboo that surrounds the idea of seeking psychological help. When therapy is shown as unhelpful, unethical or just plain unnecessary, it can strongly discourage people from reaching out for the support they might need, for fear of facing the same challenges their beloved characters faced. However, in the same vein, positive portrayals have the ability to challenge this taboo. In my opinion, Dr Sharon Fieldstone from Ted Lasso is an ideal representation of a helpful, supportive therapist who knows how to set boundaries and follow ethical guidelines. With more representations like these, the view of therapy can slowly shift from one of a harmful and toxic experience to one of a valuable and normalized form of help.