In my last post, I discussed the movie “Good Will Hunting” and the misconceptions about mental illness that can be taken from it.

In this post, I want to discuss the misconceptions about therapists that come from “Good Will Hunting” and  other movies like like it.

The different types of stereotypes are as follows…

Dr. Dippy: This describes a role reversal where the psychologist is crazier than their patients. This provides show value for the audience.

Dr. Evil: This describes a therapist who’s a corrupt mind- controller and a homicidal maniac who uses dangerous forms of treatment to manipulate, control, or abuse their patients. An example of this can be Nurse ____ from “One Flew over the Coo Coos Nest”.

Dr. Rigid: This is a strict/ harsh killjoy who stifles fun and creativity while still trying to help; however, they are more focused on the science and more socially awkward. An example of this would be Leonard’s mom from “Big Bang Theory”.

Dr. Line- Crosser:  This describes a therapist who becomes emotionally involved with their client.

Dr. Wonderful: This describes therapists as always being being warm and caring, having endless time for their clients, and often is able to “cure” their client after discovering a single traumatic event in their life. This portrayal of treatment is almost supernatural. It suggests that a single conversation can be a cure all treatment for their client. This is mainly the type of therapist that is represented in “Good Will Hunting”.

Obviously, there are many problems with these stereotypes being portrayed. The Dr. Evil has the strong ability to scare people away from going to therapy despite possibly needing it. Dr. Dippy and Dr. Line – Crosser make it seem like going to therapy is a joke and unnecessary. And I think that Dr. Wonderful is the most harmful stereotype created.

I personally had been brainwashed by television and movies into believing that going to therapy would be like talking to a Dr. Wonderful, and to this day, I actually still have a hard time letting go of that misconception.

The part that I struggle with the most is the being available to you at all times. When I was in High School and I would meet with my psychologist, I had to remind myself very often that I was not the only one that needed to talk to her. Somehow, in film with Dr. Wonderful’s in them, the therapist is always available for the client no matter what, so when I was struggling, and wanted to talk to my psychologist, I sometimes had to really make an effort to remind myself that I wasn’t the only person that she worked with. Not only that, but she also is allowed to have a life outside of meeting with students as well.