In Treatment and Intervention

HBO's  In Treatment  is unbelievably believable . . .

as a portrayal of a week in the life of a psychoanalyst. The usual stereotypical myths seem to be done away with for the first time in a television program. The therapist is allowed to be viewed as a human being struggling with real emotions and real problems. The beauty is how well the boundaries are defined, giving the viewer a unique window into the lives of the characters that the characters themselves don't have full access to. The viewer is allowed to see dirty laundry air in an argument between the therapist and his wife. The viewer also witnesses the therapist receiving supervision from a colleague. In one scene the therapist uses a plunger to unstop the toilet. Interpretation? I found it quite interesting when a coincidental meeting happens between two patients leading to a potential hook up right outside the therapists door. The viewer has the unique perspective of being exposed to the intimate issues of both patients and the therapist. This makes it hard to wait to see what will happen next. Due to ethical standards this perspective is not a possibility in real life, making it all the more intriguing to view.

 Monday's case of Laura, a 30 year old attractive anesthesiologist, is an excellent portrayal of the process of erotic transference that sometimes occurs in therapy when a patient believes them self to be in love with their therapist. This boundary is sacred and simply can never be violated at any time for any reason by a therapist. A fitting metaphor is when God instructed Adam not to eat from the forbidden tree. Irreparable damage to a patient can occur from the therapist not protecting this boundary. All residency trainees in psychiatry are well instructed of the importance of managing this situation appropriately because so much is at stake. The usual protocol involves seeking appropriate supervision and considering transferring the patient to another therapist. Despite the preparation and instruction psychotherapists receive, occasionally there have been cases of therapist getting in over their head and risking and losing everything. This can only be attributed to the fact that therapists are imperfect and can be vulnerable to the same addictive impulses as anyone else. For the reasons mentioned, it is a treat to view the therapist character on this program deal with this issue in a realistic portrayal.

 

A & E's Intervention is essentially reality TV involving the life and struggles of addiction. It is valuable as an educational resource for understanding what pain addiction causes for the addict and all associated with them and what a challenge it is to overcome an addiction. Addiction is a disease of the brain itself that results in repetition of detrimental behavior. Though the addict is totally out of control they tend to either deny, rationalize, or minimize their behavior. Enabling individuals tend to fall into the void created by the addicts lack of self control and responsibility, thus allowing them to continue the process. An intervention occurs when family, friends, and a therapist invite the unsuspecting addict to a meeting where they are carefully provided confrontation and given an ultimatum to get help now or be cut off. The addict is provided an opportunity to change direction with a strong support base. Resistance is almost guaranteed to occur during confrontation. The addict must accept that they will eventually die if they do not accept this road to recovery. As far as entertainment goes, Intervention becomes less interesting to watch over time because the plot is always essentially the same. Lure the addict into confrontation, provide an ultimatum then hope and pray. HBO offers an additional resource with some interesting clips known as Addiction.

I think the shows above are quite useful for those involved with mental health care or substance abuse and  those with just a general interest.

Comments

[erickia]

haha~nice blog, ok..always stay cool

[Grim]

http://www.grim-games.com/forum

[mackey]

I watch the show in:
http://www.inner-live.com
It's amazing...

[mackey]

I watch the show in:

http://www.inner-live.com