DIRECTOR'S CUT: Therapist Reacts to Movie Therapist: GOOD WILL HUNTING
Added 2022-09-21 04:28:12 +0000 UTCHow does Robin Williams' portrayal of a therapist measure up to what therapy is like in real life?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright take a look at Good Will Hunting to talk about the portrayals of therapy and therapists in this film. (Hint: he's Jonathan's favorite movie therapist.) They also talk about Matt Damon's character's journey, moving from pushing people away to facing his past trauma and learning to be vulnerable.
Comments
This episode is fantastic, no doubt about that. I had watched the YouTube version already, and I love seeing the commentary that doesn't make it to the final cut because there are some comments that make me raise an eyebrow and wonder haha. You guys are great! I fully believe that if Robin Williams were with us today, he would have been interested in being on this show.
SaucyJTD
2024-05-19 21:38:04 +0000 UTCLove this. I watched this recently and wanted to see your analysis. Great as always, your thoughts on Robin's accent were very interesting, truly things I hadn't considered, so that's cool. But I'd always thought that Robin leaned into the accent more with Will as another form of joining because sometimes it has been my experience that people are more willing to take information from someone who looks and sounds like us because it allows us to be comfortable enough to be vulnerable to get to something important.
Arielle Bejar
2024-04-08 18:38:48 +0000 UTCOh lord, I'm a therapist, and I need to rewatch this movie. I watched it when I was maybe 12 or 13 (protect public libraries) and hadn't realized yet that what my sister had put me through was emotional abuse. The "it's not your fault" scene destroyed me. I didn't know why yet, but it was my first experience with therapy, and I was so disappointed when I actually went a few years later. I did not get a Robin Williams. I hated it, and that's probably why I am the counselor I am today, so thank you, Robin. Jono, I've got ya beat for silent sessions. I had a 12 year old client who told his mom "you can make me go, but you can't make me talk", so I had 3 entire 50-minute sessions where he said NOTHING. I have ADHD, so I couldn't just sit, but I'd start by inviting him to talk, then I invited him to play games, do crafts, whatever, he sat in silence, I'd bring out my crochet project and throw comments out every once in a while. The only reason he started talking is because him mom threatened to throw his phone out of the car if he kept it up, I told him I didn't love that, and we got to working. I know it's an ethical gray, but I absolutely offer hugs or physical support. I'm telehealth only now, but I had a session where a teen disclosed big trauma in session. He is Autistic, trans, and had sexual trauma, so at the end of the session, I said something like, "That feels like it was such a hard session, and I'm wondering if something like a hug would be good?" He just gave a silent nod and gave me the tightest squeeze of a hug. This kid that didn't like touching people on multiple levels trusted me and showed me how important that session had been through that hug. I burst into tears and put my hand on his head for just a second while we hugged. He wouldn't let go for a bit, and that was fine. He apologized for making me cry and I got to explain that it wasn't him, it was feeling how much it meant to him. I will always remember that moment and treasure it when I'm feeling like I'm not doing enough. Not ever session is like Good Will Hunting, but sometimes it is, and feeling like I get to be a Robin for someone for a millisecond is the most amazing feeling in the world.
Lilly Trammell
2024-03-07 19:30:15 +0000 UTCAssault is not a good therapeutic technique, obviously, but in this fiction I think it's the only thing that "could" have worked. It's the first time Will looks Sean in the eye, when he starts treating him like a human being and even begins forming a personal connection. Not that Will only respects violence and domination, but it is a language to him, and a language he speaks well - I think it works just because it's the last thing he expects from a therapist. And maybe it's the first time Will is given a clear personal boundary and he appreciates it. (Take note of his sincere tone when he thanks the judge earlier - the first of many times he's stood trial that he hasn't managed to talk his way out of a sentence.)
Amelie W
2023-11-29 17:10:13 +0000 UTC"That's the her that only I got to see." I want to be able to say that about someone eventually. It's also one of the sweetest things I've ever heard
North
2023-06-14 09:18:46 +0000 UTC
