Iconic On-Screen Portrayals Of Therapists

As art imitates life, it’s no surprise that, for years, films have portrayed characters with mental illness, such as the iconic Fight Club or Girl, Interrupted. There are also some great documentaries that have been made that address mental illness, like Netflix’s Stutz (2022). 

However, it’s safe to say that in the past, there has been much more focus on those with mental illness as opposed to those who treat it. We think it’s time therapists get the spotlight. 

We should note, too, therapists sometimes use metaphors from films and iconic characters to help their patients visualize and work through life experiences. What we see in film is bound up in real life, and storytelling often has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our external world. 

So, without further ado, here are our top 10 favorite portrayals of therapists on-screen:

1. Linda Martin, Lucifer 

Starting off strong, there is perhaps no stronger therapist than one whose patient is Lucifer himself, otherwise known as the ruler of hell. While there is a lot of humor in this show and in the interactions between Lucifer and his therapist, Linda Martin (Rachel Harris), there are also some really moving and even breakthrough moments that grab you out of nowhere. Throughout the series, Martin actually uses techniques that are supported by mental health professionals in real life to help Lucifer through his identity crisis and psychosis. 

2. Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting

We’d be remiss if we didn’t add this one to the list because, though Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) doesn’t always follow the rules (putting a patient in a chokehold?), there were some really powerful moments that depicted a very realistic representation of patient progress. In the film, Maguire even goes through his own character arc along with Will Hunting (Matt Damon). However, despite the fact that Maguire is going through his own personal issues, he never lets them affect his ability to help Will. In fact, he is very patient with Will and is very reasonable and understanding, allowing Will to open up in his own time. 

3. Malcolm Crowe, The Sixth Sense

You might say that the most powerful moment in The Sixth Sense is learning that the psychologist, Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) was a ghost the whole time. However, we think it’s that Cole (Haley Joel Osment), the patient, ends up being the one to help his therapist. Crowe himself still does a fantastic job of helping Cole deal with his ability to see dead people, but the real payoff moment is when Cole turns the tables and suggests that Crowe should look deeper into why his wife is ignoring him and why he can’t open the basement door. 

4. Dr. Melfi, The Sopranos 

We’ve all got stress in our lives, but perhaps none more than the iconic mob boss, Tony Soprano. And what do you do when you have a high-stress job? You go to therapy. Of course, you could also seek out a healthier career path, but that wasn’t an option for Tony Soprano. This show was actually recognized as being one of the first to heavily portray therapy on-screen, and Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) did a great job of penetrating Tony’s defenses using her nonjudgmental style of psychoanalysis. 

5. The Analyst, The Matrix Resurrections

We’re not saying Neil Patrick Harris’ The Analyst was a good representation of a therapist, but he was an entertaining one. Who doesn’t love an evil doctor? And Harris pulls off a very unassuming sort of evil that brilliantly coaxes Neo (Keanu Reeves) into compliance and docility. 

The scary part that perhaps plays on people’s fears of therapy is that The Analyst is very good at his job and uses proper therapy techniques, even though he has sinister intentions. This movie does an excellent job of portraying the damage that can come from someone smart and clever messing with your mind. 

6. Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, Ted Lasso

Psychologists have praised the therapy representation in this charming show about an American football coach who crosses the pond to coach English football (soccer to us Americans). Ted Lasso’s sunny disposition is part of his charm, but it’s also covering up some real issues, which get exposed in season two when Dr. Fieldstone shows up. 

Ted is initially hesitant to speak with Dr. Fieldstone as he has a disdain for therapy and thinks he doesn’t need it, but his skepticism is one often shared by those suffering from mental health issues in real life. Fortunately, Dr. Fieldstone’s patience wins out and eventually, she gets Ted to open up to her. Over the course of the season, there are some really beautiful and emotional moments between Ted and Dr. Fieldstone that lead to some real progress. 

7. Dr. Wong, Rick and Morty

Who said therapists can’t be animated cartoons? Not us. In fact, we’re big fans of Susan Surandon’s Dr. Wong and her ability to pack a powerful punch in a middle-brow adult animated sitcom that deals with dark and absurdist humor. Dr. Wong is the perfect counterpart to the dysfunctional Smith family and she first makes her appearance in the episode “Pickle Rick,” when Rick turns into a pickle. 

Though Rick does a good job of belittling her job and not taking her seriously, Dr. Wong remains calm and patient and gently walks Rick through his issues, which results in a pretty accurate summation of his character.

8. Dr. Ocean, United States of Tara

This series follows Tara (Toni Collette) who is your average suburban wife and mom, only she isn’t quite so average because she is living with dissociative identity disorder and at any moment can be triggered and taken over by one of her other identities. Though many have said Tara’s depiction of dissociative disorder is inaccurate, her relationship with her therapist, Dr. Ocean (Valerie Mahaffey) is considered to be very realistic and healthy. One of the most realistic and emotional moments is perhaps when Tara has to move on to a different therapist and likens it to going through a breakup.

9. Dr. Kroger, Monk

There has perhaps never been a more patient on-screen therapist than Dr. Kroger (Stanley Kamel) who dealt with one of the most neurotic characters on TV, Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). Monk has OCD along with a multitude of phobias, and Dr. Kroger handles Monk’s idiosyncrasies with grace. Dr. Kroger is regularly seen helping Monk overcome the challenges he is facing leading toward hard-earned progress.  

10. Dr. Ben Sobel, Analyze This

Finishing off our list we have Billy Crystal’s Dr. Ben Sobel, who brings a nice dose of humor to the world of therapy. Similar to Dr. Melfi in The Sopranos, Dr. Soble works to help a mafia boss, Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro). Only, in this situation, Dr. Soble is forced to help Vitti under a vague threat of death. Yet, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, Crystal’s portrayal of a therapist is as you might imagine, quite humorous, but still surprisingly healthy and strong. Sobel does a good job of explaining the realities of therapy to Vitti and how it takes time to see improvement.