Steve Carell Plays a Great Therapist in The Patient
7 Of The Most Therapisty Moments In The Show
Spoiler alert: I have not seen the final episode of Hulu’s The Patient at the time I’m writing this post (only because it’s not out yet!). However, some of the quotes might give away parts of the storyline from the first 9 episodes. Please don’t read any more of this post if that would bother you.
Now that the spoiler alert is out of the way, let’s talk about how amazing Steve Carell is in The Patient! In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, the premise is that Dr. Alan Strauss (played by Carell) is a therapist being held captive in his patient’s home. The patient, Sam Fortner (played by Domhnall Gleeson) is a serial killer who initially sought traditional treatment from Dr. Strauss at his office. Feeling frustrated by his lack of progress, Sam kidnapped Dr. Strauss so that he could be more honest and thus receive more effective treatment (so he hopes, anyway). While Dr. Strauss emphatically tells Sam that therapy can’t work when the therapist is chained up and held against their will, Sam continues to pursue therapy sessions. Dr. Strauss views compliance with these therapy demands as his only chance at survival.
With all of that as the dramatic TV series backdrop, Dr. Strauss emerges as one of the most realistic fictional therapist characters ever. Here are 7 of my favorite therapy moments in the show:
1. At the intake session, Dr. Strauss validates Sam’s feelings, creates a reflective statement with Sam’s own words, and then asks for more detail so that he can gain a deeper understanding.
Dr. Strauss: What can I help you with?
Sam: My dad beat the shit out of me…a lot, uh, when I was a kid. And I think it fucked me up.
Dr. Strauss: That’s a tough thing to go through. You said it fucked you up—in what ways?
2. Dr. Strauss normalizes part of what Sam says and states that replaying past situations is something most people experience. He shares this while being clear that Sam’s violent responses are unacceptable and atypical at other points in the show.
Sam: I don’t know if other people have this. Do other people have this?
Dr. Strauss: People get obsessed with interactions they’ve had. Yes.
3. Dr. Strauss helps Sam to think about how he stopped himself from engaging in violence. The hope here is that Sam will identify some helpful coping strategies that he can use in future situations too.
Sam: I didn’t do it.
Dr. Strauss: How do you think you managed that?
4. Dr. Strauss intervenes with excellent communication advice during a family session with Sam and his mother:
Dr. Strauss: Let’s try to slow down a little bit. In this space, let everybody finish what they’re saying. When we go more slowly, usually, everyone thinks a little more clearly, and sometimes, when we wait, people don’t say what we think they are going to.
5. Therapy often includes analyzing specific examples in the patient’s life for the purpose of discovering patterns and useful insights.
Dr. Strauss: I understand why you feel that way. I know that is what you are experiencing. Part of therapy is finding a way to look beyond what you are experiencing in the moment and search more deeply.
6. Therapy is a process where the therapist and patient work collaboratively toward goals. I love this next line so much because it acknowledges that.
Dr. Strauss: I can’t pull this out of you. Therapy is not an exorcism.
7. Therapy makes space for painful emotions and cultivating acceptance of pain as a normal part of life and pursuit of valued goals.
Dr. Strauss: To find meaningful relationships, it means taking risks and getting hurt. Then taking another risk and getting hurt again until you find relationships that work. And that is exactly what life requires.
Sam: I don’t feel good.
Dr. Strauss: Yes, that’s part of it. And that pain is telling you something.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and the mental health themes it touches on. If you haven’t watched The Patient yet, I definitely recommend it. I can’t wait to see how the series concludes.
I’m wishing you all good mental health. Thanks so much for reading or listening!
Resources
If you are looking for a therapist, Psychology Today has a website that allows you to search for a provider by insurance type, location, type of therapy, and more.
If you or someone you care about is currently in crisis, help is available through The Lifeline and 988.
Disclaimer: Mental Health Minute is written for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a therapy service or personal advice.