Shrinking: A Transformative TV Show That Reshapes Society’s View of Mental Health Therapy
Through captivating storytelling and relatable characters, Apple TV’s Shrinking manages to skillfully fuse entertainment and mental health. Created by lead cast member Jason Segel, along with Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein (the brilliant minds behind the Primetime Emmy Award winning show Ted Lasso), Shrinking has emerged as a trailblazing TV show that challenges the traditional boundaries and views of therapy. With its unique approach of addressing mental health and beautiful character development, Shrinking has captivated audiences worldwide.
The show follows the therapy practice of Jimmy Laird (played by Jason Segel), Dr. Paul Rhodes (played by Harrison Ford), and Gabby (played by comedian Jessica Williams). While society traditionally views therapists as the ones we go to in order to seek answers on how to “get out life together,” Shrinking breaks this old fashioned stereotype, lifting the curtain on the human side of therapists. It is hard not to have empathy for the characters or to find correlations between their struggles and our own life experiences.
As the story masterfully unfolds, we follow Jimmy’s struggle to reconnect with his daughter, while overcoming the loss of his wife. Dr. Rhodes, Jimmy’s mentor, works to come to terms with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and the limited time he has left to “make things right” with the people he loves most. While Gabby is our cheerful upbeat, ray of sunshine, she is working on overcoming her own personal losses as well.
Throughout the episodes, Shrinking manages to skillfully create a collection of thoughtfully created stories that explore the complexities of the human mind and the challenges we face in our daily lives. Each episode tackles a specific mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, or relationship struggles. By presenting relatable characters and thought-provoking scenarios, Shrinking creates a safe space for viewers to explore their own struggles and experience.
By integrating mental health discussions into mainstream entertainment, Shrinking endeavors to normalize conversations around emotional well-being and mental health, encouraging viewers to prioritize their own mental health without fear or shame. This groundbreaking approach breaks years of social stigma, transforming the future of mental health representation in the media.
In addition to breaking stereotypes around therapy, Shrinking encourages viewers to self-reflect on their own mental health, sharing prompts, exercises, and self meditations that viewers can directly apply to their own lives. One example of this is the “15 Minute Rule” that Dr. Rhodes shares with Jimmy’s estranged daughter Alice (played by Lukita Maxwell). Individuals are encouraged to designate 15 minutes a day to fully immerse themselves in their emotions, embracing their feelings without judgment or restraint. By giving grief a designated space, the 15-Minute Rule allows individuals to honor their emotions and engage in active processing. Whether it involves crying, journaling, talking about their loss, or engaging in any activity that helps them process their grief, this focused time fosters a deeper understanding and acceptance of their emotions. For more information about the 15 Minute Rule, check out "Coping with Loss: How Therapy Can Help You Grieve and Move Forward with Compassion".
While Shrinking does incorporate various valid therapy techniques, it is important to keep in mind that this is a fictional show and some of the therapy techniques used by Jason are less conventional, as pointed out by Dr. Rhodes, and are used more for comedic storytelling purposes. Even with the occasional exaggerated and unconventional methods, viewers are still able to pull meaningful lessons from the thoughtful storylines created by writers.
Through the art of storytelling, Shrinking captivates audiences with its relatable characters and narratives that resonate directly with viewers on an emotional level. Shrinking creates a safe space for viewers to explore their own struggles, experiences, and mental health, transforming the way society perceives and engages with the field of mental health.
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