I appreciate your thoughts but I think the whole point was to show that Sean wasn’t known as a “good therapist” and in fact, was quite the opposite. He teaches at a Community College (not that it’s a bad thing, just part of his persona), his students are barely interested in class, his former dorm mate contacted 5 other therapists before he contacted Sean. The reason why the mathematician thought he could help Will was because they were both Southies. Will went through numerous prestigious therapists prior to seeing Sean. They related on a personal, nonconventional level. Thank you for the analysis and perspective from a professional in the field, it was very interesting!
Also important to note, IMO, is that Will was not merely very gifted with math. He had a photographic memory and was extremely high IQ. Will had likely read every academic book that these highly esteemed therapists had read and understood them to an even higher degree. There wasn’t any traditional therapy that was going to work for him without some kind of real connection. This isn’t a movie that was supposed to depict anything resembling a common therapy session. This was a one in a billion client with a mental prowess that the vast majority of therapists would never encounter in their whole career.
Finally- someone else who gets it! This isn't the first "counselor reacts" video on this movie, and they all miss the main point. Sean isn't a magical super therapist, he's flawed and floundering himself. But it's the fact that he can relate to Will, and more importantly get Will to reciprocate, that ends up helping them both. This wasn't supposed to be a movie about the awesomeness of therapy, it was a story of two people connecting and helping each other.
The reason that the counseling sessions between Will and Sean were "effective" is that Sean related to Will on a personal level in that they had similar backgrounds (Boston, working class, etc.) and parental experiences, which are revealed towards the end of the therapy sessions (the famous "it's not your fault"). Will obviously had trust issues and was anti-establishment with a penchant for subverting traditional systems. All his prior encounters with psychiatrists elucidated this. Sean's unorthodox style (and subversive towards the established profession) was disarming and once Will connected on that personal and anti-establishment level, his defenses were dropped and a connection was reached.
@3 Minute Poetry Analysis A counsellor doesn't need to be similar to their client in order to be effective. Empathy involves understanding an experience and its subsequent behaviours/feelings/thought patterns far removed from our own.
@@crose7412 true, but formation of rapport and good therapeutic fit are very important in a psychotherapeutic relationship. In fact they are probably the most important factor.
What an interesting perspective on this film. I've never viewed the counseling scenes as realistic representations of psychotherapy. Instead, I prefer to view them as a device to expose the internal lives of these reticent characters so that their arcs are made clear to the audience without having the characters break the fourth wall.
But wouldn’t it be better if they used some narration vs this psychotic nonsense in the counseling session? I have seen three counselors, I never tried to compare any aspect of their private life to mine.
Carole Just Carole, perhaps, but it would have come at a cost. Having scenes where dialogue is used to demonstrate characters’ traits and illustrate that they are not static makes for interesting films, and narration doesn’t serve the same purpose. That being said, the film does have a flaw in that it tells us how good Sean is as a therapist, and yet his actions undermine that claim. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the movie as it was written, but another person might reasonably prefer a different approach.
In my untranied opinion. I think there is a reason why Sean goes into his personal life with Will. Will is very closed off at first. So, Sean exposes himself to Will. To show that even though he is supposed to be this perfect counselor, he too has flaws. Making it easier for Will to expose his own flaws. As a mom, it is a technique I have used with my kids. And, tearing down that illusion of perfection, seems to make it easier for someone to open up to you. Like I said, I am no professional.
My counsellor has shared personal details about her life as well and the work she's had to do to heal from things and it did help me to feel less screwed up 😅
I would feel somewhat uncomfortable if my therapist were to talk of their past. It would be ok if they talked about themselves through describing an imaginary person. It gets the point across even if the patient realizes that the therapist is probably talking about themselves.
@@sonnyca the point of exposing ones own flaws is to remove any judgment that may be perceived by the patient. If you have been through difficult times. It is easier for you to relate to the other person. I have no training in the area. I just use my own human experience to try to relate to others. Mostly my own children. I just applied that theory to the situation in the movie.
As a physician, I used to be confused by my wife’s addiction to dramatic doctor TV while never caring a wit about the 6 sets of blood-soaked scrubs I would go through. Agree, professionals rarely like Hollywood depictions their jobs. Shows with medical drama, with the exception of MASH, are turn-offs for me. Good Will Hunting remains in my top five as it captures my emotionality, preference for sophisticated interpersonal plot conflicts, which you laid out effortlessly for this movie. Narc awareness cleared my confusion up.
R. Chris, M.D. you don’t like diagnosis murder with Dick Van Dyke!? I was paralysed for years after Vienna, lost all hope for a job after 911 and watching tv shows like this in 2002 took my mind off my husband’s affairs and prompted me to set up my own business to get me out of depression! That’s when the rag and bone man fixed all the locks in my house ready for the business.
As a survivor of abuse I actually found these films helpful in understanding the visceral psycho-dynamics that exist inside myself as a result of abuse. I could see aspects of myself playing out in the scenes needing to find resolution. I would not do well with a counselor like yourself as you come across emotionally detached. There has to be rapport between client and therapist. All the male counselors I have worked with failed me as well, as it is nearly impossible to achieve connection/rapport with them as they use a detached intellectual approach. Even my true diagnosis was missed by prominent psychiatrists that I began consultation with 30 years ago. I am very grateful for the therapist I have found finally as significant progress has been made because of her. Rapport/empathy are the strongest healing modalities, such cannot be found in a textbook or the DSM.
“They want others to recognize that they are not guilty and to say it for them when they can not say it for themselves. To believe it for them when they can not fully believe it for themselves. To see the best in them without having to be told to see the best in them”. Touched my heart really deeply. Thank you for you dr grande.
Good Will Hunting remains one of my favorite overall movies, but not for any of the reasons you expressed doctor. The friendship of the young men, the amazing gift for mathematics, the realization of Sean and the Mathematics Professor who won the fields medal that they were both in deep need of "therapy" being a great moment of victory over those with presumptive preconceived notions, that opening "session" where Will puts his finger right on the crux of Sean's reason for bailing out on life (we ALL go through trauma sir), Sean sharing the story of Fisk's homer in the world series, etc. etc. Even the love story with Ms. Driver had its "reality check" moments interspersed throughout. With all do respect sir, I have never perceived or watched this movie as a series of counseling sessions ... it is more a fantasy about overcoming seemingly impossible odds to emerge victorious. The classic downtrodden overcomes the odds and wins. There is a win-win for both men, which really had nothing to do with counseling ... even I could have told Will that it was not his fault that his father beat him. And Sean looks into the mirror of another troubled person and must face the reality that he is not someone special, but rather must share in and make tough decisions during life's tragedy, as we ALL must.
Great insight. I've watched this movie many times. I was trying to understand attachment at the time. I really got the feeling that Sean was so spent emotionally, he threw "common sense" out the window. As a therapist , I'm sure he expected repercussions, but perhaps realized rather then paying for crossing the line, he somehow connected to Will. But I agree this who movie appeared as much of a journey for Sean as Will, and brought up and allowed him to release perhaps some codependency he felt for his wife.
I watched that video for the first time last night, and you're quite right to recommend it. It's even better than that channel's typically excellent content.
One of my favorite movies.❤ I actually really liked the counseling scenes. In the movie Will came across other counselors who did the typical, "How does that make you feel?" He was a tough city kid with trauma and this psychological approach did not work for him. He needed a therapist who expressed their human emotions more. Not so much by the book, but creative and inventive with strategies. I agree that when Shawn said, "I will end you" was of course inappropriate for a counselor to say, but at the same time that is what made the counseling session seem more real to me. Shawn was a therapist, but also a human being who had lost his beloved wife so when Will said something judging Shawn's marriage he was triggered. I do find it believable because yes while he was a therapist he was also a human and torn apart from losing his wife to cancer. This scene was always a strong one for me because it was at that moment that Shawn stood up to Will that Will started to respect Shawn and take him seriously. Before this scene he was just like any other therapist he had seen before. It was the human reaction of Shawn so unscripted and tough that resided with Will. To him the other counselors were fakes, trying too hard. With Shawn's therapy Will soon learned his childish antics were no longer going to work.
There is a consistent lack of notice paid to the class issues involved with this movie, and how it impacted the counseling scenes, in particular. When Will insulted Sean's wife, he knew what he was doing, and that anyone from their old neighborhood would react violently; it was a test, that Sean passed. The entire first counseling session, in fact, was Will testing Sean, on his background, his education, and his principles (e.g. the specific books mentioned, by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, were populist works, not something the upper class twits Lambeau hung out with would have read). Sean even points this out to Lambeau near the end, when Lambeau criticizes Will's friends, by saying, "Any of them would take a baseball bat to your head if he asked them to." People from working class and/or rural backgrounds have fundamentally different approaches to things like interpersonal relationships and violence, and the flat refusal to even acknowledge the validity of that opinion is a large part of what is driving the culture war, today. It is not even subject to debate, which means that it will be subject to violence. Ironic.
From what I know of abusers, they target weaker individuals who can’t physically and emotionally fight back. They rarely abuse anyone who poses a true threat to them.
OMG, Dr. Grande-you hit me in the feels when you made this comment: "They want others to say it for them, when they can't say it for themselves". You absolutely hit the nail on the head. And I agree with you about your analysis regarding the other counseling scenes. You mentioned Ordinary People and that movie resonated with me so much. I would love to hear your thoughts about that film as well. Happy holidays, Dr. Grande. Wishing you and all your viewers a happy 2020!
Physically attacking the client is a bad idea... super-counter-therapeutic, and esp in particular since the client had been repeatedly assaulted by his father. I do think the therapist should have had other ways to set boundaries and not allow the client to needle him about his marriage. The therapist had poor boundaries to begin with though. You get the impression from watching this movie that every single thing each character does is supposed to further reveal how unique and great they both are. That was pretty hard to buy.
"Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly - they'll go through anything. [...] you're pierced" A. Huxley This video was one of the most 'subcutaneous' for me, that you've ever made. I've never watched this movie, I didn't even know that Robin Williams was part of it and that he played a counselor in it, despite the fact that I've heard the title and have seen Matt Damons face probably a thousand times... thank you for enlightening me. I'll watch it.
I loved this movie! Mostly because it was about the CONNECTION between two people and how that healed both of them. RW loved the kid, and showed it by forging a genuine, honest relationship with him.The emotions they felt were raw and immediate, helping forge a bond between them. He was a psychology teacher, not a therapist.
I don't think it's a movie's goal to show an aspect of life with documentary level realism. A piece of art is supposed to connect with you on an emotional level, and the depiction of what it is like should show what it really feels like. I saw a Navy Seal veteran interviewed once who said that the genius of the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan wasn't its brilliance at showing the historical and tactical accuracy of landing on Omaha Beach, but the brilliance at showing the rapidly shifting emotions and the pure hell of war. This is what I'm talking about. I'm not a therapist, but I've been in quite a bit of therapy as a client and I almost always agree with you about your clinical and ethical assessments of these scenes. But I still think Good Will Hunting an amazing depiction of therapy because it depicts what therapy can feel like when it's deeply meaningful and going well. Obviously, a therapist putting their hands on a client is a total no-no, but it's also a very understandable reaction to someone making those kinds of insinuations about their dead wife. It's the human connection that matters more than the accuracy in a scene like that.
The movie was pretty cliched and I don’t like the underlying premise too much but I thought it was still enjoyable. I hadn’t thought much about the counseling scenes so it was interesting to hear your insight
Have lost count of how many times I've watched this movie. The same with The Black Stallion. By the time I was 10, I'd lost count of how many times I'd read that book.
I enjoy your channel very much, could you do a video on projection. I am wondering if people know they are doing this or is it done subconsciously Thanks so much for your great insightful videos
Great insight and analysis into this discussion of the counseling sessions between Sean and Will. I spent over a decade in psychoanalysis with my own therapist and I knew as soon as I saw these scenes, there were many aspects that were unrealistic and VERY unethical LOL (as in my therapist very rarely disclosed any personal info and never made my sessions about him). But I did appreciate the bond between the two and the fact that Sean was able to break through to Will in a way that the other therapists were not able to, and that was the root to Will's healing - letting go of the abuse of his past; which was very much akin to my own therapy. Thank you as always for your excellent analysis and your sense of humor!
I agree. I'm not crazy about the film, but it was quite impactful when it came out, as it broke new cultural ground with its subject matter and tone....
In my opinion, Sean knew what Will needed - acceptance of his vulnerability by both himself and by another person (Sean), intimacy (feeling connected to someone who shared Will’s abusive background and knowing he was not alone in that experience), feeling of touch that did not result in violence (their embrace), realization that he had value, was not worthless (decision to accept his girlfriend’s love, as well as a future other than mopping floors), and on and on. Sean’s therapy and actual caring about Will went beyond any any therapy I have had, EXCEPT for my 9-year psychoanalysis with a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst. That was a long and painful journey. My doctor and I shared a strong and, for me, unusual relationship. He was the first and only man I ever trusted. He was brutally truthful with me and allowed me to share traumatic events no one knew about. Sean saved Will’s life just as my analyst saved mine. They both did what was necessary. Kudos to Sean.
I completely disagree with those who say he ruined a generation of counselors...quite the contrary for me....his portrayal of a therapist is what made me want to be one - and I am.... Doing things buy the books doesn’t work for all human beings in every situation...,,(apart from grabbing him by the throat😊) he treated him as a human being who needed to become strong in his broken places and who needed to develop a respect and connection with another human being ....this may not have developed under traditional treatment. He genuinely loved this kid and wanted the best for him and for some broken people this means more than years worth of “How does that make you feel?”
I think the point of the "I will end you scene" was to show that Sean is vulnerable too. I believe Will related to Sean in that moment and realized they were alike. I believe Will had a lot of anger in him and to see that Sean feels anger too was able to make him feel a connection, like he wasn't just dealing with a therapy robot that had it all figured out. Rather he was dealing with someone who was hurting inside just like him. I belive that even though it appeared to be a moment of power for Sean, it was actually a moment of complete vulnerability.
I agree it’s not realistic for a majority of mental health counselors. I think you’re missing the point of the film was he was a friend doing a favor, and Will was a genius who was able to get under his skin. Imagine your wife dying of cancer and some punk kid comes in and starts antagonizing you. What he did was extremely unprofessional, but unrealistic? I don’t think so. People have short fuses when it comes to subjects like the death of a loved one, especially if it’s antagonistic (which almost never happens).
I think the biggest problem with therapy/healing as portrayed in media is this romantic idea that someone will turn up and save you. It ties into the idea in many abuse/neglect victims have that they can't change anything themselves, and the need for a "worthy" person to recognise their pain, instead of understanding they are a "worthy" person already.
I've always noticed that Robin Williams chose extremely intense roles and took them to their extreme. I wonder how much he put of himself into his roles and how much of his roles he brought into himself. I wonder if any of his real life depression was exacerbated by the torture he endured as characters.
I suspect his brain chemistry instability led him to play characters in a very intense way -- seemingly all the more so as his career progressed (and perhaps his mental health struggles increased - ?).... I think his loss to film (and I'm sure personally to the wider world of those that knew him) is significant. 😔
Can you please tell me Dr Grande if the character Sean is based on yourself? I hope the rag and bone man is appreciative of Sean’s services? Do you think Sean would take a child as a client?
It could be possible. Robin Williams had a lot of love in his soul and a great sense of humour. He really did live authentically and true to himself and put a lot of himself into his reflections of every character he played. He is a special man and timeless. May he be remembered forever and loved by many generations
You are right - my husband was hideously abused as a child and he almost walked out of the movie once it became obvious what Will's problem came from, but when Robin Williams said that line ("It's not your fault") it just broke something open in him and he cried throughout the rest of the movie - and thought about the line for a long time afterward. In that regard, what an incredible screen moment!
I am not a professional, so I wouldn't be able to judge it as such. I simply liked that there was a real and genuine personal connection established, because my experience with therapy was that it was too one-sided. Maybe I relate to Will in the sense that if you want me to genuinely open up and be real and honest I can't be the only human in the room, meaning the only one making themselves vulnerable and sharing personal things and having emotions. But I guess that is why I tend to love Robin Williams's characters that you mentioned the professionals take offense to - they break the mold of being cold and detached, treat the people they interact with as human beings worthy of being treated as such, and are not afraid to get emotionally invested and show their emotions.
The point in the script, Dr, is they identified with each other in the angry outburst in the office... Clinically no that would be carrer ending, but for writing purposes, Will is shown how someone who is really connected to someone acts out of pain of loss connection, which he has not had yet (conversation by the pond). In the long run this is what pulls him to connection.
"That's really problematic." That's really human, that is. I can't help but to wonder if this scene resonates with so many viewers because we're seeing something that we desperately need from our counsellors, and are not getting. The thing about Sean and Will is that Will has learned that he can trust Sean in a way he cannot trust anyone else. That lesson came from Sean grabbing Will by throat, and threatening, "I will end you." And Will knew that Sean could end him--Sean can press 285, which apparently Will cannot match, and he knows Sean is an actual warrior, someone who has "seen the elephant". So Sean does that--and then BACKS OFF, a display of overwhelming strength the likes of which Will has never seen.
My mom had some similar complaints. She's not a Dr. But she went to school for social work and did addiction therapy. She choose it as she was a recovering alcoholic. And she also had issues with the confrontation. She said it's best to say: I'm sorry you feel that way, and let them wind down. She said when someone becomes unreasonable you don't add gas to the fire.
Off topic, but this video reminded me of one of the biggest issues I have with therapy today. Its inaccessibility. I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist, and have been on psychiatric medication for 20 years now. Psychiatrists maintain a summary of a patients situation, and moderate a patient’s medication. But when it comes to working through issues, that is generally handled by psychologists, therapists and counselors. It’s relatively easy to maintain ongoing maintenance with a psychiatrist, but therapy is still illusive to those of us without an extra couple of hundred dollars a month to pay for it. I take my medication, but the issues I may struggle with are never really resolved. Am I one among a herd of cash cows being trained and contained by Big Pharma? I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I hate conspiracy theories. But after so many years, I don’t know what else to think.
It's not a theory if there's evidence to back it up. And there's plenty of evidence to back up the pharmaceutical industry not being the wonderful, benevolent profession that it's cracked up to be
Oddly enough, when I saw the film, my first thought was, 'this therapist has no "will," no confidence in his ability to help this kid.' In fact, he has to be coerced into doing it. Sean appears to be a beaten man, unhappy in his teaching career and pathetically lonely. He proved to have little control over his anger when he needed it most. He uses Will to unburden and validate his own choices. No ethical therapist would ever do this. Everyone thinks the film is about Will, but it's really more about Sean's impacted inner conflict. This characterization of the 'wounded man who might not be up to the challenge' is the true core of the film. Both characters escape their self-oppression in the end, but Sean strikes out on his own, which is even more courageous and victorious than Will's choice to go to Skylar. I never thought the therapy sessions represented true-to-life situations, but that was more a gut feeling, and coming from my own experience in therapy. Dr. Grande makes it possible to understand why that feeling is correct, why art may imitate life, but also how it's up to the viewer to appreciate the difference!
I love this movie! I find it so hard for counselors to put their feelings aside. It’s like, it is expected of them, to be robots. Especially when there’s counter transference. I cannot recall, the scene you talked about, Dr. Grande, when the counselor’s threatening the client. I was just fascinated, by the close relationship, the bonding and the positive effect it had on Will Hunting. It stood out the most. Another great movie is Antwone Fisher starring Denzel Washington.
I know this movie didn't represent realistic counselling scenes, or even character roles, but I thought the characters themselves were authentic and I think that's the draw of the film. Although I'm not credentialed, I've had some education in psychology and training in counselling and I've used a similar (but not as extreme lol) approach in the work I've done in disability support and teacher aiding. Especially in the Teacher Aide role, I've encountered some pretty resistant and aggressive students. I found that NOT taking on 'the role' was best for me in the beginning, but first to establish a relationship. From there, the person would let me in and we'd be able to address their issues. With a position of empathy and trust established, they'd give me the right to challenge their assumptions and attitudes at times. When they could laugh at some of my foibles, we could both laugh at some of theirs. Although I also dislike too much self disclosure, and I agree there was too much in this movie, sometimes you have to cast the line to get the other person interested in you, before they will reciprocate that level of vulnerability. In fact, I'd say that the entire absence of self disclosure and vulnerability from a counsellor can imply a degree of superiority. I just think it's a fine line of balance between too much and too little. That's what good supervision should be about, I reckon.
Sean is different creative and special, just like Will. That doesn't mean "better" from a traditional counseling viewpoint. It means Sean can and will take an approach best suited to help his client, something that his counterparts aren't willing or able to do. It's important to note that Will isn't there of his own volition. He was forced by threats of imprisonment to attend counseling sessions, and whether or not he's consciously aware of its importance, desperately needed it.
Every person is unique. So each person might need a different approach. I am glad you acknowledged that there is in fact difference of opinion from the counselling profession in regards to this film. I wouldn't mind the "Robin Williams" approach. My experience with counselling is that there is a lack of guidance. I was expected to figure out a lot. Sometimes I need a kick up the backside. This is about what works for me. Not everyone is me and different people require different approaches. That said, physically assaulting someone is not okay. Sean also blurs the line way too much. He talks too much about his own life.
Good Will Hunting had a lot of potential as a movie, I’ve never quite understood its popularity after seeing the film first hand. I wasn’t happy with how it was written. I’d love to see your analysis on the movie “A Beautiful Mind” starring Russel Crow. I’ve always found John Nash really fascinating 🤔
I greatly appreciate him acknowledging how much the it’s not your fault scene has resonated with the populus. Also, the physical assault was because this was a special case. It is not meant to be a this is ok for virtually all therapy
Pretty amazing that the screenplay was written by two very young, relatively unknown actors at the time (1997) - Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. In 1998, it was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won two.
I think it's important to remember Sean's methods appear to have "worked". And showing Will get rejected by other more traditional therapists is important because it shows that Will is unreceptive to those more mainstream methods-apparantly due to his genius-level intelligence. It is also indicated that Sean, himself, is exceptionally intelligent (Prof. Lambeau tells Sean he was always smarter than him and berates Sean for having gone into psychology and wasted his gifts). All that being the case, I don't view anything about this specific instance of Sean counselling Will as indicative of Sean's usual practice but rather Sean cleverly adapting to a highly unique case, i.e. an extremely unwilling genius-level IQ client who is being forced to undergo therapy by a court of law and who has already rejected several other standard means of counselling. In fact, maybe Sean's own genius is in intuitively understanding the best approach to take in this particular situation that will have positive practical effects for Will. In conclusion, arguing Sean's approach is unprofessional and-in terms of screenwriting-unrealistic sounds a little like advocating for continuing to use a hammer when a screwdriver is clearly required. Or, the other way around with regard to this picture.
I enjoyed hearing your thoughts about this movie. I also appreciate you separating fact from fiction in reference to the counseling sessions. It's important for people to know the difference. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the movie Shawshank Redemption in the future if you would be interested in doing a video about it. It's a long movie with many personalities but definitely one of my favorites. Shockingly it didn't do well at the box office. A lot of fun facts about this movie too.
As a retired substance abuse counselor I found your critique of this movie interesting. Its ben a long time since I watched the movie so now I'm motivated to watch it again. Thank you for your observations.
I'm a person for whom therapy has so far never "worked", (b/c of my own issues... inability to trust the person enough to open up, to feel a connection or feel comfortable w/the inherent one-sided-ness of therapy). But I'd definitely be one of those ppl you described as feeling very moved by the final session scene in GWH. ("It's not your fault"). I've always been deeply affected by the whole movie actually. But you're a wise experienced professional and I totally see the validity of all your points here. I just think this dynamic--however unprofessional--was like a match made in heaven, and still resonates with and is comforting to a certain kind of patient/person. Maybe it should be considered a mentorship rather than a therapist-patient relationship? I just have to disagree that it's unrealistic that Shawn's approach would be effective. If anything, it's probably idealistic Setting aside the "I will end you" scene for the moment, I don't think there could have been a more perfectly suited therapist for Will's particular circumstances. Sean might not have been completely professional/conventional or even ethical, but he had excellent instincts and a deep understanding of Will, because of his own experiences with abuse and socio-economic background. I think some people need first and foremost to feel less alone in their own struggles. Sorry this got too long! Thank you for your analysis and for reading.
As someone who has been to several counselors I would say that counselors should watch this movie to learn about connecting with their patients on a personal level. All of my past counselors treated me like I was just another number and didn't care about my problems. Now this is not to say that all counselors are like this my current counselor talks to me like a person and doesn't mind just bull shitting with me over absolutely nothing and guess what she was the first person i told my fears to. The ability to heal by just connecting with someone instead of treating them like a patient cannot be understated.
I always think of the flaws in the movie are those of young filmmakers. The makers were sooo young. Thus, the older characters were scary and flawed. But the younger ones seem reasonable, as it’s their POV.
Great point. Also, I understand Dr. Grande calls it flaws, but I feel that alot of them that might not fall in line with current practices were acceptable back in 1997 (maybe protocol wasn't this stringent and neither were repercussions) . And I would venture as far as saying that it would not be unheard of in other parts of the world to come across such 'flaws' even today because its acceptable culturally.
I'd like to see more videos about therapy scenes and mental health issues as portrayed in movies. Also, for some reason, Dr. Grande, you seemed much less formal in this video which I liked. Perhaps you felt more passionate about how someone in your profession is portrayed in a film. Much of the stigma regarding mental illness is from Hollywood's gross misrepresentation of people who have such conditions, the professionals, and the hospital settings. Thanks for this very clarifying video.
Good Will Hunting was so highly acclaimed that it made its way into public discourse, being referenced regularly. However, I've never seen it myself. I was an avid moviegoer during that period, so I'm not sure how I've missed it. And now I most likely won't bother, because as I'm getting older I'm finding that many movies from the 90s don't really age well. 🤷♀️
Your valid points about ethical versus unethical therapy makes me wish movies like this one came with disclaimers at the end for the naive and uninformed that hey, what's contained in this film isn't an accurate simulation of real life therapy nor is it meant to be. This is a character study and therapy sessions are used as plot devices to prop up a story of two traumatized humans connecting and dealing with their inner demons.
Hate to be a broken record, but Dr. Grande will you do an analysis of, Ordinary People? What do you think about the role of Judd Hirsh that played Timothy Hutton's psychiatrist? What is your opinion about his counseling skills? Can you also touch baseon the narcissistic relationship between Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, and the begotten role of Donald Sutherland as the confused and lost father caught in the middle between his wife and son? I believe Mary Tyler Moore's role identifies characteristics of narcissistic vulnerable covert narcissism. Critical, under handed, unremorseful, unsupportive and emotionally removed, and distant mother. I understand that Mary Tyler Moore also had a somewhat identical relationship with her only child. He eventually killed himself. Also, during many years of her life and before her son committed suicide, she was an alcoholic. Mary blames her detachment and abuse toward her son is due to her alcoholism. What is your analysis of this movie? Thank you.
some of the songs from the movie are extremely touching as well, which added to the emotionality of the whole thing, at least for me. elliott smith's songs play throughout the film, most notably Miss Misery, which was nominated for an Academy Award, and is a truly devastating song. it ties in perfectly to the mood and setting... confused + lost individuals in a rainy, washed-out city. he was one of the most interesting musicians to ever live. you could make multiple episodes about him without even touching his childhood.... i really enjoyed your take on the movie, + hope you had a good holiday season! thanks
I feel like part of the unconventionalness of Sean's techniques is that Will would see right through anything by the book and utterly thwart the effort. Will is not only a mathematical genius but he's also a genius at reading people and predicting what they will say and do. The failure of the other therapists he sees first is not just a function of their lack of personal connection but also their conventional approaches that Will has unquestionably read a couple books on and finds rather stupid. Sean challenges Will in ways that no one else--NO ONE else on the planet has ever done. That makes Will interested in working with Sean. If Sean had been another usual therapist, the result would have probably been the same as with the other five attempts. I don't think sessions with a young man with an IQ of 180+ and no desire to be there can be anything but extraordinary. The number of therapists who will ever meet someone that intelligent, let alone treat one, is tiny.
I don't know anything about psychology. But your analysis of GWH sings to every war/military movie I've ever seen from Hollywood. They've never done it, so they don't get it.
Glad someone finally called out the wildly unethical practices of this "therapist". I strongly relate to the "It's not your fault" scene too, even though it's incredibly over-simplistic, like a lot of things in the movie.
Others have articulated this idea better, but the point was a theropist wasn't going to work; Will needed an experienced friend--someone to whom he could relate because of similar life experiences, not someone who had read and studied about such. The bench scene hints at this: some things you can't learn from a book; you have to live it to truly understand.
Mama Mia, Dr. Grande...All I was doing was burning a few minutes watching a mildly amusing RU-vid video of some guy in a snowman costume who stands on a sidewalk looking like a statue and when people walk by he moves slightly but suddenly and the passersby are mildy startled. As am watching, I notice a pattern to their reactions that appears to start with their eyes getting wider, arms coming up, an occasional shriek and something with their legs like stock still, step aside, jumping, one fell. And all this happens instantly. Next thing, I'm looking up startle response and wondering if his videos would make good data for some undergrad somewhere and I should tell you about these videos. So, this is your influence, so you know. Happy new year!
I think when movies are centered around an occupation, especially a professional one, people that actually have those occupations in real life are going to have major objections. Mainly because movies take a lot of 'artistic license' to make the movie interesting for the average person. A real-life portrayal of a session between Shawn and Will would probably be quite boring or tedious. "I will end you" is much more interesting. In movies, detectives are usually driving Ferrari's and living some exotic lifestyle. I think this makes real detectives laugh. It goes on and on.
I read a true account by a couple kidnapped for a year in the Philippine jungle, written firsthand, by Gracie Burnham. One survived, one was shot on rescue efforts. She was rescued. . I wonder just how propelling the experience of mistreatment by captors, daily degregation by captors, etc., would still be overcome by ones hope, and ones desire to see ones children? The book is NYT bestseller, “In The Presence Of Mine Enemies”. I’ve heard the author speak, this was 18 years after, and she was free of bitterness, resentment, anger and hurt. What a story.!!
I ran across a stack of magazines. Did you know therapists have their own trade magazine? One section was devoted to therapists who either lost their license altogether or had their license suspended. My doctor was Barnet Meltzer, perhaps the only M.D. who lost their license but regained it although he could not examine a female patient without another adult present in the room.
As much as I enjoyed Good Will Hunting, I agree that it would have benefited from more realism at times. For the kind of movie it was I don't think it was short on action.
I think this vid is a good example of why a lot of people don’t like therapy. That super intellectual, emotionally detached approach often doesn’t resonate. Certainly not with guys like Will. They need tough love and firm boundaries before you can even begin an actual discussion…
I know what you mean. That's why I couldn't stand Pretty Woman. I'd be interested to know which movies you do like. I get the feeling you weren't referring to Michael Bay style action, but you might surprise me lol.
Surely the reason for Sean's aggression in that scene is his own mental state. He's damaged and hurting himself and I don't think he cares about his career that much so isn't afraid if the reprocusssions
People too often seek a true representation of life in works of drama. That’s a huge mistake. Dramatic narrative generally extends far beyond real life experience because of how mundane it is. Watching actual counseling session would probably put most people to sleep unless the subject is either famous, infamous or really captivating. In order to capture an audience’s interest on a topic that’s generally monotonous, writer’s insert conflict. I highly doubt many therapy sessions include enough friction to be interesting to a general audience. Closing the distance is necessary as a filming technique to create tension. If the therapist just sat ten feet away with acceptance being a subtle lean forward, there aren’t any Academy Award nominations. I do appreciate your attempt to take both sides of the debate. In truth, if someone watched Good Will Hunting and decided to attempt counseling in an attempt to resolve their issues based on the energy of the film, they’ll be incredibly disappointed in how routine and mechanical therapy really is. People, STOP looking to movies for reality. Just as nerdy & sweet guys never get the girl in real life, therapy is a long and arduous, yet extremely important process that offers many people an opportunity for emotional and mental growth. Cheers!
When I first saw this movie many years ago I remember thinking that i wouldn't want to be a counselor because of Sean's (the counselor's ) humiliating experience with Will. So I'm glad to hear that this is not what happens in a "real" counseling session.
What if Will Hunting is the 'good' therapist and Sean is in actuality the patient in this whole narrative? Being a psychologist doesn't make you immune to insanity created by the mind. It's clear in the film that Sean has a lot of unresolved trauma in his psyche, this is exemplified in his erratic behavior. The last 'it's not your fault' scene almost seems to me like Sean looking at himself in the mirror and finally coming to terms with his past. I don't know though, just another thought that popped up whilst I was reading the comments below. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
I know this is a very late comment. I very much enjoyed the movie (several times over the years) but my focus was more on other elements than the counseling. I particularly enjoyed your remark about hollywood representations of occupations and that no one appreciates how their occupation was represented. That includes me and as a result, I little faith that occupations that I know little of will be fairly or accurately represented.
You opened Pandora’s box with this. There is a meta reality that deals a lot about Hollywood, actors, comedians , celebrity life and Robin Williams himself. Since he killed himself is the punctuation that makes this subject even more complex to easily explain.
Counselling doesn't really work if the person being counselled doesn't want to be counselled. Some kids are punks, and the movie tries to display Shawn as a character willing to assert himself on behalf of his dead wife to someone being a dick. It's very primal. Some people just don't respect you if they know they can insult you and you'll just take it.
I really hope Dr. Grande sees this message. On the topic of psychiatrist/patient relationships in movies, I would really like to know your opinion of the performances of Timothy Hutton and Judd Hirsch and if you thought their therapy sessions seemed realistic. I've always found this movie profoundly dramatic and the therapy scenes extremely emotional. I would love Dr. Grande's feedback.
