A new TV show depicts brutal honesty in therapy. Real therapists say it’s not so simple

Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Jimmy’s cantankerous-but-lovable mentor Paul cautions against using these tactics with clients, claiming that it will “rob them of their autonomy.” Therapy on TV is always heightened for the sake of entertainment, and “Shrinking” is no exception. Melissa Schleier, a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Connecticut, considers sharing honest observations with clients “part of the job.” However, she adds, “there are so many things you have to look at — the person’s personality, their insightfulness, your relationship with the client — for anything you say to be worth it in therapy.” Before engaging in brutal honesty, a responsible therapist needs to gauge several factors, says Dr. Chandler Chang, clinical psychologist and chief executive of Therapy Lab: “I think you have to consider the person’s motivation for change as well as the rapport between the therapist and the client. If you’re going to come at the client too directly too soon, then you rupture that trust and impair the rapport, and you’re done.” In contrast to Jimmy’s impulsive disclosure to Grace and his last-minute decisions to take clients out into the world for part of their sessions, practicing quality therapy requires mindfulness, planning and forethought. Is this serving me or is this serving the client?” Chang echoes the sentiment: “If your interaction with your clients is self-serving in any way or if it’s a personal emotional regulation strategy, remember that it always has to be in the best interest of the client.” If we look closely at Jimmy’s situation, much of his radical new approach to therapy is, in fact, serving his own interests.