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Characters On The Couch

How a psychologist thinks about your favorite Film & TV characters.

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American Crime Episode 8 How I'd Help Russ Get Over His Guilt

AMERICAN CRIME
How I Would Help Russ
Turn His Guilt Around

April 26, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

No matter how hard Russ (Timothy Hutton) tries or how ingratiating he is in American Crime Episode 8, there’s roadblock after roadblock to his attempts to make up for his mistakes. Although American Crime is in search of the person who killed Matt and injured Gwen, Russ acts like a criminal. He’s not a suspect, of course. …

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How I Would Help Russ
Turn His Guilt Around
American Crime Episode 7 History Matters 5 Characters That Don't Work

AMERICAN CRIME
History Matters
5 Characters That Don’t Quite Work

April 20, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

We are on American Crime Episode 7, with only 4 episodes left, and we have no clue what the truth is. With so many stories unfolding at the same time, it’s impossible to go into much depth as far as the characters go. As a viewer, this leaves me with a lot of unanswered questions. …

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History Matters
5 Characters That Don’t Quite Work
American Crime Episode 6 Ways to Make it "All Go Away"

AMERICAN CRIME
Ways To Make It “All Go Away”

April 12, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Aubry’s (Caitlin Gerard) alive in American Crime Episode 6. But coming back to reality in the throes of withdrawal and without drugs is quite distressing. No one in American Crime wants to face the truth. Except, maybe Aliyah (Regina King), Carter’s sister. Truth can be very difficult to face. Aliyah says it well: “If they hurt …

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Ways To Make It “All Go Away”
American Crime The Damages of Living Under Someone Else's Thumb

AMERICAN CRIME
The Damages Of Living
Under Someone Else’s Thumb

March 31, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Living under someone else’s thumb is damaging to the spirit. We see that very clearly in the different ways the parents in American Crime try to control their kids. In my office, I see the effects of the shoulds. The “have to’s.” The chain of believing the only way to be loved is to please. …

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The Damages Of Living
Under Someone Else’s Thumb
AMERICAN CRIME What Makes Barb The Racist She Is?

AMERICAN CRIME
What’s Made Barb The Racist She Is?

March 14, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Racism is a symptom in American Crime – a troubling and destructive one, to be sure. But, like any symptom, it has its personal roots. As a psychoanalyst, my work is to find the roots of any symptom brought into my office. And, with the multi-storied American Crime unfolding each week, the roots of Matt’s …

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What’s Made Barb The Racist She Is?
AMERICAN CRIME How the first episode is like the first session in therapy & how it's not

AMERICAN CRIME
How The 1st Episode Is Like The 1st Session of Therapy & How It’s Not

March 8, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

We’re left with more questions than answers at the end of the premiere of John Ridley’s American Crime. Of course – we’ve only just begun. Yet, we start to realize that each main character has complicated secrets that must be uncovered in order to make sense of what’s happened. For me, as not just a viewer …

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How The 1st Episode Is Like The 1st Session of Therapy & How It’s Not

Inspiration

“We come to Film and TV to find our hidden stories. If we look deeply into a character’s psyche, there is much to see about ourselves.”

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