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Characters On The Couch

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

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Girls Hannah's OCD #4 The help I'd give Hannah

GIRLS OCD #4
Help I’d Give Hannah
Since I’m Not Dr. Rice

May 28, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Dr. Rice didn’t get Hannah at all. Season 2, It’s Back, leaves Hannah obsessively counting in 8’s. She needs a different kind of help. If Hannah was in therapy with me, I’d listen closely to her conflicting and ever-shifting feelings. To her “I need your help. No, I’m fine.” “I’m sad. No, I’m not.” This …

Read moreGIRLS OCD #4
Help I’d Give Hannah
Since I’m Not Dr. Rice
Girls OCD #3 What's in a Q-Tip?

GIRLS OCD#3
What’s In A Q-Tip?

May 14, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Hannah needs help. But Dr. Rice’s failure leaves her alone to manage feelings that are confusing, hated, and at odds with what she believes is normal. She doesn’t have any methods but counting 8’s to get troubling thoughts out of her head. And, then in Season 2, Episode 9, On All Fours, there’s the Q-tip …So, …

Read moreGIRLS OCD#3
What’s In A Q-Tip?
Girls OCD #2 Dr. Rice's Failure

GIRLS
OCD#2 Dr. Rice’s Failure
4 Ways Not To Talk About OCD

May 11, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Have you ever wondered what’s on a psychologist’s “don’t do” list for a session with a patient? Go to Girls, Season 2, Episode 8, “It’s Back”, and re-watch Hannah’s (Lena Dunham) consultation with Dr. Rice (Bob Balaban). I know this is a comedy. But, in this post on Girls OCD #2 Dr. Rice’s Failure I …

Read moreGIRLS
OCD#2 Dr. Rice’s Failure
4 Ways Not To Talk About OCD
Girls & Hannah's OCD

GIRLS
OCD # 1 Hannah’s Counting
Why The Number 8?

May 4, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

This is the first in a series of 4 Posts. What’s in Girls & Hannah’s OCD? The word OCD is tossed around too casually in our contemporary culture – as in “I’m so OCD” to mean “I’m a perfectionist.” Or “I like to have things organized and controlled.” Sure, those things can be true of people who …

Read moreGIRLS
OCD # 1 Hannah’s Counting
Why The Number 8?
Lena Dunham's Selfie

LENA DUNHAM’S SELFIE
Exercise Is Great
OCD Needs Much More

April 16, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

As a psychoanalyst who treats OCD, I want to chime in here. I certainly don’t think Lena Dunham’s Selfie on Instagram intends to give the impression that exercise is the answer to anxiety, OCD, or depression. Not with her years of struggle with disturbing thoughts that lead to OCD. There’s no question that exercise helps …

Read moreLENA DUNHAM’S SELFIE
Exercise Is Great
OCD Needs Much More

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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