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Characters On The Couch

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

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The Irrational Man If I'd been a script Therapist for Abe Lucas

THE IRRATIONAL MAN
If I’d Been The Script Therapist
For Abe Lucas

July 26, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Woody Allen’s new film, The Irrational Man, gives us a troubled philosophy professor, Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix), in an existential crisis. Although Abe is an expert in Existentialism, he can’t live its system of belief. He’d have to find meaning in his life and live it to its fullest, in spite of its limits (or …

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If I’d Been The Script Therapist
For Abe Lucas
Camus's Sisyphus Versus Woody Allen's Irrational Man

CAMUS’S SISYPHUS
Versus WOODY ALLEN’S
IRRATIONAL MAN

July 24, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Albert Camus, best known for his masterpiece novel The Stranger, wrote an entire book (believe it or not) on The Myth Of Sisyphus. Camus’s point is that Sisyphus is happy because he’s accepted his life. This is exactly what Woody Allen’s existential philosophy professor in The Irrational Man can’t find a way to do. He …

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Versus WOODY ALLEN’S
IRRATIONAL MAN
Wayward Pines Arrogant People

WAYWARD PINES
Watch Out For Arrogant People

June 29, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

The people of Wayward Pines can’t watch out now. It’s too late. But it’s important to distinguish between arrogant people and someone who wants to help. Arrogance gives you no Choices. Truly, there couldn’t be a more ironic title for Episode 6 of Wayward Pines. Because no one who ended up in Wayward Pines really …

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Watch Out For Arrogant People
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 …

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OCD#2 Dr. Rice’s Failure
4 Ways Not To Talk About OCD
Birdman Voices in His Head Truth or Dare Friend or Foe

BIRDMAN
The Voice In His Head
Truth Or Dare, Friend Or Foe?

February 13, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

What do we talk about when we talk about someone losing his grip on reality? When it comes to that question, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s brilliant film, Birdman, is meaty stuff for a psychoanalyst like me. Riggan Thompson, former action hero, has-been, failed husband and father, is struggling to change his life – against a Voice …

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The Voice In His Head
Truth Or Dare, Friend Or Foe?
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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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