The Therapy Paradigm in Contemporary Television

• Featuring Marshall Meyer, PhD Candidate •
• Presented by Hopkins at Home •
Join us for a virtual discussion on the rise of therapy in television storytelling.
Over the past twenty years, television has experienced a surge in series that use therapy sessions as a key narrative device. This trend, largely popularized by The Sopranos, has since spread across genres, with shows like In Treatment dedicating entire episodes to a single session. Even innovative series like Fleabag bring a confessional tone, breaking the fourth wall to deepen the connection between character and viewer. Marshall Meyer suggests that television and therapy share a natural affinity-both unfold in episodes or sessions with time in between, capturing the complexity and continuity of the therapeutic process. Join us as we explore how this dynamic not only makes therapy a prevalent theme in TV but also hints at television’s own therapeutic potential.
Disclaimer: The perspectives and opinions expressed by the speaker(s) during this program are those of the speaker(s) and not, necessarily, those of Johns Hopkins University and the scheduling of any speaker at an alumni event or program does not constitute the University’s endorsement of the speaker’s perspectives and opinions.