Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the thorny issue of transference and countertransference in a variety of on-screen therapeutic relationships between the psychotherapist and his or her client. It draws on theories of either Freud or Lacan in order to explore their interpretations of fictional psychotherapists and psychoanalysts. The book examines fraught portrayals of psychotherapy in film and television to explain how troubled cases are often motivated by the prejudices of film producers or directors. It explores the meaning of fantasy and reality from the perspective of the director, professional consultant, or audience, respectively, and exposes the tensions and conflicts underpinning this relationship. Many of the contributors to Eavesdropping express concern for the way the psychotherapeutic profession is diluted when shaped for popular consumption.