Stutz-Jonah Hill Documentary

Has anyone seen the documentary 'Stutz' that features Jonah Hill and his therapist? I have mixed feelings about it and would be interested to hear others thoughts on it..

I imagine some people (therapists in particular) would find the level of disclosure from Stutz (and even the fact he agreed to do the documentary in the first place) a blurring of the therapeutic relationship)...At times I got the feeling that Jonah is very dependent on his therapist and his 'advice'. I'd be interested in finding out how it impacts the relationship going forward although it appears Stutz might be coming to the end of his career.

One thing I really liked seeing though was the clear love shown between the two them. Explicitly expressed without any awkwardness or shame at numerous points throughout. The normalization of love between a therapist and client shown as something not to be ashamed of but of something that can happen when two people spend so much time together in such a vulnerable and intimate space.

Would have also love to have seen more about Jonahs family dynamic with his mom and upbringing...at many points seem like 3 different documentaries rolled into 1..(Jonah and his therapist/ His therapists life/ Joanah and his challenges because of his upbringing)

I watched it. I thought that the ability and willingness to express their love for each other was really nice. I felt a little jealous actually. I love my therapist and although I've said it in other ways, I don't think I could say "I love you" to him and I don't know that he would say it that way to me either and that kind of hurts.

Some of his advice seemed a little closer to "guru" or "self-help book" than "therapist". I'm not sure how to elaborate on that thought. We obviously didn't see an actual session, just these vignettes around his drawings.

Some good points here. I also felt pangs of jealousy at their expressions of love. It did make me want to text my T and say 'see other people do and say things like this to each other and it's okay....lol)

I understand what you are saying about guru type advice...I kept thinking throughout how does the therapist know what's 'best' for Jonah and how Jonah kept reiterating he just wants Stutz to 'tell him what to do and he does'

I found their relationship very interesting because it is very similar to the relationship I have with my T. I agree that the "tools" and the other self-help stuff wasn't as interesting or new. When Jonah was talking about how this therapist's tools were the only ones that have helped him, all I could think of was how I think it's their relationship that's more of a help than anything. They have such an easy back and forth that's heartwarming to watch.

I've been working with my T for a few years now, and the only way I've been able to fully trust him was when he started disclosing and being open about his life outside of being a therapist. Talking about my trauma only became easier when he shared his personality, likes and dislikes, and opinions. I realized I couldn't be vulnerable if he wasn't willing to be vulnerable.

As a result, we've developed a really close friendship that has extended outside the therapy room. We have spent time together eating out, watching movies, etc like I would with my other friends.

We are both aware that this isn't conventional so we check-in and discuss regularly about the relationship. Is the therapy suffering? Are we able to keep therapy-related things separate when we are spending time as friends? Does it feel like he's working as a therapist when we are talking outside of session? Am I uncomfortable when he expresses an opposing opinion or if I see him as vulnerable?

We have both agreed that this is kind of an experiment. That if we are both free to back out of this dynamic at any time. For me personally, I know that there's a possibility that he will decide to limit this relationship in the future. But I fully accept that this is part of any relationship and any anxiety about a future abandonment doesn't worry me. I'm sure I will feel hurt if it happens, but like any other relationship, that's what happens when someone becomes important to you.

I'm sure some people will think this isn't proper and I totally understand.

A few points why I think my T relationship has worked so far:

1. We are very similar. Our personalities, humor, temperament match really well.

2. My transference to him is friendly, not parental.

3. We discuss regularly if the relationship is working or not. If the friendship is getting in the way of therapy, we will find a way to reroute.

4. We agree that this might change or end up with us not being friends. But it's a risk we are both okay with.

5. I am open with my partner about my friendly relationship with my therapist.

I'm the same...only when my T started to open up just a little was I able to relax just a little. Still not quite where I want it to be but much better. That is an interesting relationship with your T ...It intrigues yet worries me. I hope it continues to work for you both.

I don't know what I was thinking exactly, but I let my therapist read this comment. I had been having some feelings after watching the movie about wanting to be able to tell him that I loved him and I mentioned the movie to him in the context of stuff we'd been streaming lately. He told me that his own therapist had brought it up and that a therapist friend of his had brought it up as well, so he was planning on watching it. It's been ...interesting so far, not in a bad way, but I don't know what I feel right now. I shared this with him towards the end of session and I kind of shut down and hid for a while. And there was an email exchange the next day about it where I asked him if we could just forget a couple of things we talked about. He's just left for a work trip so it probably wasn't the exact best time to share something like this. We're supposed to have a video session Saturday and I'm not sure I'm ready to show my face again yet. Don't know why I feel so much shame in sharing my feelings about him to him, although I'm sure it has something to do with other relationships.

I'm going to watch it now. Y'all have me intrigued!

It is an interesting watch although I have more negative feelings about it than positive. There are a lot of strange things about it upon reflection. The therapist seems like a nice guy but I think the documentary seems to be stroking his ego a bit.

I agree. I feel like it was kind of a weird blurring of boundaries - presenting your therapeutic relationship to the world in the form of a movie. I personally could never fathom doing that as a client, but especially not as a therapist.

Hugs, NP. It was brave of you to share. I know, that doesn't help with your feelings now! I hope he responds well to it when you next meet (or ignores it, if you prefer).

I didn't like the therapist much at first, he seemed really off-putting to me.
Especially when he said something about being tired because Jonah came in there and "dumped his *****" on him", because it reminded me of something ex-T said during our final sessions like a year ago, almost exactly the same that I'd forgotten about until watching this last night (sorry to go off-topic here, but it relates): that I was always coming in there and dumping my dreams on her and she was tired. That, and a couple other things she said during our last couple of sessions were behind the driving force that has allowed me to finally emotionally break free of her and the relationship.

Anyway, before I fell asleep partway through (I was really tired last night so will have to go back to where I remember it and finish watching today) I did think he had some interesting ideas, and I wrote down a couple of things. I'm going to go continue watching it now.

I just finished watching and have changed my mind, the therapist seems very down to earth to me now I guess he just felt a little gruff at first (?) to me.

I also feel a little jealous of the relationship between them. I assume the therapy could no longer continue after this film was made? I don't remember if that was mentioned or not. Not sure how it could as Jonah appeared to be almost turning the tables and acting as the t at some points! I did take quite a few notes this morning while watching, because there were several things Stutz said that really resonated with me and I will put into practice.

Yes, Some of the 'tools' he talks about do seem like they could be quite helpful. I agree that at one point it felt a bit like Jonah was the therapist but I think they were kinda going for that. They don't seem to suggest at any point that this was going to be the end of their relationship so would be interesting to know

My therapist said the tools he talks about are basically Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Not saying that Stutz didn't arrive there independently, but that's what they are.

Thanks NP and hmm, since I did end up liking the movie and took so many notes, I wonder, if/when I do ever decide to go back to therapy, perhaps that's what I should look for is somebody that does that kind of therapy...

Interesting...I don't know much about ACT but as he was going through the tools I did wonder if they were informed by any particularly theory or type of therapy. I think the part I was uneasy with was the portrayal of him as some sort of wise sage all knowing guru..As others said though I also had a bit of underlying jealousy and bias which certainly has clouded my judgement

Where is this streaming and what is it called?

Netflix. Stutz.