Episodes

Join Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran as they travel to Toronto and back in time to 2002. That’s right – Disney’s Turning Red is on the couch. The doctors are here to answer all of your burning questions. Including, what treatment is recommended to prevent a teen from turning into a giant red panda? To potentially answer this question, we provide information about emotions and emotional regulation. Much like the red panda, emotions can be big and misunderstood, but that doesn’t mean we have to hide them away ...

Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran bring back Sex Education for a Booster Mini-Session this week! When we first evaluated Sex Education, we reviewed the fake therapy conducted by Otis. This time around, the doctors review therapy sessions between Dr. Jean Milburn (Otis’ mother) and Aimee. They listen to Aimee discuss her trauma and chat about the portrayal of trauma in the show. Do Aimee’s descriptions of her thoughts and feelings seem in line with what we may expect following a trauma? Finally, the doctors ...

Dear listeners, Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran bring you a new Reel Rounds Mini-Session this week! We are ’rounding’ on gossip. First, the doctors define and provide some brief history about gossip as a communication style, including who engages in gossip, when, and some benefits. Then they listen to a clip from Bridgerton and describe the purpose of and how manipulation of those who spread gossip aids the Bridgertons. Have you ever found yourself betrothed to an unworthy suitor? Try digging up some dirt...

Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran enjoyed being surprised by listener-submitted clips so much that they brought it back for this week’s Second Opinion mini-session! Just as someone may seek a second opinion from a doctor, some TV show and movie scenes require a second look from Drs. Sam and Fran. For this Second Opinion, Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran react to clips related to psychotherapy submitted by listeners (AKA Freudian Scripters). The doctors listen to the submitted clips for the first time and react in real ...

Grab your biscuits and join Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran as they travel across the pond and put Ted Lasso on the couch! Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran introduce and discuss another new (to the pod) type of psychology — sports psychology. What exactly do sports psychologists do? Can they cure the yips? And can Dr. Sharon help AFC Richmond have a winning season and get promoted? We examine all of that and even briefly move beyond Richmond to discuss real-life examples of athletes working with sports psychologists. Perh...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a Valentine’s Day themed session! The doctors travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to analyze the romantic comedy, The Five Year Engagement. Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran introduce a new (to the pod) type of psychology—social psychology. They review Violet’s training and career path. What aspects of her path are accurate and which are exaggerated? Do all research studies include deception or being covered in feathers? Is it appropriate for a researcher and their trainee t...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for an extra surprising Second Opinion mini-session! Just like you may seek a second opinion from a doctor, some TV shows and movies require a second look from Drs. Sam and Fran. For this Second Opinion, Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran react to clips and scenes related to psychotherapy submitted by listeners (AKA Freudian Scripters). The doctors listen to the submitted clips for the first time and react in real time. First, they listen to a clip from the sketch comedy s...

Just in time for Christmas, join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a holiday-themed session. Follow the doctors across the seven levels of the candy cane forest as they put the movie Elf on the couch! To better understand Buddy and his adventure to NYC, Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran discuss adoption. Can real-world lessons be learned from a tale about a human who is adopted by elves and Santa? We review Buddy the elf’s relationship with his biological, human father and his relationship with his adopted f...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a Reel Rounds Mini-Session. For the holiday season, we are ’rounding’ on Hallmark Christmas/holiday movies and why people love them. The doctors share brief clips from holiday movies from Hallmark, Netflix and Comedy Central. First, they share some brief history about holiday movies and Hallmark holiday movies. PSA: The Countdown to Christmas has begun on The Hallmark channel. Then they dive into the well-known formula, storytelling techniques (AKA archet...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a holiday-themed Second Opinion mini-session. Just like you may seek a second opinion from a doctor, some TV shows and movies require a second look from Drs. Sam and Fran. We take turns surprising each other with clips from holiday-themed movies while responding and reacting in real time. For this Second Opinion, Dr. Sam surprises Dr. Fran with a scene from Four Christmases. A couple visits the homes of their four different family members, who they usuall...

This week Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran discuss 50/50! We’re excited to tackle this movie because it’s an interesting, although inaccurate, portrayal of health psychology, a subject near and dear to our hearts. Join the doctors as they critique psychologist-in-training Katherine, played by Anna Kendrick, as she provides therapy to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Adam, after a cancer diagnosis. How are psychologists trained? And are they typically this inept? Does it include giving patients a ride or dati...

This week Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran discuss the supernatural psychological thriller, The Sixth Sense! Join the doctors, including Dr. Malcom Crowe, for October’s Spooky Session Series as they explore working with a child who sees dead people. Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran evaluate Dr. Crowe’s therapy sessions with 9-year-old Cole. Do child psychologists stalk—err follow—the children they provide therapy to? What does Dr. Crowe do well in his attempt to help his patient? And what are some things we don’t recommend...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for another Reel Rounds Mini-Session! The doctors are launching this year’s Spooky Session Series by ’rounding’ on the psychology behind why (some) people enjoy horror movies. They break down what makes a scary movie. What types of emotions and physical reactions are usually connected to horror films? They also dive into who likes to watch scary movies. We’ll give you one clue: not Dr. Fran! But, do you lack empathy or are you just very imaginative if you enj...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a Reel Rounds Mini-Session. They will be ’rounding’ on fake therapy portrayals in two well-known comedies. The doctors will share brief clips from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Central Intelligence and critique two characters (played by Kathryn Hahn and Dwayne Johnson) as they pretend to be couples therapists. In movies, people pretend to be therapists to trick others. But, would a real therapist try to immediately dive into sensitive topics or swaddle...

Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran return with a full session discussing fellow therapist, Dr. Brooke Taylor. This week, Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran examine episode 1 of the latest season of HBO’s In Treatment. In this episode, Dr. Taylor meets with Eladio via telehealth. We’ve all become more accustomed to meeting over screens, but how does telehealth work for therapy and is it helpful? The doctors also break down the relationship between Dr. Taylor and Eladio. Do psychologists typically use pet names or take late...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a special Second Opinion mini-session. Just like you might want a second opinion from a doctor, some TV shows and movies require a second look from Drs. Sam and Fran. For this new segment, we take turns surprising each other with a therapy-related clip while responding and reacting in real time. For our first-ever Second Opinion, Dr. Fran picks an SNL clip with Jane Lynch playing therapist to Andy Samberg. While guided imagery is a relaxation skill therap...

Join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran this week for a special Reel Rounds Mini-Session. in honor of Pride, we are ’rounding’ on the portrayal of transgender woman of color in two popular TV series. The doctors will share brief clips from Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and FX’s Pose, reviewing the portrayal of two main characters from each show. First up, we’ll listen to the challenges Laverne Cox’s character Sophia Burset faces and overcomes at Litchfield Penitentiary. Specifically, we’ll discuss access...

This week, Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran are unravelling Netflix’s new film, The Woman in the Window. In an interesting twist, we put a child psychologist, Dr. Anna Fox (played by Amy Adams) on the couch. With a game of Diagnosis Bingo, we break down the criteria for a new anxiety disorder— agoraphobia. What keeps Dr. Fox locked inside and are her symptoms consistent with this often misunderstood diagnosis? Finally, we look through our telephoto lens to take a closer look at her panic attacks and history...

Freudian Scripts is turning ONE! Just as Freudian Scripts launched last May, this session is just in time for the end of Mental Health Awareness Month. Join Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran as they are joined by Producer Brandon to recap the past year on the podcast. This week the doctors answer listener questions. Listen to find out what burning questions are on the minds of Freudian Scripters. Like which sessions are Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran’s favorites? And what could movies and TV shows do to get more right ...

For the final Autism Awareness Month session, Dr. Sam & Dr. Fran discuss Sam and his family in Netflix’s Atypical. This week psychologist, Dr. Lo, joins the session as we review Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostic criteria. We discuss Sam’s social communication skills, interactions and relationships. For example, would we recommend compiling a pros and cons list to determine if Sam should date Paige? We also talk about his family, the support they provide, and other considerations for family me...

Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran hope to spread awareness, information and acceptance during Autism Awareness Month. Their first stop? One of the most commonly referenced portrayals of autism in American cinema, the 1988 Academy Award-winning film, Rain Man. We use Diagnosis Bingo to break down the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder and determine whether that diagnosis applies to Dustin Hoffman’s character, Raymond. What aspects of Raymond’s character seem to accurately portray autism and which have bee...

Travel with Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran to Wind Gap with Camille Preaker as they investigate HBO’s Sharp Objects. Who is murdering children in Wind Gap? What is going on with Camille, Amma, and Adora? The doctors solve those questions quicker than Detective Richard and the police chief solve the town’s crimes. Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran review complex topics seen in the show including Camille’s history of abuse, alcohol use, and non-suicidal self-injury. Would we expect someone to engage in self-harm the un...

Dear friend, join Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran as they go back to high school with Sam, and Charlie. By popular demand, the doctors evaluate The Perks of Being a Wallflower this wee. Join this ‘island of misfit toys’ as we discuss Charlie’s social isolation, loneliness, and relationships. We also discuss adolescent mental health and Charlie’s mental health as it shifts throughout the movie. Are Charlie’s experiences as a teen realistic or possible? Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran review complex topics seen in th...

In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we’re putting Netflix’s 2017 drama To the Bone on the couch. Starring Lily Collins, this film tells the story of Ellen, a young woman battling anorexia, including her treatment at a residential facility led by the unconventional methods of Dr. Beckham, played by Keanu Reeves. Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran discuss whether or not Ellen meets criteria for anorexia as well as the prevalence of anorexia in the US. We also review what Ellen’s treatment loo...