When a TV Show Feels Like Therapy: The Power of Corrective Emotional Experiences

Have you ever watched a TV show or movie that affected you more deeply than you expected?

I’ve had that experience more times than I can count—Heated Rivalry, Heartstopper, and This Is Us, just to name a few. What starts as “just a show” somehow turns into tears on the couch, a lump in your throat, or a quiet realization that stays with you long after the credits roll.

There’s something incredibly powerful about storytelling. Certain shows and films connect with us in ways that feel surprisingly healing—sometimes even reaching places that have taken years to explore in therapy. I’ve had moments of emotional clarity arrive in just a few episodes that took much longer to uncover elsewhere.

In therapy, we have a name for experiences like this: Corrective Emotional Experiences (CEEs). A CEE is “a therapeutic process that allows someone to re‑experience past emotional pain in a safe environment, with a different—often more supportive—outcome.” In simpler terms, it’s when something familiar plays out in a new, healing way.

While CEEs are often associated with the therapy room, they don’t only happen there. More and more, clients share how meaningful moments in popular media have served as corrective experiences for them. Shows like This Is Us, Heated Rivalry, Heartstopper, and Parenthood have been deeply transformative for many people.

Most of us have “comfort shows”—the ones we return to again and again. But we don’t always stop to ask why.

Sometimes, it’s because those stories give us something we didn’t receive when we needed it most.

Relationship expert Esther Perel touches on this beautifully while discussing Heated Rivalry. She describes watching the show with a friend who had already seen it multiple times. As she watched, she noticed something striking: just when she braced herself for something painful or disappointing to happen, the characters responded with care, understanding, or love instead.

That unexpected shift—that moment when harm doesn’t occur—is the heart of a corrective emotional experience.

We see this in powerful ways across popular shows:

In both Heated Rivalry and Heartstopper, when a main character comes out to their mom, the anticipated rejection never comes. Instead of being shut down or pushed away, they are met with unconditional love and acceptance.

In This Is Us, when Rebecca grieves the loss of Jack, she isn’t left alone in her pain. She is surrounded by support, community, and care. The same is true for her children—Kate, Randall, and Kevin—who repeatedly encounter compassion in moments where they might have expected disconnection or misunderstanding.

These moments matter because they mirror real emotional experiences—grief, fear, vulnerability. When we see our own stories reflected on screen, it can feel both exposing and comforting. And when those stories unfold differently than our own—when they end in connection instead of hurt—it can slowly reshape what we expect from others and even what we believe we deserve.

This may be one reason we rewatch certain shows again and again. It isn’t just about familiarity. Rewatching can be regulating. It can be healing. It can be a way of giving ourselves access to the responses we needed but didn’t receive at the time.

Of course, meaningful media doesn’t replace real, relational healing. In therapy, corrective emotional experiences happen in real time—in a space where your story is known, held, and responded to with care.

Still, if you’ve ever noticed yourself having a strong emotional reaction to a show or movie, it might be worth getting curious about that. There may be something important there—something your mind and body are trying to process or heal.

And you don’t have to do that work alone.

So I’m curious—what shows or movies have offered you a corrective emotional experience?

As for me, I’ll be over here rewatching Gilmore Girls.

Resources
Hartman, D., & Zimberoff, D. (2004). Corrective Emotional Experience in the Therapeutic Process.

Big News! Greta Long, MA, LPC is Joining Summit Family Therapy

We are excited to welcome Greta Long, MA, LPC to the Summit Family Therapy team. Greta brings a warm, grounded presence and a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to counseling that aligns deeply with our values of connection, collaboration, and meaningful change.

A Therapist Who Helps Clients Understand Themselves in Context

One of Greta’s greatest strengths is her ability to help clients make sense of their inner world within the context of their relationships. Our relationships—past and present—shape how we see ourselves, how we cope, and how we move through life. Greta helps clients slow down, reflect, and better understand these patterns so they can respond with intention rather than feeling stuck in cycles that no longer serve them.

Greta works from a person-centered, collaborative approach, meaning therapy is not something done to you—it is something built with you. Clients can expect a nonjudgmental, steady space where their experiences are honored and goals are shaped together. This approach is especially helpful for those who may feel anxious about starting therapy or who have struggled to feel fully understood in the past.

Supporting Life Transitions, Grief, and Relationship Challenges

Greta has a particular passion for working with individuals navigating life transitions, grief and loss, and relationship concerns. Whether someone is adjusting to a new season of life, processing the loss of a loved one, or trying to improve communication and boundaries in their relationships, Greta helps clients find clarity and emotional steadiness during uncertain times.

Clients often seek Greta’s support when:

• Life feels overwhelming or uncertain

• Grief or loss feels heavy or unresolved

• Relationships feel strained or disconnected

• Anxiety or stress increases during transitions

• They want to better understand themselves and how they relate to others

Rather than rushing toward solutions, Greta helps clients understand why certain patterns exist—then gently supports them in creating healthier, more sustainable change.

A Calm, Grounding Presence in the Therapy Room

Beginning therapy can feel intimidating, and Greta is especially mindful of this. She is known for creating a calm, non-anxious environment where clients can take their time, ask questions, and feel supported from the very first session. Her style is steady, thoughtful, and compassionate—ideal for individuals who value reflection, emotional safety, and depth in the therapeutic process.

Using EMDR to Help the Brain Heal from Trauma and Distress

In addition to her relational, person‑centered approach, Greta incorporates Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) into her clinical work when it is an appropriate fit for the client and their goals.

EMDR is an evidence‑based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories and experiences that can remain “stuck” in the nervous system. These experiences don’t have to be major, single‑event traumas—many people carry the emotional impact of chronic stress, relational wounds, grief, or past experiences that continue to shape how they feel, think, and respond today.

Rather than focusing only on talking through the past, EMDR helps clients:

• Reduce the emotional intensity connected to painful memories

• Shift long‑standing negative beliefs about themselves

• Feel more grounded and present in daily life

• Respond to triggers with greater flexibility and calm

Greta approaches EMDR with the same care and collaboration that defines her work overall. She prioritizes emotional safety, pacing, and preparation, ensuring clients feel supported and in control throughout the process. EMDR is always integrated thoughtfully—never rushed—and used alongside insight‑building and relational work to support lasting change.

This approach can be especially helpful for clients who feel they “understand” their struggles intellectually but still feel emotionally stuck, reactive, or overwhelmed despite their best efforts.

Education, Training, and Professional Background

Greta holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Illinois. Her training integrates clinical skill with a deep respect for the whole person, allowing her to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Is Greta the Right Fit for You?

Greta may be an excellent fit if you are looking for a therapist who:

• Values collaboration and mutual understanding

• Helps you explore patterns in relationships and identity

• Offers a steady, nonjudgmental presence

• Supports both insight and practical growth

• Honors your pace and your story

We are thrilled to have Greta as part of the Summit Family Therapy team and confident that her presence will be a meaningful resource for individuals and families in our community.

Now accepting new clients. We invite you to reach out and take the next step toward clarity, healing, and connection.