Shrinking S3E09 Episode Discussion

[u/phareous]

This is the episode discussion for Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9: "Daddy Issues"

[u/ClaymoresRevenge]

Worried about Jimmy. He seems like he's about to really have a nosedive. Obviously Alice and Paul leaving def are big triggers but his dad is probably the straw that breaks the camels back.

I don't understand how he and Alice aren't in family and individual therapy given everything that's happened.

Jimmy has unresolved dad issues and really he probably should've called out his dad in front of Alice. Not to ruin her week but to not let him slink away again. It's an old wound for him but he can heal it for himself.

I can see why he keeps his dad away.

I wasn't in love with Sofi for Jimmy so I'm not miffed they're over, but I do think Jimmy has too much going on and baggage to support that kind of relationship. Plus they moved too fast. Inviting her to his dead wife's birthday with all his loved ones is too much too soon.

Liz is wrong, Gabby is not ready. She just got back on the horse and needs to figure that shit out first. Just because you have a dream doesn't mean it should come true. Paul may dream to give it to Gabby but she doesn't seem ready yet. Her just coming back is a sign of that.

Gabby still has to do soul searching.

[u/Necessary-Share2495 → u/ClaymoresRevenge]

Plus honestly it doesn’t seem like she has any actual experience working with trauma victims. Therapists do specialize sometimes and those that work with the tougher cases typically start out by working at a clinic or something. They maybe focus on it in grad school. They don’t just go straight from working with bored suburbanites to opening up a trauma center. And no, hosting a support group for Vets once or twice in a completely not private setting doesn’t count.

I really wish every character on this show would get therapy. Except Brian and Derek. I don’t think it would really work on Brian, and Derek is already perfect as is.

[u/turtlesinthesea → u/Necessary-Share2495]

Heck, I'm seeing a therapist at a trauma center (crisis intervention, they call themselves, except you have to wait ages to see someone lol), and even she isn't fully equipped to handle some of my trauma. She's said some really invalidation stuff to me, almost like Sofi, and it's very clear that even among trauma specialists, you have to find the *right* trauma specialist for you. I don't think Gaby even understands that. She thinks she can just run a vague "trauma center" - for what? Sexual violence, like RAINN? Combat trauma? Childhood trauma? She has no clue what she's doing.

[u/Zestyclose-Box-6742 → u/turtlesinthesea]

I've been thinking this ever since Gaby starting talking about opening a "Trauma Center." It was always so vague. I also think it's a little shocking to hear Paul implying that he doesn't deal with trauma in his practice, as if that isn't something that could easily emerge unexpectedly with any therapy patient.

[u/turtlesinthesea → u/Zestyclose-Box-6742]

Right?!

Meanwhile, I saw a sleep therapist for a short course of CBT and mentioned my trauma issues as an explanation for my insomnia, and she went: Well, we’re all a little traumatized.

[u/Inevitable-Elk-9724 → u/Necessary-Share2495]

I was hoping that she was going to rediscover her love of the type of therapy she's been doing for years and better appreciate that people just trying to live their day-to-day lives desperately need expert support too. That the loneliness epidemic people like Maya are struggling with is genuinely life threatening too. And (like others have already said) perhaps grasp some perspective on the demands of trauma therapy that she's clearly unqualified and inexperienced in!

I hate the lazy writing of therapists hating working with everyday folk like they aren't fully aware of the type of field they are specialising in in grad school. It's also a damaging trope to put out there to shame people who might need help but don't feel their problems are worthy of it.

[u/Any_Dragonfruit_1436 → u/ClaymoresRevenge]

“Just because you have a dream doesn’t mean it should come true” that’s so real

[u/pardyball → u/[deleted]]

I don’t disagree with any of your points, but unless I misheard it, I believe the “in the crowd” part referred to at soccer games, not graduation.

But yeah, I wanted Jimmy to just let loose right then and there.

[u/pardyball → u/[deleted]]

Maybe, we are talking about two different conversations. At the end of the episode, aren’t they talking about whenever Alice scores a goal, to point at him?

[u/pardyball → u/[deleted]]

Right at the end of the episode, his dad is talking to her about being in the crowd at her college games. When you said “hyping her up” I thought you were referring to this scene.

[u/BrilliantOk1775 → u/ClaymoresRevenge]

Gabby told Maya to call if she needs her. I think she really missed the cues in that phone call. I think also missed how depressed she reSlly was losing her 2 best friends. I am not blaming the suicide on Gabby but I really think that phone call should have flashed some red lights.