Personalized.
Flexible.
Empathic.
Intuitive.
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Discreet.
Creative.
Evidence-Based.
Effective.
MA, LMFT
Therapy with Noelle
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The Entertainment Industry & Therapy
I am in the process of updating this section:
Living in Los Angeles, I have not only had firsthand experience working on sets but I have clients (& friends) in the entertainment industry. There are so many unique stressors, from the unpredictable schedules to the creative frustrations, the changing studio landscapes, the deals, the rewrites, the reshoots, the rerecording, the edits & reedits, the pitches, the travel, the fear, the rejection, the gossip, the shifting roles, the competition, the networking, the cliques, the hierarchies, the all-encompassing familial worlds that just *poof* end, the threat (or advancement?) of AI, the business vs. the art, the vision, the gatekeeping, the negotiations, the promises, the unpredictability, the thrill, the opportunities, the excess, the rush, the slog, the fight, the unions, the hours, the backstabbing, the *pinch me* excitement, the pressure, the narcissism, the panic attacks, the stage fright, the long weird hours, the rush of activity, the boredom, the inappropriate behaviors, the sometimes illegal behaviors, the awards, the isolation, the community, the excitement, the dream, the glamour, the reality, the stress, the life. There's nothing else quite like it.
I've found, it helps to understand the culture of the entertainment industry and how it has rippling impacts into all areas of life. The conflict of wanting to be present for loved ones, but having to jump to accommodate work obligations, knowing your job is coveted and someone would gladly replace you should you not perform (aka: should you hold a healthy boundary), can be an excruciating double bind to navigate. Relationships —romantic, family, friends— can easily be strained. Dating can be extra complicated. Finances can also feel unstable because of inconsistent work opportunities. Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and frustration, even questioning core senses of self-worth can get activated by virtue of the nature of the industry: needing someone else "above you" to "choose you, pick you," give you the "green light." And, even then, it can feel (& be) tenuous —jobs can disappear overnight, tastes can change, 15 minutes might be up.
Extra scheduling flexibility has also proven to be paramount when providing therapy to people in the entertainment industry. Sometimes therapy sessions have to be rescheduled at the last minute (along with personal plans: canceled date nights, missed soccer games, etc.) because an unexpected writers room was called, or an disaster must be contained. Other times, clients have to leave the state, or even the country, for extended periods of time. During these periods, we discuss options for local therapeutic support or it might make sense to explore transitioning to a life coaching arrangement. Regardless, I've learned the importance of flexibility with clients in the entertainment industry.
Additionally, it almost goes without saying that one of my basic duties to all my clients is to provide the most safe, secure, private space where nothing is off limits and anything & everything can be shared. And, I also know the value of earning that trust. While it is my job to keep clients' secrets, I also appreciate the importance of building and earning that trust over time. Once trust is earned, then I can really provide a safe space for processing the extra scary feeling stuff. Shame, for example, hides in "secrecy," and one of the only ways to diminish shame and integrate the shadow parts (to gain more self-acceptance, self-esteem, peace, self-compassion, empathy, and wisdom —& perhaps even material for creative work) is to expose and share the secret shame with a safe, trusted confidant. We all need a safe space to let go, let our hair down, take the girdle off, remove the mask, and just be our beautifully flawed, human self.
And, as a sidetone, I have also consulted as a therapist and mental health expert for writers rooms, script writers, and in other more short-term consultation capacities.
These are just some thoughts off the top of my head, based on some of my experiences in these spaces, but this section is not complete. Please check back again later as I continue to update this section.
