Daytime programs, debate shows, TV series, and films have always been at the center of discussion. The new topic of discussion concerning TV is psychology-themed series. The popularity of psychology-themed TV series recently has initiated a new debate. While dialogues in therapy scenes in series scripted from real-life stories raise questions about the reliability of patient privacy, psychiatrists and psychologists are issuing warnings. Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluating TV series and programs that deal with the topic of psychology, specifically the series named “Kırmızı Oda” (The Red Room), for our newspaper, highlighted that psychology is a serious matter and explained the potential drawbacks of these series.
Daytime programs, debate shows, TV series, films… Television has always been at the center of discussions in Turkey. Recently popular psychology-themed series and programs have also joined this caravan of discussion. Especially the broadcasting of real-life stories in the series named “Kırmızı Oda” (The Red Room), aired on TV8, has brought up the reliability of patient privacy. While dialogues emerging in some scenes of the series are being debated, Üsküdar Üniversitesi founding rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made important statements to Millî Gazete regarding the issue and warned about the series.
“Those under 18 should not watch the series”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated, “Cases we frequently encounter appear in the series, presented in a scripted form. If the event is 30 percent, the fiction makes up 70 percent. Viewers should watch it knowing this. Some things are exaggerated and highlighted in the series. This is done technically as required by the script. It should also not be watched by those under 18. Because they may be negatively affected as they have not yet reached maturity. The series depicts how a child will experience trauma in the future if their parents treat them badly. There are always similar stories among children under state protection. If children grow up without compassion, such traumas occur,” he said.
“Words to be spoken in the therapy room are private”
Tarhan, making criticisms regarding the scenes in the series, said, “A psychiatrist hugging a patient or crying with them during therapy is out of the question. In this way, all our patients might expect such things from us. The relationship here tending towards friendship, or going out for a meal or tea with the patient, comes to the fore. This also creates a new area of conflict. Therefore, the psychiatrist must tell the patient, ‘I am only focused on solving your problems.’ Words to be spoken in the therapy room are private. If you say these publicly, society will generalize and apply them incorrectly. After 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' was read, suicides began in Germany in the manner described in the book. Therefore, caution should be exercised,” he said.
“Those who learn a few techniques of psychiatry start doing therapy under personal development”
Tarhan warned about untrained individuals acting like psychiatrists, influenced by the series, saying, “Those who learn a few techniques of psychiatry start doing therapy under personal development. For a person to become a clinical psychotherapist, they need to undergo supervision from a psychotherapist for 2 years. An untrained person can end their patient's marriage, drive them to suicide, bring up unrevealed traumas, and even make them fall in love with them. We have always witnessed these. It is absolutely necessary to acquire adequate qualifications,” he stated.