Review:
Necessary Roughness is a new television show on USA network. The show centers on Dani Santino, a psychotherapist. When "Dr. D." leaves her cheating husband, she becomes a single mom in need of more work. She takes on new high profile clients in an effort to support herself and her children financially. These clients include sports stars that bring drama to her life as does her experiences of single motherhood and dating. Despite the drama, comedy ensues. Balancing personal and professional responsibilities, setting boundaries with clients, the process of therapy and diagnoses are all portrayed with varying degrees of reality.

An examination of the more realistic and more fictional elements of the show would be interesting for counselors-in-training in ethics and theories courses. Ethical dilemmas include that of dual relationships and confidentiality. The show has done a nice job, thus far, of portraying the importance of ethics in counseling. Issues related to theory include Dr. D’s use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and hypnotherapy. It would be very interesting in a theories class, to discuss what elements of the techniques utilized are realistic and what elements are not. The show provides excellent examples basic counseling skills such as reframing, clarifying questions and most of all caring confrontations. Numerous examples are shown of how Dr. D appropriately encourages her clients to make progress in therapy and take ownership of change. The importance of a client having motivation to change is underscored in the show.