Santa Barbara Lover

Idea: great. Therapist casting: terrible. As someone who has experienced childhood trauma and has worked with many psychotherapists (individual, couples, and family) over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive the guidance that helped me achieve a successful marriage, raise wonderful, productive children, and build the life I always aspired to. Over time, I’ve become adept at quickly assessing a therapist’s professionalism and depth of knowledge. This is why I find it baffling that Orna was chosen as the psychotherapist for this documentary series in a country teeming with qualified professionals. Perhaps it’s because those truly skilled in their field are more focused on helping their patients than appearing on camera. Orna lacks the strength and direction needed to effectively guide the conversations during sessions. She fails to offer significant tools or follow up with her patients in subsequent sessions. In one instance, she even allows a patient to bully his spouse and manipulate the session, leaving her looking lost and without any effective recourse. Her inability to steer the conversation in a positive direction or to grasp the deeper issues being revealed is glaring. While she appears to be listening attentively, one can’t help but wonder if her attention is more on the camera than on the therapy itself. Overall, while the concept of this documentary is commendable, the execution falters due to the choice of therapist. A more competent professional is needed to truly do justice to the important work being showcased.