Cognitive therapist Paul (Harrison Ford) in Shrinking introduces his concept of “The Field” (Episode One, Season Three) to a client. My subsequent research reveals this is based on real-life celebrity therapist Phil Stutz‘s body of work. Not only that, but since the beginning of the series the character of Paul has been inspired by this same person, “Stutz,” including that he, like Paul, has Parkinson’s.
The Field
What Paul says to a client: “Life is a conversation with the universe. The Field is an intelligent energy force that knows who you’re supposed to be. And it’s going to keep demonstrating to you what it is you need to work on most over and over again until you start doing it.”
What Stutz has said: “…(A)n operational definition of The Field is an invisible, creative force that is goal-directed not so much for what you want but for what you need” (TheToolsBook.com).
Stutz Book: The Tools
Originally a 2013 paperback, bestseller The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower–and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion by Phil Stutz, MD, and Barry Michels, MSW, was reissued in hardcover in 2023.
“How long does therapy take? The Tools offers a solution to the biggest complaint patients have about therapy: the interminable wait for change to begin.” Five main things the publisher says you can learn and utilize effectively from day one:
• Get Unstuck: Master the things you are avoiding and live in forward motion.
• Control Anger: Free yourself from out-of-control rage and never-ending grudges.
• Express Yourself: Learn the secret of true confidence and find your authentic voice.
• Combat Anxiety: Stop obsessive worrying and negative thinking.
• Find Discipline: Activate willpower and make the most of every minute.
Many categories of tools can be found on the authors’ website. And these guys aren’t the only ones who’ve given their ideas some catchy names (Paul’s are gently mocked by Gaby).
Meant to be problem-solving action methods, such tools are often used by more directive therapists as contrasted to more insight-oriented ones. It’s also possible and common, however, to be a practitioner who can combine these approaches.
Stutz: The Documentary (Netflix)
A 2022 documentary made by patient of psychiatrist Stutz, actor Jonah Hill, is another way to experience the Tools. “As Hill sits down with Stutz for an unorthodox session that flips their typical doctor-patient dynamic, they bring The Tools to life in a humorous, vulnerable and ultimately therapeutic experience. Featuring candid discussion of both Stutz’s and Hill’s personal mental health journeys, alongside the lighthearted banter of two friends from different generations, the film beautifully frames The Tools and the journey toward mental health in a manner that’s accessible to anyone whether or not they are actively seeking help” (IMDB).
As in the fictional Shrinking series, the boundaries between therapist and patient/client are non-traditional ones; many would say, in fact, unethical in that the shrink has a dual relationship with his client. For more information, see my previous post written after Season 2, “Therapist Lessons in Shrinking (No Spoilers).”
The Stutz trailer:
