Analysis Report on Dear Zindagi from a Psychologist’s Perspective

Dear Zindagi is a Bollywood film that explores the journey of Kaira, a young cinematographer
struggling with emotional issues, who seek therapy from Dr. Jahangir Khan, a psychologist. The film
delves into themes of mental health, emotional wellbeing, and the stigma surrounding therapy in
India. While it handles many aspects of mental health positively, it also portrays some practices and
concepts inaccurately from a psychological standpoint. This report will analyze the rights and wrongs
presented in the film, with suggestions for improvement based on psychological standards.

Positive Aspects ("The Rights")

1. Destigmatization of Therapy

What the Film Did Well: One of the most significant contributions of Dear Zindagi is how it presents
therapy as a normal and beneficial process. Kaira, initially reluctant to seek help, gradually embraces
the idea of therapy after meeting Dr. Khan. The movie shows that mental health issues are not a sign
of weakness but a natural human experience, promoting the idea that it is okay to seek professional
help.

Psychological Perspective: In India and many parts of the world, therapy is often stigmatized,
associated with extreme mental disorders, or perceived as unnecessary. The film challenges these
stigmas, presenting therapy as a process that helps even those without severe psychological
conditions, thus normalizing it.

2. Therapist-Client Relationship

What the Film Did Well: Dr. Khan is portrayed as warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental. His
approach to therapy, using metaphors and stories to explain complex emotional issues, helps Kaira
feel understood and accepted. This fosters a trusting relationship, which is critical in therapy.

Psychological Perspective: The portrayal of a therapeutic alliance (the bond between therapist and
client) is crucial, as research shows that the quality of this relationship is one of the most important
factors in successful therapy outcomes. Dr. Khan builds rapport and makes Kaira comfortable, which
is fundamental in real-life counselling sessions.

3. Focus on Self-Awareness and Emotional Expression

What the Film Did Well: The film emphasizes self-awareness and understanding one's emotions as a
path to healing. Kaira’s emotional growth throughout the movie reflects the therapeutic process of
uncovering past hurts, recognizing emotional patterns, and making peace with unresolved feelings.

Psychological Perspective: Self-awareness is an important goal in therapy. Kaira’s journey, including

revisiting her childhood and confronting her fear of abandonment, aligns with therapeutic
techniques like psychodynamic therapy, which explores past experiences to understand current
emotional struggles.

4. Holistic Approach to Wellbeing

What the Film Did Well: The film underscores the idea that therapy is not just about "fixing"
problems but about understanding oneself and growing emotionally. Kaira learns how to cope with
her past and develop healthier relationships, highlighting the importance of personal development.

Psychological Perspective: The film moves beyond symptom reduction and focuses on overall
emotional health, which aligns with humanistic approaches to psychology. Therapy is not just about
resolving crises but also about personal growth and self-acceptance.

Problematic Aspects ("The Wrongs")

1. Boundary Issues between Therapist and Client

What Went Wrong: One of the major issues in Dear Zindagi is the depiction of blurred boundaries
between Dr. Khan and Kaira. They often meet in informal settings like a beach or a park, and the
tone of their interactions sometimes feels overly personal and friendly. This can blur the professional
boundary required in therapy.

Psychological Perspective: Boundaries in therapy are crucial. A therapist must maintain a

professional relationship to avoid dependency, emotional entanglement, or misunderstanding. In
real-life therapy, sessions typically take place in a controlled, confidential setting, and therapists
must be careful not to become too familiar or personal with their clients, as this can undermine the
therapeutic process.

Suggestion: The film could have portrayed their meetings in a more professional context, where Dr.
Khan remains more distant in a therapeutic sense, even if empathetic. This would better model
professional boundaries that are critical for a healthy therapist-client relationship.

2. Over-simplification of Therapy

What Went Wrong: The film depicts Kaira resolving her deep-seated emotional issues relatively
quickly within just a few sessions. While the process of healing is gradual, the film speeds it up for
the sake of the narrative.

Psychological Perspective: Therapy is typically a slow process that involves weeks or even months of
consistent sessions to address complex issues like childhood trauma or attachment difficulties. The
film gives the impression that a few insightful conversations with the therapist are enough to
achieve a breakthrough.

Suggestion: It would have been more realistic to show Kaira’s progress as incremental, with some
setbacks, to reflect the non-linear nature of therapy. The filmmakers could have portrayed moments
of difficulty or frustration in her healing process, which are common in real therapy.

3. Limited Explanation of Therapy Techniques

What Went Wrong: While Dr. Khan’s metaphors and stories are engaging, they often take the place
of structured therapeutic techniques. There is no clear indication of what therapeutic model or
approach he is following (cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, etc.).
 Psychological Perspective: Therapy involves various evidence-based techniques such as cognitive
restructuring, mindfulness, or behaviour modification. The film’s vagueness about the therapeutic
framework could mislead viewers into thinking that therapy is more about insightful conversation
than applying structured techniques to change maladaptive thoughts or behaviours.

Suggestion: The film could have incorporated more explicit examples of therapeutic tools and
techniques, such as journaling, cognitive reframing, or even relaxation exercises, which would have
made the therapy process more informative and grounded in real psychological practices.

4. Depiction of Mental Health Professionals

What Went Wrong: The film portrays Dr. Khan as a near-perfect therapist, with no real flaws or
limitations. While he is depicted as relatable and friendly, this sets an unrealistic expectation that
therapists have all the answers and can "fix" their clients in a short period.

Psychological Perspective: Therapists are human too, and therapy is not about quick fixes. Mental
health professionals must work collaboratively with clients, and the process is often challenging for
both parties. Unrealistic portrayals can lead to mismanaged expectations about what therapy can
achieve.

Suggestion : A more nuanced portrayal of Dr. Khan, acknowledging the limits of therapy, or showing
moments where Kaira has to work through issues on her own outside the sessions, would have
created a more balanced and realistic representation of therapy.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. Highlight the Gradual Nature of Therapy

Therapy is a process that involves ups and downs, and clients don't always make quick progress. The
film could have shown Kaira attending therapy over a longer period, with more emphasis on the
struggles she faces between sessions, reinforcing the idea that healing is gradual.

2. Incorporate Evidence-Based Techniques

While metaphors are helpful, the film could have illustrated how Kaira implements structured
therapeutic strategies like cognitive-behavioural techniques (identifying negative thought patterns
and challenging them) or mindfulness practices to manage her emotions.

3. Maintain Professional Boundaries

To model appropriate therapist-client relationships, future portrayals of therapy should emphasize

the importance of boundaries, both physical and emotional, to avoid misconceptions about what a
therapeutic relationship entails.

4. Acknowledge Therapists’ Limitations

Showing Dr. Khan as fallible, or illustrating moments where Kaira must independently apply what
she learns in therapy, would have provided a more realistic depiction of the therapeutic process.
This would also reduce the expectation that therapists have all the solutions.
 Conclusion
Dear Zindagi does an excellent job of normalizing therapy and addressing important aspects of
emotional health. Its portrayal of mental health struggles and the therapeutic relationship can help
reduce the stigma around seeking psychological help. However, the film falls short in accurately
depicting the complexities of therapy, the boundaries necessary in professional relationships, and
the time it takes to achieve meaningful progress in real-life therapeutic settings.

For a more accurate and responsible portrayal of therapy in popular media, future films could
benefit from consulting with mental health professionals to ensure that the nuances of therapy are
represented both realistically and ethically.