Former prison psychologist reveals the ‘unrealistic’ moments in Adolescence therapy scene

Episode three of Adolescence therapy scene left a lot to unpack, especially when Briony’s session with Jamie took a dark turn. Now, a former prison psychologist is weighing in on what’s realistic and what wouldn’t happen in a real therapy session. If you’ve been wondering just how true to life those intense moments are, this expert’s thoughts might surprise you.

In the intense third episode, Briony sits down with Jamie to explore his views on masculinity, women, and life in general. What starts as a somewhat standard therapy session quickly spirals into an uncomfortable, tense confrontation. Jamie’s anger boils over, and by the end of the episode, Briony is left visibly shaken and in tears.

But how much of this would happen in real life?

Rachael Leggett, a former prison psychology expert with years of experience, gave her take on Briony’s approach, and while she acknowledged that parts of the scene felt real, there were some moments that felt far from what you’d see in a real therapy room.

She explained that Briony did a decent job building rapport with Jamie, which is crucial in any session. “There’s a clear effort to make Jamie feel comfortable, and she asks the big questions — like what he thinks about masculinity and women,” Rachael said. “That’s exactly what a therapist would do. You have to ask those tough questions to get to the root of things.” It’s clear Briony wasn’t just diving in blindly—she had an agenda, and it was all about understanding Jamie’s mindset.

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Rachael also noted that the setting was spot on for a therapy session. “In real life, a psychologist would probably sit across from the client, sometimes next to them to avoid any barriers,” she explained. “And yes, the quiet room with a table where she’s making notes—that’s totally standard.”

via Netflix

Not everything in this session felt that realistic

For starters, the abrupt way Briony ends the session and tells Jamie it’s their last one doesn’t happen in real life. “You wouldn’t drop that bombshell like that, especially with a young person,” Rachael pointed out. “It felt like she was washing her hands of him, and that’s not how you’d handle someone in crisis. You’d want to make sure you’re leaving things in a place where they feel like they can come back.” And giving him a hot chocolate after a tense session? Not exactly standard protocol.

Episode 3 was the first episode to be filmed, and #Adolescence was also Owen Cooper’s first acting job – which means this episode was the first time he’d ever been on a set. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZquN6QEd5J

— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) March 18, 2025

Rachael also questioned Briony’s decision in the Adolescence therapy scene, to keep pushing Jamie when he was clearly getting agitated. “Sometimes as a psychologist, you can see someone is about to explode, and that’s when you know it’s time to end the session,” she said. “Briony definitely pushed him too far. Every therapist has their own line, and sometimes it’s better to just walk away before things escalate.”

Trust me, Episode 3 of Adolescence will go down as THE BEST TV episode of 2025! What a masterpiece. 👏🏻

Owen Cooper, in his debut, delivered an award worthy performance, truly haunting for a child actor 👏🏻 This kid is destined for greatness!#Adolescence pic.twitter.com/yXfOExMxEw

— Krìsh (@FlicksandChill) March 18, 2025

Then there’s the moment where Briony starts to share personal details, like her mom making sandwiches. Rachael acknowledged that while psychologists sometimes open up a little to build trust, sharing that kind of information with a client can be tricky. “You want to be relatable, but you have to make sure you don’t cross any boundaries. That was a fine line,” she said.

Despite the liberties taken for drama, the scene still captured the emotional toll that therapy can take—on both the therapist and the client. Rachael pointed out that Jamie’s emotional outbursts felt realistic, especially when you consider his backstory. “When you’re dealing with someone like Jamie, with all the trauma and baggage, an outburst like that is totally believable,” she said.

How Erin Doherty prepared for the Role

Erin Doherty, who plays Briony, really dove deep into understanding her role. She consulted her own therapist to make sure she was nailing the nuances of the character’s approach. “I knew I needed to get into Briony’s mindset, especially as a therapist,” Erin shared. “Talking to someone who understands the dynamics of therapy really helped me get it right.”

Adolescence is on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Featured image credit Netflix