“Good Will Hunting” Moments Are Rare in Therapy
Even if you have one, it’s what comes next that’s most important
I love the movie starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.
Matt Damon’s character, Will Hunting, is a brilliant young man working as a janitor at MIT. Will has a gift for mathematics that few people could even comprehend. He can solve complex problems without breaking a sweat, and he couldn’t care less. He just wants to hang out with his friends.
Will has a complicated past, filled with trauma and abuse. He has no clue what he wants in life. He’s terrified to let anyone in. Not the girl he falls for, and not his court-mandated psychologist, Sean, played by Robin Williams.
There are many great moments between Will and Sean, and not all of them are warm and fuzzy. The culmination of their work together is the highlight scene of the movie.
It’s the famous “it’s not your fault” scene, and it’s brilliant. Will’s catharsis frees him from his past so he can move forward with his life. That’s what a good therapist can do for you.
But it’s Will’s next steps that are most important to his healing. It’s also where most therapy clients get stuck.
