The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills opened up their second season with some very relevant psychology-related topics. Many were curious to see how the network, BRAVO, would handle the recent suicide of Russell Armstrong. From the perspective of a therapist, their opening scene in which several of the housewives discuss their feelings and reactions to the event is a helpful way to deal with such a tragedy. It is often recommended that people come together and share their feelings about tragedies as a way to cope with it. In psychology, we call this type of sharing, “processing.” Research has shown that processing one’s feelings about a death or tragedy can help people move through the grieving experience in a healthier way. When we isolate in response to a death, it can become more difficult to deal with it and can actually create more depression and impairment. Although Bravo did not spend much time focusing on how the various housewives are processing the tragedy, showing this way of talking openly and group support can be a good model for viewers to follow.
Alisa Robinson, Ph.D. 