The Therapy Session that Changed Israeli Television
Some stories take place in the simplest of settings, yet they portray the incredible depth and complexity of human existence. In Hagai Levi, Ori Sivan, and Nir Bergman’s בטיפול In Therapy (2005-2008), a modest therapy office in Tel Aviv becomes a microcosm of life in Israel, as the show takes place almost entirely within four walls. The series follows psychologist Reuven Dagan (Assi Dayan) through his weekly sessions with patients, four days devoted to their struggles and one day reserved for his own therapy session with his mentor, Gila (Gila Almagor). What begins as a simple therapeutic premise evolves into something far more profound: the delicate act of balancing the weight of others’ pain against the weight of your own.
The format is deceptively simple: each episode focuses on a single therapy session, almost in real time, with minimal cuts and no music to distract from the raw dialogue. Monday brings us Naama (Ayelet Zurer), a woman grappling with complicated feelings toward her former therapist. Tuesday introduces Yadin (Lior Ashkenazi), a fighter pilot struggling with the emotional aftermath of his military service. Wednesday’s patient is Ayala (Maya Maron), a teenage gymnast whose broken arms are a physical manifestation of an even deeper psychological fracture. Thursday belongs to a troubled couple navigating the complexities of their relationship. But it is Friday that reveals the series’s most daring insight: even therapists need therapy.
Reuven, who appears calm, smooth, and insightful with his patients, transforms into a testy, self-doubting individual full of barely concealed anger when he becomes a patient himself. Assi Dayan’s performance is masterful in its restraint; he understands that a therapist’s power lies not in what they say but in how they listen. His Reuven is simultaneously omniscient and utterly lost, capable of unlocking others’ secrets while remaining mystified by his own. Each character has their own storyline that evolves as the series progresses, ensuring you remain fully emotionally invested and eager to discover what happens next. The series demonstrates the extraordinary power of pure dialogue, a quality that caught HBO’s attention and led to their American adaptation two years later.
What makes BeTipul revolutionary isn’t just its format but its unflinching examination of the human condition through individual stories. The series was initially met with mixed reactions from Israeli audiences. Some praised it as matching international television standards, while others questioned whether such intimate storytelling belonged on Israeli screens. For many viewers, the very act of seeking therapy felt unfamiliar, creating fascinating discussions about vulnerability, healing, and what it means to confront your hidden motives and traumas. The show’s success proved that audiences wanted to participate in that kind of discourse, even if the show was ahead of its time.
The series’ influence extends far beyond Israeli television. After HBO’s adaptation of In Treatment, more versions premiered in Brazil, Argentina, France, Russia, and numerous other countries. BeTipul was considered a major factor in the boom of Israeli TV dramas in the mid-2000s, along with its wonderful cast of actors and actresses. The series ultimately asks whether healing others can heal ourselves, whether the act of witnessing pain can transform our pain. In a world where everyone carries invisible burdens, BeTipul tries to shed light on these often overlooked pains and makes us viewers much more observant and sensitive to the people around us.
