Ep 1. Psycho Therapy

Becker season 4 episode 1, titled "Psycho Therapy," begins with Dr. John Becker (played by Ted Danson) dealing with a frustrating morning at his medical office. His patients have been irritating him, and he's particularly annoyed by one patient who seems to be coming in solely for the purpose of flirting with him.

Meanwhile, Becker's friend Jake Malinak (Alex Desert) comes to him looking for a therapist. Jake is struggling with some deep-seated emotional issues that he can't seem to shake, and he's hoping a therapist can help.

Becker initially offers to give Jake some advice, but Jake insists that he needs professional help. Becker begrudgingly agrees to give Jake some recommendations, but he warns him that finding a good therapist is easier said than done.

Later, Becker finds out that his neighbor, Chris Connor (Nancy Travis), has started seeing a therapist. Chris has been dealing with her own emotional issues since the death of her husband, and she's hoping therapy will help her work through her grief.

Becker is initially skeptical of therapy, but Chris insists that it's been incredibly helpful for her. Chris encourages Becker to give therapy a try himself, saying that it might help him work through some of his own issues.

Despite his misgivings, Becker decides to give therapy a chance. He finds a therapist named Dr. Berman (guest star Angelica Huston), who initially seems a little bit strange to him.

Dr. Berman has an unconventional approach to therapy, and she's not afraid to challenge Becker when he makes assumptions or avoids difficult topics. Becker finds himself getting frustrated with her at times, but he also feels like she's helping him work through some of his issues in a way that he wouldn't have been able to do without her guidance.

Meanwhile, Jake has started seeing a therapist named Dr. Patrice Shaw (guest star Jane Lynch). Dr. Shaw is warm and supportive, and Jake quickly starts to feel like he can open up to her.

However, as Jake and Dr. Shaw delve deeper into his emotional issues, Jake starts to have some unexpected reactions. He becomes increasingly emotional and volatile, and he starts to worry that therapy is making things worse instead of better.

As Becker and Jake both grapple with their own therapy experiences, they also help each other through some of the more difficult moments. Becker starts to see therapy in a new light, and Jake learns that sometimes facing your issues head-on can be painful, but ultimately rewarding.

Overall, "Psycho Therapy" is a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the benefits and challenges of therapy. The episode does a great job of showing how therapy can be a powerful tool for personal growth, but it also acknowledges that the process can be difficult and uncomfortable at times. Ted Danson and Alex Desert both give strong performances, and the guest stars add an extra layer of depth to the episode.