New commissions for The Netherlands, Israel and Belgium for 1:1 mental health series

Amsterdam. 2 October 2023. Independent international distribution company Lineup Industries’ intimate format Therapy, a timely and resonant look at mental health through real-life psychotherapy sessions, has won brand new commissions from broadcasters in The Netherlands and Israel as well as a third season in Belgium.

In The Netherlands the show, which was commissioned for VOD originally before transferring to the main public channel, will be produced by De Haaien for NPO3 (HUMAN) where it will feature both members of the public and celebrity guests, echoing the format of the second season in the show’s original broadcast territory of Belgium. All episodes will now be made available for VOD on NPOstart from the broadcast of the first episode on NP03 with TX later this year.

In Israel, public network KAN has commissioned the show to be produced by Yoav Gross Productions. One of the leading production companies in the territory, Yoav Gross Productions has also made two seasons of hit Taboo, another innovative and award-winning Lineup Industries format, for the same broadcaster.

Currently in production, the 10-episode Israeli version of Therapy will be a focused version of the original format. In Israel the psychologists will be specialists who treat parents, and the therapeutic issues will be around the world of parenting with each session covering issue that parents face with children from the age of two to the age of 18. The production will start shooting during the month of November and will air towards the end of 2024.

In Belgium, where Therapy has just been re-commissioned for a third season by VRT Canvas, the show has been endorsed by the Flemish Minister of Welfare who highlighted the sensitive handling of the topic and timeliness of the series at a time when more than one in four Europeans has dealt with psychological disorders*. As mental health awareness grows globally, more and more people seek the assistance of a psychotherapist.

In Therapy, developed as a format by Panenka to break down the stigma attached to therapy, the viewer is a witness to the intimate discussions between therapists and their clients. Seven therapists, all highly regarded in their field, feature across the series and each episode focuses on three clients’ stories, with their sessions spanning over several months. The series aims to help audiences to better understand the work of these professionals and the results they can achieve. Anonymity is strictly always maintained, clients remain hidden, and the therapists operate standalone cameras.

As well as highlighting clients’ emotional journeys, Therapy is a study of the therapists themselves – delving into how they deal with stories of suffering, and how they approach challenging cases. The series is a fascinating insight into a profession that is often clouded in mystery and stigma.

Tom Lenaerts, Co-Founder of Panenka which created the original format for television, said: “At Panenka, for a long time we wanted to make a program around mental health and the stigma that still surrounds it. The reactions to the series are heart-warming and we are now producing the fourth season of Therapy for VRT. It is great that meanwhile foreign producers and broadcasters are also determined to make this relevant series. This way, more and more viewers will be able to benefit from this wonderful, insightful, boundary-pushing show.”

Julian Curtis, Founder of Lineup Industries said: “This series is an unprecedented look behind the closed doors of a therapist’s office but one which we believe is important, compelling, and current given what is being described as a global mental health crisis. The format for Therapy is carefully conceived and sensitively handled by each individual broadcaster and viewers will come away from the series feeling enlightened and empowered on their own journey to mental wellbeing.”

*Statistics from the World Health Organisation – http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health/news/news/2012/10/depression-in-europe/depression-in-europe-facts-and-figures

For further information, please contact:

Aimée Norman at The DDA Group: +44 (0) 7957 564 050 or aimee.norman@ddapr.com