12/25/2025
Teaching Adolescence: A Therapist's Guide to a Powerful Educational Tool
The Netflix miniseries Adolescence has sparked a critical and often intense conversation online. As both a therapist and a former teacher, the central question that has emerged is one that sits at the very heart of my professional experience:
Should this show be taught in schools?
The answer isn't a simple yes or no. The series is a masterfully crafted piece of television that opens the door to vital conversations about youth violence, family trauma, and complex cultural issues like red pill ideology. But it is not a straightforward educational resource. It is a work of art that is emotionally raw, artistically subtle, and often leaves the most difficult work to the viewer. Using it in a classroom requires care, courage, and a great deal of preparation.
In this five-part video series, I take a deep dive into the educational value of Adolescence, breaking it down episode by episode. I explore the psychological themes, unpack the missed opportunities, and offer concrete strategies and teaching resources for educators who are considering using this series in their work.
Whether you're an educator, a therapist, a parent, or simply a curious viewer grappling with the show's impact, this series is designed to be a companion for a deeper, more meaningful conversation.
Using "Adolescence" in the Classroom: A Critical Look (Part 1)
The series opens with a "best-case scenario" arrest: the police are calm, professional, and even kind. And yet, the experience is undeniably traumatic for everyone involved. In this first video, I explore how Episode 1 masterfully portrays trauma, family dynamics, and emotional ambiguity, making it a powerful tool for building empathy. I also unpack the key risk: its overly clean portrayal of policing, and how to handle that challenge in the classroom.
"Adolescence" Episode 2: What Schools Get Wrong About Violence
In Episode 2, we are taken inside the chaotic, under-resourced school that Jaime attended. But does the series connect the dots between systemic dysfunction and youth violence? This video explores why this episode feels like a rare missed opportunity. I break down how it treats complex issues like bullying and red pill culture as background scenery rather than a central subject, and how educators can use this very weakness as a powerful lesson in media literacy.
Lesson Plan: Rewriting Reality – A Critical Look at Media Representation in Adolescence
Lesson Plan: Who Gets the Last Word? – Gender, Power, and Representation in Adolescence
Lesson Plan: Red Pills, Burnout, and Broken Systems: Reflecting on Violence in Schools
Support Materials: Red Pills, Burnout, and Broken Systems: Reflecting on Violence in Schools
"Adolescence" Episode 3: Why Boys Relate to Jamie
This is the most psychologically revealing, educationally valuable, and riskiest episode of the series. The one-on-one interview between Jaime and the psychologist is a deep dive into the engine of his psychology: his insecurity, his relationship with anger and power, and his consumption of porn and red pill ideology. In this analysis, I unpack the chilling normality of Jaime's mindset and offer concrete classroom strategies for navigating this incredibly sensitive and high-stakes material.
"Adolescence" Episode 4: Shame, Judgment & Redemption
What happens to the family of someone who commits a terrible crime? Episode 4 shifts the focus to the quiet devastation left behind — shame, community judgment, and the impossible task of moving forward. This video explores the themes of moral contagion, emotional realism, and the complexities of blame. It's an essential episode for teaching empathy and understanding the profound ripple effect of a single violent act.
Should "Adolescence" Be Taught in Schools? Final Verdict
In the final video, I answer the central question of the series. Drawing on a personal story of loss and learning from my own time in high school, I explore the immense risks and powerful potential of using Adolescence in the classroom. I offer five guiding principles for any teacher who wants to use this material responsibly and rank all four episodes in terms of their educational value.
What do you think?
This series was a fascinating and rewarding project for me, and I hope it serves as a valuable resource for you as you navigate these important conversations. The best art doesn't give us easy answers; it provokes better questions.
I'd love to hear from you in the YouTube comments. Did the show resonate with you? Would you use it in your own work? Let me know how it's landing.
