Shrinking on Apple TV+: What Parents Should Know Before Teens Watch
TL;DR: Shrinking is a surprisingly heartfelt comedy about a therapist who starts telling his patients exactly what he thinks. It's got Jason Segel being charming, Harrison Ford being grumpy-but-lovable, and some genuinely thoughtful conversations about grief, mental health, and what it means to show up for people. The catch? Lots of F-bombs, sexual content, and mature themes that make this better for older teens (16+) than younger kids. If your teen loved Ted Lasso but is ready for something with more edge, this might be your show.
Shrinking follows Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), a therapist who's been sleepwalking through life since his wife died in a car accident. One day, he snaps and starts breaking every rule in the therapy handbook—telling his patients exactly what he thinks they should do, getting involved in their personal lives, and generally throwing professional boundaries out the window.
His cranky mentor Paul (Harrison Ford, in full curmudgeon mode) is horrified. His best friend and colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) is concerned but intrigued. And somehow, this unorthodox approach actually seems to help people—including Jimmy himself.
The show comes from the team behind Ted Lasso (Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein), and you can feel that DNA throughout. It's warm, funny, and genuinely interested in how people heal and grow. But unlike Ted Lasso, this one's aimed squarely at adults.
Let's talk about what you're actually dealing with here, because "it's like Ted Lasso but for adults" doesn't quite capture it.
Language: This show loves the F-word. We're talking multiple uses per episode—sometimes played for laughs, sometimes for emphasis, but it's constant. There's also plenty of other strong language (shit, ass, etc.). If your teen can't handle hearing adults swear like actual adults, this isn't the one.
Sexual Content: There are explicit sexual conversations throughout. Characters discuss their sex lives in detail, make frequent sexual jokes, and there are several scenes with sexual content (nothing graphic, but more than implied). Jimmy is dating again after his wife's death, and the show doesn't shy away from those storylines. There's also a subplot involving a teen character's sexuality that's handled well but is definitely mature.
Substance Use: Characters drink regularly (wine with dinner, beer after work), and it's portrayed as normal adult behavior. Jimmy goes through a period where he's drinking too much as part of his grief spiral, which the show addresses directly.
Mental Health Themes: This is the core of the show, and it's both a strength and something to consider. The series tackles depression, grief, PTSD, trauma, suicidal ideation, and various mental health struggles. It does so with genuine care and often with humor, but these are heavy topics that thread through every episode.
Emotional Intensity: Multiple characters are dealing with profound loss and trauma. There are scenes that will make you cry—not in a manipulative way, but because the show earns those moments. If your teen is going through their own grief or struggling with mental health, this could be either incredibly validating or potentially triggering.
Here's the thing about Shrinking: despite all the adult content, it's actually exploring questions that older teens are very much grappling with.
It takes mental health seriously: The show portrays therapy as genuinely helpful (even when Jimmy's doing it wrong), and it shows characters at different stages of healing. For teens who are in therapy themselves or thinking about it, seeing it normalized—and seeing that everyone struggles, not just young people—can be valuable.
It's about showing up imperfectly: Jimmy is a mess. He's making mistakes constantly. But he's trying, and the show celebrates that effort while also showing consequences. That "you don't have to be perfect to be good" message resonates with teens who are feeling pressure from all sides.
The humor helps: The show uses comedy to make hard topics more approachable. It's not making light of serious issues—it's acknowledging that life is absurd and sad and funny all at once. That tonal balance can make difficult conversations feel less overwhelming.
Found family vibes: Like Ted Lasso, Shrinking is ultimately about people taking care of each other. Jimmy's relationship with his neighbor's daughter Alice (a teen character dealing with her own family trauma) is particularly well-done and gives teen viewers someone closer to their age to connect with.
16+: This is the sweet spot. Older teens who are mature enough to handle frequent strong language, sexual content, and heavy themes will get the most out of Shrinking. They're at an age where they're thinking about relationships, processing their own mental health, and figuring out what kind of adults they want to be—all themes the show explores thoughtfully.
14-15: Maybe, depending on your teen and your family's comfort level with language and sexual content. Some 15-year-olds will be fine; others aren't ready. Consider watching the first episode together to gauge their reaction and your comfort level.
Under 14: Probably not. The language alone is intense, but more importantly, the emotional themes are really aimed at older audiences. Younger teens might enjoy the humor but miss the deeper emotional work the show is doing, making it feel like just a sweary comedy rather than the thoughtful exploration it actually is.
Since everyone's going to make this comparison, let's address it directly.
Ted Lasso was fundamentally optimistic and safe for the whole family. Shrinking is messier, darker, and more willing to sit with discomfort. Ted Lasso asked "what if everyone was a little kinder?" Shrinking asks "what if we stopped pretending we're okay when we're not?"
Both shows believe in people's capacity for growth and the power of showing up for each other. But Shrinking is interested in the harder, uglier parts of that process. If Ted Lasso was a warm hug, Shrinking is a firm hand on your shoulder while you cry and then someone making you laugh through the tears.
Shrinking is a genuinely good show—funny, moving, and smarter than it needs to be about mental health and grief. But it's absolutely an adult comedy that happens to have themes relevant to older teens, not a teen show that adults can enjoy.
If your 16-year-old is asking to watch it, and you're comfortable with strong language and sexual content, this could actually be a great show to watch together. It opens up natural conversations about therapy, mental health, grief, and how we show up for people we care about. Just know what you're walking into content-wise.
If you're looking for something with similar warmth but more appropriate for younger teens, stick with Ted Lasso, The Good Place, or Schitt's Creek. If your older teen loved those and is ready for something with more edge, Shrinking might be perfect.
Watch the first episode yourself before deciding if it's right for your teen. The pilot gives you a clear sense of the language, humor, and emotional tone.
Consider co-viewing, at least for the first few episodes. The show naturally prompts conversations about mental health, relationships, and how we cope with hard things—conversations worth having with your teen.
Check in about the mental health content. If your teen is dealing with their own grief, depression, or trauma, ask how they're feeling about what they're watching. The show handles these topics well, but everyone's different in what feels helpful versus overwhelming.
And if you're curious about other shows that handle mental health well for teens, or want to explore comedies with heart that are actually age-appropriate, Screenwise has you covered.