Line #3 Main/PsychologistTeacher


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4	->''"I've gotta run, but as soon as you're ready to talk about your family problems with an art teacher you can call me!"''
5	-->-- '''Geoffrey Jellineck''', ''Series/StrangersWithCandy'''s parody of this trope
6
7	In addition to teaching their subject matter, this teacher or professor solves ''all'' of their students' problems. Whether it's ordinary teen angst from a failed romance, addiction, bullying, a quarrel with friends, or dealing with divorcing parents, no problem is too small or too large to be handled by this benevolent, empathetic schoolteacher.
8
9	A type of CoolTeacher. Often the protagonist of a SaveOurStudents plot.
10
11	Compare with TheShrink. Definitely contrast SadistTeacher. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with a Psychology teacher]].
12	----
13	!!Examples:
14
15	[[foldercontrol]]
16
17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* Koro-sensei in ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'' knows that even in life there is a lot to teach his students, and does so far better than any teacher in-series. He even manages to mellow out the principal, who was willing to die for his philosophy about education.
19	* ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'': Kaho Mizuki occasionally gives clues to Sakura in her dealings with the Clow Cards. As a {{Miko}}, Kaho knows a thing or two about the supernatural, and [[spoiler: uses her Shrine Bell to give Sakura a second chance at the Final Judgment against Yue and avert everyone losing their memories and relationships.]] Because of how much she knows, though, Syaoran is ''very'' suspicious of her for quite some time.
20	* Kumiko in ''Manga/{{Gokusen}}'' is constantly trying to fix the problems in her delinquent charges' lives. Amusingly, she does this largely by employing the {{Yakuza}} moral code and getting into fights, but it goes beyond that.
21	* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'': Mr. Onizuka kinda fits this trope [[BunnyEarsLawyer but he is rough at times.]]
22	* Subverted in ''Manga/{{Loveless}}'', for while Ritsuka's sweet teacher Hitomi would like to solve all her students' problems, [[ShrinkingViolet she's too shy to really do anything]].
23	* Takashi Hayashida of ''Manga/MarchComesInLikeALion'' tries to be one for his student, Rei Kiriyama. Aside from talking about shogi-related matters with him, he tries to help Rei out with some of his social and emotional issues when given the opportunity by imparting some of his wisdom so Rei has something to think about.
24	* Inverted in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''. The students help little Negi overcome all sorts of problems, from angst to ParentalAbandonment.
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Fan Works]]
28	* Xavier and Dumbledore, as per canon, both are this trope in ''FanFic/ChildOfTheStorm.'' Xavier is this trope especially because a) he has a much smaller student body, allowing him to focus individually on each student, b) he's a telepath (though he doesn't pry, it's easy to get a general sense of what's bothering a student), and c) he actually is a psychologist.
29	* Ms. Ida in ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiClubMeetings'' attempts to be this for the Literature Club, trying to help them through their shared trauma. It's hampered by the club's [[GoMadFromTheRevelation reluctance]] to tell her [[NoticingTheFourthWall what their shared trauma actually is]]. [[spoiler:Once she learns the truth, she becomes both a straight and inverted example -- she gets just as much advice about her problems as she gives the club about theirs.]]
30	* In ''FanFic/StarWarsLineage'', Jedi who take a Padawan are expected to serve as a combination of mentor and ParentalSubstitute. Qui-Gon does a lot of this for Obi-Wan, and from what we see, Adi Gallia does this for Siri as well. In between running the Jedi Order, Yoda is always available to any of the Jedi for a heart-to-heart, though given that he switches between this trope, SternTeacher, and EccentricMentor with almost no warning, his advice isn't always welcome.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
34	* Dr. Sweeney in ''Film/AmericanHistoryX'' chose to be the principal of a Venice Beach high school despite his high credentials and is a law enforcement liason on the local youth gang activity. He is familiar enough with the Vinyard family that he goes through some effort to turn the two sons Derek and Danny away from their Neo-Nazi racism, but he makes it clear that [[DeconstructedTrope he's not a saint]]; his help is not unconditional and the Vinyards ultimately have to effect their own salvation.
35	* Miss Johnson in ''Film/DangerousMinds''. Arguably the whole point of the movie was that THESE kids needed a teacher like this, because they and the system had given up on them achieving anything in school (or afterward).
36	* Mr. Keating in ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'', especially to Neil, although it didn't exactly end well. [[spoiler:Given that, ya know, Neil [[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]]]].
37	* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'': In Creator/JamesMcAvoy's words, Professor X is a social worker in addition to being a principal and a teacher. Charles cherishes everyone under his care, so he invests a substantial amount of his effort to aid his students in coping with their psychological issues (especially the ones caused--or at least exacerbated--by their mutations), and when possible, to find solutions for them. As a telepath, he can employ his empathy to ascertain what kind of nurturing works best on a particular youngster. By catering to their individual needs, Xavier steadily wins their affections, and he also becomes their paternal figure.
38	%%* Mr. Duncan from ''Bang, Bang You're Dead''.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Literature]]
42	* Mr. Merchant in Gene Kemp's ''Cricklepit School'' novels.
43	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'''s protagonist is this to [[spoiler:Molly]], his second apprentice. Most notably, he encourages her to reconcile with her parents.
44
45	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
46	** Professor Snape attempts this with Draco in the ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', [[spoiler:though it's less trying to save Draco from the day-to-day problems of a teenager and more to save his soul from murdering Dumbledore.]]
47	** Also, Professor Dumbledore plays the role of Harry's confidant and they often discuss his angst over losing his parents, his friends being in constant danger and [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne having to be the one to take on Voldemort himself.]]
48	* Miss Honey, from Roald Dahl's ''Literature/{{Matilda}}'': Subverted when Matilda realizes her teacher needs as much help (or more) as she herself does, and makes it her goal to help her. Double subverted with the ending, when [[spoiler:Miss Honey adopts [[HappilyAdopted Matilda]]]].
49	* Also Miss Perumal, Reynie's tutor, from ''Literature/TheMysteriousBenedictSociety''.
50	* ''Literature/NotesOnAScandal'' had a clever subversion: Sheba initially tries to help Steven overcome his problems, but then starts to sleep with him instead. And later, it's revealed that he made up most of the aforementioned problems just so he could get closer to her.
51	* In Eduard Limonov's ''The Other Russia'', he describes some of the great leaders of the hippie movement and the new left, (for example the German left wing politician and "Kommune 1" leader Rainer Langhans, as well as [[DracoInLeatherPants Charles Manson]]) as well as himself this way. He wrote that most people enjoy your leadership and teaching if the first thing which is taught is to talk openly about feelings, needs and wants.
52	* Apparently, ''Literature/SweetValleyHigh'' couldn't afford a guidance counselor, because the kids all went to Mr. Collins, the English teacher, for advice.
53	* The titular character in ''Literature/TuesdaysWithMorrie.''
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
57	* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': is television's UrExample, [[SoundToScreenAdaptation having actually started out on radio.]] In addition to having adventures of her own, she is regularly helping out her students - to the point where she is oft considered or [[CoolTeacher even voted by the students to be the most popular teacher in the school]]. Most of her time seems to be helping series regular TeachersPet Walter Denton out with his problems. Less regular help goes to Walter's intelligent girlfriend [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Harriet Conklin]] (who rarely gets herself into trouble) or recurrent characters[[LovableJock Stretch Snodgrass]] stay eligible for school athletics. TheMovie GrandFinale sees Miss Brooks help LonelyRichKid Gary Nolan reconcile with his father. [[spoiler: Miss Brooks also wins her SeriesGoal, marriage to LoveInterest Mr. Boynton]]
58	* About half the teaching staff in ''Series/BostonPublic'', but Mr. Senate especially.
59	* Mr. Feeny on ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''. He tries to avoid it in the early shows, imparting life lessons begrudgingly outside of the classroom. After Mr. Turner [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome disappears between seasons]], Feeny fits this trope much more readily, having given up any semblance of trying to maintain a professional distance in his relationships with the main cast of students (to the point that, when he resists telling them he loves them in the GrandFinale, none of them believe him). It gets to the point that he gets upset after an incident involving Cory pushing his father, because nobody sought his advice about it.
60	* ''Series/{{Community}}'':
61	** Parodied with a Professor Whitman, who (in "Introduction to Film") devotes his classes to trying to [[Film/DeadPoetsSociety get students to "seize the day."]]. He theoretically teaches accounting. It's also played straight to a degree, however, since for all that he comes across as a bit of a deluded clown, he's actually savvy enough to realize that Jeff, who has joined his class for an easy grade, is just coasting and has no real idea how to seize the day.
62	** Averted with the actual psychology teacher Professor Duncan, who's completely apathetic to his students apart from Jeff.
63	* Mr. Schuester in ''Series/{{Glee}}'' would probably like to ''think'' he's this. In fact, though, the only student whose problems he's canonically shown to take much interest in or do much of anything about is Finn Hudson - who's basically Will's mini-me. He's less an actual PsychologistTeacher than a deconstruction of the trope.
64	* Mr. Moore on ''Series/HeadOfTheClass''.
65	* Another one is the title character in the long-running Japanese drama ''San-Nen B-Gumi Series/KinpachiSensei''.
66	* Miss Bliss from ''Good Morning Miss Bliss'', the precursor to ''Series/SavedByTheBell.''
67	* Mr. Kotter on ''Series/WelcomeBackKotter''.
68	* In ''Series/TheWire'', Prez tries to be one of these for his students (to the extent that he even starts taking home a neglected kid's laundry), but [[{{Deconstruction}} gradually realizes that he can't invest himself in them so much]].
69	* Subverted and deconstructed in ''Series/BigSchool'' by Miss Postern (Creator/CatherineTate) who strives to be ''seen'' as a Psychologist Teacher who is in tune with the kids, but is so self-centred and full of her own importance that she fails miserably.
70	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has an imperfect example with Mr. Wyatt in "After School Special". He's the first person to ask Sam what he wants in life and encourages him to pursue his own goals. However, he's oblivious to Sam's life as a hunter (and all that it entails), so he ultimately fails to provide long-term solutions to Sam's problems.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Radio]]
74	* The teenaged Stephen K. Amos's teacher in ''What Does The K Stand For?'' is a parody of the trope. She's really excited when he comes out as gay, because she did a course on that and was looking forward to using it.
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Video Games]]
78	* [[TheHero Rean Schwarzer]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel III'' ends up helping his students with their problems, some of them being personal, and others just needing some advice in life.
79	* Subverted in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''. Yuko appears to be the perfect teacher, with her students speaking of her in glowing terms and three of them being close enough to visit her in the [[AbandonedHospital hospital]]. During [[BigDamnHeroes her first appearance]], she literally saves your life and seems to be the one in charge. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:it turns out she has a crippling lack of self-confidence that leads to her being effortlessly manipulated by Hikawa and then Aradia. The irony is that she could have been one of the strongest characters in the game, but ends up being the weakest]].
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Web Animation]]
83	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' gives us three examples
84	** [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]] gives Ruby encouragement when she is unsure of her role as a leader and encourages her to be a good leader as he had made many mistakes in his lifetime but making her leader was not one of them.
85	** [[GreatWhiteHunter Professor Port]] gives Weiss a dressing down when she believes she should have been team leader inside of Ruby, and gives her a stern wake-up call about her bratty heiress behavior and encourages her to be the best person she can be rather than worry about being a good leader.
86	** [[ScienceHero Professor Oobleck]] gives Team RWBY, minus Ruby, all Armor Piercing Questions to force them to reevaluate their reasons for being huntresses and think deeply on it, and later [[spoiler: he works together with Professor Port and Taiyang to help Yang work through her trauma in Volume 4 after losing her arm.]]
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Western Animation]]
90	* Mr. O'Neil tries to be this in ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', but his meek character and other flaws means he often fails miserably.
91	* [[spoiler:Parodied in the]] ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode 'Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High', which has Brian becoming the substitute teacher of the remedial class, where he inadvertently inspires the inner-city youths that they can achieve their dreams [[spoiler: as long as their dreams involve low-paying, unskilled labor]].
92	* [[TokenHuman Professor Schneider]] in ''WesternAnimation/GravedaleHigh'' does this to all [[AllGhoulsSchool his monster students]], getting involved in all their personal problems.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
94	** Occasionally parodied with Mr Garrison, who has given terrible/misguided advice (to Stan, when he was worried about his gay dog Sparky), shown little concern for his students' problems and mocked them for it (when he found out Stan was being beaten up by his sister and not one of his parents), or "helped" them as part of his own, not so altruistic agenda (joining the intervention to send Cartman to Fat Camp "just so (he) could see the look on (Cartman's) face".
95	** Also spoofed in "Eek, A Penis!" when Cartman teaches at an InnerCitySchool in a parody of ''Film/StandAndDeliver''. He encourages his students to lie and cheat shamelessly, and counsels a tearful teenaged girl who has just discovered that she is pregnant to have an abortion, which is "like cheating ''life itself''!"
96	* Rather than thinking Jim is lazy like your by-the-books teacher, Strickler from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' could tell that Jim is simply distracted by his busy life and offers his council should he ever need it, and could even tell that Jim likes Claire and advices him to simply tell her instead of staring all day. Safe to say, Strickler legitimately cares about Jim to a degree, even after finding out that [[spoiler:he was the new trollhunter]].
97	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PsychologistTeacher