Press
Forbes
May 14, 2008
by Lauren Streib
“Hollywood’s Next Generation”
Hollywood has a long history of anointing future stars from the bloodlines of its reigning royalty. The young children of today’s A-list, armed with talented genes and press-savvy pedigrees, are likely to be tomorrow’s stage and screen superstars…
As with any power, fame can be dangerous in young hands. The spotlight can force undue stress on kids, who have not yet developed the emotional and cognitive abilities of their parents to deal with all the attention, says Beverly Hills therapist Rebecca Roy.
Showbiz youngsters should focus on being grounded and developing their sense of self. They also require a strong support system–whether that means parents, managers or assistants–to be aware and able to recognize signs of potential psychological problems like depression and anxiety. They need “someone who grounds them and doesn’t treat them like a commodity or a breadwinner,” says Roy, adding, “They need people around them to realize that they’re children, not mini-adults.” For full text of this article click here.
New York Times
February 17, 2008
By Alex Williams
“Boys Will Be Boys, Girls Will Be Hounded By The Media”
Some celebrities and their handlers are now saying straight out that the news media have a double standard…
Rebecca Roy, a psychotherapist in Beverly Hills, Calif., who has several clients in the entertainment industry, said that male celebrities can often wriggle out of trouble with a rakish bad-boy shrug. But, she said, the double standard can reinforce the destructive behavior of female stars, pushing them to further depths of substance abuse and erratic behavior.
Ms. Roy said that troubled male stars like Robert Downey Jr. are encouraged to move past problems to a second act in their careers, while the personal battles of women like Lindsay Lohan or the late Anna Nicole Smith are often played for maximum entertainment value.
“With men, there’s an emphasis on, ‘he had this issue, but he’s getting over it,’ ” Ms. Roy said. “But with women, it’s like they keep at it, keep at it. It’s almost like taking the wings off of a fly.”For full text of this article click here.
Los Angeles Times
February 1, 2008
By Hilary MacGregor
“Bipolar Explorer”
MANIC Hollywood tales are never in short supply: crazy agents screaming into the phone, out-of-control actors driving drunk, starlets creating outre public spectacles or insomniac writers, holed up in hotel rooms for weeks, hammering out the perfect screenplay. This is not natural behavior, except in L.A., where it is almost expected.
“We are not talking about a town where being married and going to church every Sunday is highly valued,” said Rebecca Roy, a therapist who estimates that 75% of her clients are musicians, actors, producers and writers, and advertises her practice with the slogan “Stay Sane in an Insane Industry.” “L.A. is about reaching for the heights, for whatever is possible. That is kind of a manic view: the idea that there is always a carrot on a stick in front of you and if you can just gear yourself up for it you can get it. Millions and millions of people come here for that reason.”For full text of this article click here.
