PRODUCTION & SCRIPT CONSULATION
Supporting artistic work with therapeutic and psychological expertise
The arts provide real therapeutic value to society every day. Let's embrace it. Celebrate it. And improve our understanding of it.
Overview
Beyond The Spotlight Psychology was founded to support the mental health and well-being of performing artists and everyone involved in productions that touch upon mental health issues. The central premise is simple but vital: mental health in the performing arts should never be an afterthought - it must be centre-stage.
Dr Maja Jankowska offers bespoke consultation tailored to your production's needs, from the earliest pre-production stages through to on-set support and post-production aftercare.
Script Consultations
When stories explore mental health themes - trauma, suicide, addiction, psychosis - they carry profound responsibility. Handled well, they can destigmatise, educate, and offer solace. Handled poorly, they risk harm to both audiences and those bringing the work to life.
Dr Jankowska provides specialist script consultation to ensure portrayals of mental health are accurate, compassionate, and psychologically informed. This includes:
Character authenticity – developing believable, multidimensional characters grounded in genuine psychological understanding
Responsible representation – avoiding harmful stereotypes and ensuring mental health conditions are depicted with nuance and care
Emotional resonance – applying psychological principles to deepen audience connection and impact
Sensitivity review – identifying potentially triggering content and advising on how to approach difficult themes safely
Whether you're crafting complex character arcs, navigating depictions of mental illness, or simply want to ensure your story rings true, psychological expertise can elevate your work from excellent to unforgettable.
Production & Script Consultation
Development and Compliance
Mental health considerations must begin at the earliest stages of any production - drama, documentary, or entertainment. Compliance isn't just a box-ticking exercise; it's a complex issue with real legal and ethical implications that requires rigorous, experienced attention.
A film exploring traumatic events can profoundly affect cast and crew, potentially triggering unexpected distress. Observational documentaries may work with vulnerable contributors. Reality programming must carefully consider inclusion and exclusion factors.
Dr Jankowska offers consultancy during script and project development, helping you:
Identify sensitive areas and psychological risks
Develop thorough duty-of-care protocols
Support contributors, talent, and production teams
Minimise risk while maximising creative integrity
on-set psychological support
Intense roles and difficult subject matter take their toll. Performers inhabiting characters experiencing trauma, mental health crises, or extreme emotional states need more than directorial guidance - they need psychological support.
Dr Jankowska provides on-set presence and support, offering:
Character workshops to help actors authentically embody complex psychological states
Safe spaces for performers to process challenging material
Real-time consultation for directors and crew navigating sensitive scenes
Strategies for managing the emotional demands of difficult roles
aftercare
The end of a project can be unexpectedly difficult. The intensity of the work, the bonds formed, the psychological material explored - all of this doesn't simply disappear when filming wraps or the curtain falls.
Contributors may find broadcast more exposing than anticipated, particularly when social media responses are negative. Cast and crew may struggle to transition back to daily life after inhabiting dark or traumatic material.
Dr Jankowska offers post-production support sessions that provide:
Space to reflect on the challenges and emotional impact of the work
Strategies for managing public exposure and criticism
Support in settling back into everyday life after intense creative experiences
Follow-up care for those who need it
Why work with a Psychologist?
The performing arts have always been rooted in psychology - in human behaviour, emotion, motivation, and connection. Bringing a clinical psychologist into your creative process isn't about limiting your vision; it's about deepening it.
It's about ensuring your work honours the real experiences of those living with mental health challenges. It's about protecting your cast and crew. And it's about harnessing the genuine therapeutic power of storytelling to create work that matters.
Let's put mental health centre-stage - where it belongs.
Ready to discuss your project?
Contact Dr Maja Jankowska at hello@beyondthespotlightpsychology.co.uk