Over the weekend, Drew Barrymore said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that her therapist once left her because of her excessive drinking.
Now, her therapist is telling her side of the story.
In a statement to entertainment weeklyBarrymore’s longtime therapist, Barry Michels, explained on Wednesday why he decided to stop treating the actress and TV presenter following their 2016 divorce. Michels is a prominent celebrity psychoanalyst who has been endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Adam McKay.
“Occasionally, a therapist has to stop treatment until the patient is willing to stop certain chronic self-destructive behaviors that prevent therapy,” Michels told EW.
“Luckily, in this case, I was dealing with Drew Barrymore, one of the strongest and most loyal people I have ever met. …she did the right thing for herself, and we were able to resume our treatment together.”
Michels’ answer aligns with what Barrymore said earlier about how things happened. While speaking to The Times’ Amy Kaufman, the “Never Been Kissed” star opened up about falling into a deep depression after she and her husband of four years, art consultant Will Kopelman, split in 2016.
“(Michels) just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” Barrymore recalled. “It was really about my drinking. I said, ‘I understand. I have never respected you more. You see I’m not getting better. And I hope, one day, I can win her trust back.’”
Barrymore added that, after a two-year break, he contacted Michels again, letting him know that he had stopped drinking. He agreed to see her again.
“I don’t get stuck,” Barrymore said.
