Confession time: I occasionally enjoy watching the exploits of evil female therapists—preferably in science fiction/fantasy/comedy stories. Why is that such a shocking admission? Because I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and used to work as a mental health therapist.

During my time as a practitioner, I worked with a wide range of age groups and in a variety of settings. I was 100% committed to providing ethical services, eagerly embraced supervision of my work, and did everything possible to improve my skills. In fact, I was so professional and meticulous that at one job a co-worker affectionately nicknamed me “Clinical.”

Therefore, if a movie or show is depicting therapists and psychiatrists in a realistic fashion, I’m highly invested in the story presenting such characters accurately. This also means I’m hyper-wary of stories getting details wrong about the profession. So if a scene takes a deep dive into a character’s initial therapy session, I expect the fictional therapist to inform the client about things such as the limits of confidentiality. If anything is inaccurate, I’m less inclined to keep watching because I’m all too aware of the harm that therapists can inflict if they make mistakes.

But when a fictional therapist is female, evil, and hails from SFF/comedy stories, I have a different reaction. Suddenly, realism doesn’t matter so much. Suddenly, my gaze is riveted to their shenanigans. One might think I’d want nothing to do with evil female therapist characters because of my background, but I lap up the content like a dog drinking water on a hot day.

Why is that? Why can’t I look away from such characters, knowing how badly they’re behaving—and breaking bad, heh. Perhaps a rundown of my top three favorite evil female therapists will shed some light on the situation.

Dr. Zoe Smith (Parker Posey) – Netflix’s Lost in Space

In Netflix’s reboot of the Lost in Space futuristic survival action-adventure series, Dr. Smith is an antagonist who redefines what it means to be a deceptive villain, and her deception evolves in unexpected ways. For one thing, she ingratiates herself with the Robinsons by anointing herself as their family therapist. In real life, this job requires a tremendous amount of emotional discipline, compassion, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to ethical practices. Dr. Smith, of course, created her own warped version.

To wit: she completely, utterly lies about her background and experience by saying she’s a therapist when she is, in fact, a criminal. She offers therapy sessions left and right and never reviews the limits of confidentiality. Dr. Smith then uses the information gained in her “therapy” sessions to further her underhanded agenda, which sometimes results in people getting physically and emotionally hurt.

It. Is. Just. So. Wrong.

But it’s also irresistibly entertaining. Watching her subvert the role of a therapist for her evil master plan is nothing short of, “Holy shit!”

Or more accurately, “Danger, Will Robinson!”

Learn more about Dr. Smith’s badass villain shenanigans in why Parker Posey Plays the Ultimate Dr. Smith.

Dr. Anabel Leek (Lena Olin) – Mystery Men

To set the stage, the Mystery Men movie follows the adventure of a ragtag group of underdog superheroes with offbeat powers who join forces to defeat supervillains in their hometown of Champion City.

Dr. Anabel Leek is a psychiatrist who works at the city’s psychiatric facility. Personal details about her are scarce, but we know she’s an evil psychiatrist because she schemes to help supervillain Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) secure his release from the facility. This means she must have fabricated details about his supposed therapeutic progress as well as the successful treatment of his symptoms.

Then—THEN!—after Casanova Frankenstein is free, she dons a sorceress-like costume and moves in with him. Though they only share a few loving glances onscreen while in his mansion lair, it’s obvious that Dr. Leek is banging her patient! OMFG! As far as professional ethics are concerned, it doesn’t matter that she’s technically no longer treating him. Once a client, always a client. But nah, she’s evil, horny, and in love with him. Her boundary-crossing—or rather, boundary-shattering—behavior is about as unethical as a psychiatrist can get.

If a fictional female mental health practitioner is going to turn to the dark side, she might as well go all the way (see what I did there). Dr. Leek, who looks deliciously vampy no matter her outfit, pulled off a really sneaky inside job because she helped spring a supervillain out of a mental health facility. Then she becomes his lover. Frankly, that’s so bad that it’s good.

Lenore (Jane Lynch) – Afternoon Delight

Afternoon Delight is a comedy-drama film about unhappy, sexually deprived, stay-at-home mom Rachel (Kathryn Hahn). She sees a therapist to more effectively navigate the choppy waters of her chaotic suburban life.

Jane Lynch’s Lenore is one of the most memorable “evil” female therapists I’ve ever encountered. First, she inappropriately discloses information to Rachel about her medical history. Next, she brings out a snack, as if her medical diagnosis justifies this intrusive act. Then she proceeds to eat her dang quinoa salad in the middle of the session! I mean, that’s a truly selfish act, and also the way she chews it is weird and hilarious.

Worst of all, Lenore is a therapist who thinks the term “prostitute” is more suitable than “sex worker.” That outrageous comment really takes the cake. Her misconduct is satirical in nature and also an oddly compelling example of female therapists behaving badly. You don’t want her to keep making such egregious mistakes, and yet you don’t want her to stop, either.

Speaking of cake, I wouldn’t mind a spin-off movie that’s basically a montage of Lenore eating food during various sessions.

Dr. Smith, Dr. Leek, and Lenore share a few common elements: they are each varying degrees of over-the-top characters; they’re unapologetic in their evil ways, and they’re masters at getting their needs met (power, sex, food, etc.). Dr. Leek is high camp evil; Lenore is comedic evil, and Dr. Smith is stylish evil.

Given my professional background, I shouldn’t adore these characters so much, but I do. I don’t seek to vicariously experience their evil therapist ways; rather, I enjoy the sheer spectacle of how they twist the profession to serve their agendas.

In conclusion, I’m not hankering for a steady diet of evil female therapists in my SFF and comedy entertainment, but with certain characters in certain stories, it’s a career choice I can get behind.