Wicked Part One has taken the world by storm. Its gorgeous sets, incredible performances, and catchy songs have captivated audiences everywhere. However, the story’s appeal goes deeper than its surface charm. Wicked invites its audience to question the forces that lead us to label others as “good” or “bad.” It challenges us to move beyond simplistic judgments and recognize that everyone has the capacity for both good and bad decisions, with consequences that vary in their impact.
Therapists have long encouraged this nuanced understanding of human behavior. From a postmodern perspective, there is no singular truth that defines someone as entirely good or bad; instead, we are all inherently human. This concept is at the heart of many therapeutic interventions. If the characters in Wicked embraced this mindset, Oz might have been a more harmonious place. If I were their therapist, here are the interventions I would use (to avoid spoilers for part two, these descriptions are only based on what we know about the characters the film, Wicked Part One, as opposed to the broadway play and/or book):
EMDR with Elphaba:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from traumatic memories. It uses specific techniques to stimulate both sides of the brain, helping the mind process painful experiences. Normally, trauma can get stuck in the brain’s emotional center, making it hard to move past and causing adverse emotional and behavioral effects. EMDR helps shift these memories to the brain’s thinking center, reducing their emotional impact and allowing people to better cope.
Elphaba has experienced complex trauma throughout her life that has shaped her self-perception. Labeled as bad from birth due to her green skin, she is later deemed wicked for standing up for her beliefs. Social rejection and discrimination permeate her life, causing her to doubt her inherent power. She initially succumbs to the belief that she is meant to remain unseen and incapable of greatness until someone recognizes her true potential. Her negative core cognition is evidenced when she reveals that she blames herself for her sister’s need to be in a wheelchair. Her emotional responses when accepted by her peers reveal her struggle to challenge the internalized belief of “I am bad.” Despite standing firm in her integrity when the narrative brands her as “wicked,” Elphaba’s journey still reflects the effects of complex trauma.
Elphaba could benefit from EMDR because much of her trauma is complex and deeply ingrained. She may be unaware that she operates primarily from her limbic system, as it has become her default state. In EMDR, we would identify her negative core belief that she is inherently bad, explore how it connects to significant memories, and reprocess those experiences. This would help her recognize that she is not defined by her trauma but is someone capable of making both good and bad choices, like anyone else.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Glinda
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes identifying personal values and using them as a guiding compass for life decisions. Understanding one’s values helps individuals act with integrity, reducing cognitive dissonance and fostering self-compassion when navigating difficult choices.
Glinda’s life stands in stark contrast to Elphaba’s. She grew up conventionally attractive, affluent, and universally liked. On the surface, she seemed to have it all — polished, poised, and skilled at maintaining a perfect facade. Upon arriving at Shiz University, she expects special treatment— a logical assumption given her life of privilege. However, Glinda’s world is upended when Madame Morrible chooses to mentor Elphaba instead of her and is forced to share a room with her unlikely peer. As the story unfolds, Glinda begins to soften, forming a genuine bond with Elphaba and learning to see beyond appearances. When faced with a life-altering decision — to remain adored by the masses or to stand by Elphaba, whom she knows is not truly wicked — Glinda ultimately chooses societal acceptance. Though the choice is tinged with regret, it reflects the complex world she inhabits and the difficult compromises she must make.
Glinda faced a challenging decision where a mix of regret and acceptance were inevitable, regardless of her choice. ACT therapy could help her explore her values and understand how they influenced her actions. From her dialogue, it’s clear that being well-liked and popular is deeply important to her. While some might view these priorities as shallow, they are not inherently negative. Through ACT, Glinda could examine the origins of these values, consider the external factors that shaped them, and recognize that having such values doesn’t make her inherently better or worse than anyone else.
Existential Therapy with Fiyero
Existential therapy explores the complexities of the human experience through philosophical and psychological frameworks. It helps individuals understand personal responsibility for their actions and find meaning in their lives. This approach addresses four central aspects of existence: death, isolation, meaning, and freedom. The goal is to accept these realities as inherent parts of life while reducing the anxiety they can cause.
Fiyero enters the story with a carefree, “c’est la vie” attitude. The students of Shiz University are drawn to his good looks, charm, and adventurous spirit. Having been expelled from every school he’s attended, he seems indifferent to responsibility or consequences. His shallow, self-absorbed persona serves as a mask that fools almost everyone—except Elphaba. She sees through his facade and recognizes his underlying unhappiness. After Elphaba confronts him and he is made aware of an injustice in Oz, Fiyero’s outlook begins to shift—a change noticed by all. He comes to realize that he can no longer avoid his inner struggles or escape life’s challenges by “dancing through life.”
Fiyero’s shallow, self-absorbed facade stems from a fear of confronting his emotions. Emotions bring meaning to life, which can trigger thoughts about mortality, isolation, and the burden of freedom and responsibility. Through existential therapy, Fiyero could unpack these fears, accept life’s uncertainties, and embrace his authentic self.
Narrative Therapy with Boq
Narrative therapy empowers clients to reshape their life stories by exploring values and past experiences, helping them feel more in control of their future. The goal is for clients to become experts on their own lives and make intentional choices. This is done by writing or dictating an actual narrative for past, present, and/or future. Narrative therapy teaches us that we are able to be the narrator of our own life rather than letting others call the shots.
In Wicked Part One, Boq is portrayed as a Munchkin with an infatuation for Glinda. His short stature suggests insecurity. Hoping to impress Glinda, he asks her to save a dance for him at a party. Glinda, uninterested, redirects him to Nessarose, who uses a wheelchair, framing it as a heroic gesture. Eager to please Glinda, Boq agrees. Later, he realizes Glinda doesn’t care for him but can’t bear to hurt Nessarose, choosing instead to hide his true feelings.
Boq would benefit from narrative therapy by gaining a clearer sense of agency. His character struggles with a lack of assertiveness and following through on his intentions. Through externalizing his story, recognizing patterns, and clarifying his values, Boq could develop greater confidence and take control of his actions.
Family Systems Therapy with Nessarose
Family Systems Therapy views the family as a connected system where each member plays specific roles to maintain its structure. Key concepts include understanding individual identity within the family, differentiation, emotional dynamics, and how generational traumas affect everyone involved.
Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, was born unable to use her legs and uses a wheelchair. Being the sister of the town’s outcast and losing her mother at birth left Nessarose struggling to form her identity and experience life fully. In Wicked Part One, she seems hopeful about starting fresh at Shiz University but is quietly disappointed when Elphaba joins her there.
Family Systems Therapy could help Nessarose understand her role within her family and how it affects her thoughts and actions outside of the family system. By exploring her identity outside of her family dynamics, she could better appreciate how her experiences shaped her while learning to define herself on her own terms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for The Wizard
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used therapeutic approach that helps people identify and challenge negative thought patterns. It teaches that while we can’t control our emotions, we can influence how we think, which in turn affects our behavior. For example, feeling sad after rejection is natural, but instead of thinking “I’m unlovable,” CBT encourages reframing the thought to something more balanced, like “This hurts, but I can find acceptance elsewhere.” CBT helps people feel more in control by promoting rational thinking and effective coping skills.
The Wizard in Wicked Part One is a morally complex character. While he manipulates and deceives others to gain power, labeling him as purely evil oversimplifies the story’s theme that people are capable of both good and bad actions. His choices show a reliance on control and deception to maintain authority, raising questions about what led him down this path.
CBT could benefit The Wizard by focusing on logic and rational thinking, which might resonate more than an emotion-centered approach. However, therapy only works if the person wants to change, and based on what we see in the film, The Wizard doesn’t seem interested in self-improvement.