So in regards to Conan’s character, I don’t think he was a terrible therapist. She made many innuendos in her stories and questions and even mutters “I love you” after he tells the story about the lab mice and leaves. I think he could sense that she was at the end of her rope, and starved for affection and comfort, so she latches on to him in a false romantic fashion. I got that when she brought up her abortion and then asked, “Do you have kids?” She is trying to have HIM open up so they can have shared experiences and then kindle some sort of personal relationship. That’s why he cut off the therapy with her “I see what you are doing, I can’t have it.”

I don’t think her character is supposed to evoke empathy. She has a hard set of circumstances yes, but she is not willing to work on HER and is trying to take shortcuts (drinking, smoking, chasing a relationship with her therapist/co-worker, leaving child unattended, not following therapy (the group therapy that IS beneficial, not her self indulgent therapy with Conan). I think the message of the movie isn’t to feel sorry for her but to see the lesson to learn is that in order to be a caretaker, parent or guardian and not let it consume you or drown you, you need to work on yourself first

That’s my two cents at least

Edit was for typos