Parents' Guide to

Private Practice

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Grey's spin-off is entertaining, but for adults only.

TV ABC Drama 2007
Private Practice Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Jenn B.
Jenn B. Parent
April 16, 2017
age 18+

Adult Context

While I enjoy watching this show myself as it forces me to think about controversial topics I would not recommend for children of any age. It shows drug use (oral, sniffing and intravenous). There are many adult issues in the cases the doctors in the show have as well as in their personal lives.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Nerdy_Mamma
Nerdy_Mamma Parent of 4, 6, 9, 10, 12 and 14-year-old
January 3, 2010
age 12+

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

PRIVATE PRACTICE is a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy that centers on the staff of Oceanside Wellness Center, a cooperative private medical facility in Los Angeles where patients are treated by some of the best doctors in specialties ranging from pediatrics to homeopathic care. Noted obstetrician and neonatal surgeon Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) heads up the practice that was started by her best friend, Dr. Naomi Bennett (Audra McDonald) and Naomi's ex-husband, Dr. Sam Bennett (Taye Diggs). The patient cases these doctors handle are almost as complicated as their own personal lives, ensuring that things are never dull around the water cooler at this busy medical practice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (10):

Private Practice is an enticing series that's equal parts medical drama and soap opera. It's easy to get wrapped up in the intricacies of the characters' complicated lives, and their revolving workplace romances keep things, well, lively. Smart writing and a talented cast enable the show to handle the intense, real-life subject matter it explores, and the fact that it makes a concerted effort to present weighty issues like mental illness, homosexuality, and addiction from multiple viewpoints gives viewers plenty to ponder after it's turned off.

Of course, it's this same content that rules it out as an option for any but the sturdiest viewers, since it doesn't shy away from violence, sexual content, or raw human emotion. Life-and-death scenarios are commonplace throughout the show, and plenty of characters die. It's the show's adherence to sticking closely to reality (with the expected amount of melodrama) that gives it merit for adults but at the same time makes it problematic for most teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this series portrays women. After seeing Naomi, Addison, Violet, and Charlotte in action, whom do you admire most? The least? Are these women's personal lives very different from their professional ones? How do these doctors compare onscreen to their male counterparts?

  • This series raises tough questions about real-life issues, so families can discuss how the characters cope with the challenges they encounter. How do the characters' different opinions complicate their ability to reach a consensus about caring for patients? When have you been in a situation where you've had to work with others whose opinions were different from yours? How do you best cope with group dynamics under pressure?

  • How does this series compare to Grey's Anatomy? Both are medical dramas, but do the characters handle issues in a similar fashion? Do the two seem to compete or can like-minded series coexist on TV? Does either series seem to adhere more to reality?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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