Henry Winkler Discusses Decade of Therapy

The 81-year-old actor described his therapy journey during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a closed metal drum beside a wedge of Swiss cheese, its lid starting to open toward warm light. — Actor Henry Winkler, 81, said on The Drew Barrymore Show that he has been in therapy for a decade, starting with a first session in his 60s. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Actor Henry Winkler, 81, discussed his therapy experience on The Drew Barrymore Show. He said he has been in therapy for a decade, beginning with a first session in his 60s.

Why it matters

Winkler's account offers a personal look at long-term therapy from a well-known public figure. His description of how his life has changed may encourage readers to consider mental health care.

The figures come from Winkler's own account of roughly ten years in therapy, starting in his 60s, and no clinical or comparative data was presented. Whether his described progress reflects typical outcomes for others is not addressed in the interview.

The players

Henry Winkler

Henry Winkler is an American actor best known for playing Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli on the sitcom Happy Days.

The Drew Barrymore Show

The Drew Barrymore Show is an American syndicated daytime talk show hosted by actress Drew Barrymore.

The details

During the interview, Winkler described the top of his head as clamped shut like an oil drum when he first began therapy. He used a Swiss cheese and cheddar analogy to illustrate how his progress has developed, and said the therapist asked him where he was during that first session.

In his 60s: Winkler began his first therapy session.
After a decade of therapy: Winkler discussed how his life has changed on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Health Landscape

Public discussion of therapy by well-known figures on daytime television has become a recurring way mental health care reaches mainstream audiences. Winkler's decade-long account continues that pattern without offering new clinical findings about treatment outcomes.

Readers considering therapy may find Winkler's account a reminder that seeking mental health support can be a long-term process rather than a single session. The interview does not describe specific treatment options, costs, or insurance coverage.

The takeaway

Winkler's experience suggests therapy can be a sustained practice that shifts over many years. Readers interested in the topic may find it useful to reflect on how ongoing self-examination fits into their own wellbeing routines.