GTA 5 Michael’s Therapy Sessions are the visits Michael De Santa makes to Dr. Isiah Friedlander’s office in Pacific Bluffs. This guide covers the two sessions that have full details: Chaos, the first full session, and Abandonment Issues, the last one. In both, Michael’s lines change depending on what you did before walking in.
Key facts
- Where: Isiah Friedlander’s Office, Pacific Bluffs
- Plays as: Michael De Santa
- Chaos unlocked by: Marriage Counseling
- Abandonment Issues unlocked by: Legal Trouble, Reuniting the Family and The Bureau Raid
- Money: Michael pays $500 after Chaos; Abandonment Issues can drop $2005 to $2300
Chaos: the first full session
Dr. Friedlander calls Michael after Marriage Counseling and asks him to come to the clinic. The session can be done at any time before The Jewel Store Job (also available as the smart approach). Michael opens with different dialogue depending on the last mission you played: after Marriage Counseling he talks about pulling Martin Madrazo’s house off the Vinewood Hills, and after Friend Request he says his life is out of control.
Friedlander then asks about violent urges, offers advice that you can accept or reject, and asks about Michael’s sex life. Your earlier choices with prostitutes and booty calls change Michael’s answers. The session ends when Michael has a breakthrough and Friedlander cuts him off. Michael pays $500 and leaves.
Abandonment Issues: the last session
This one appears after Legal Trouble, Reuniting the Family and The Bureau Raid (covert or roof approach). Friedlander does not phone this time; an icon simply shows up over his office. You can do it at any point in the story, even after the ending, which unlocks some unique dialogue.
Michael’s opening answer depends on the mission you finished last:
- The Bureau Raid or Legal Trouble: he lists who wants him dead and says his family has moved back in.
- Something Sensible: he says he could not be better and that he can finally retire.
- The Third Way: he says things have been pretty good, since most people who wanted him dead are gone.
At the end Friedlander takes a photo, announces he is leaving Los Santos for his own TV show and walks out. You can then kill him outside, which is non-canon and makes him drop $2005 to $2300, or let him go. If you let him go he sends Michael an e-mail, and a reply from Michael threatens him. A news article about his death can still appear even when you spare him.
Related guides
- All Endings: how the story finishes
- All Special Characters / Friends
- The GTA 5 lexicon for characters and places
- The GTA 5 guide and the GTA 5 missions category
Video walkthrough
Prefer to watch? This video shows it in action.
FAQ
How do I start Michael’s therapy sessions?
Finish Marriage Counseling and Dr. Friedlander calls you to the clinic for Chaos.
Can I do Abandonment Issues after the story ends?
Yes. It can be done at any point, including after the storyline, and that unlocks some unique dialogue.
Should I kill Dr. Friedlander?
It is optional and non-canon. Killing him drops a random amount between $2005 and $2300; letting him go gets Michael an e-mail from him.
Do the sessions give any reward?
Only money: Michael pays $500 after Chaos, and Friedlander drops $2005 to $2300 if you kill him at the end of Abandonment Issues.
