Summary
- Life on a starship can be stressful and traumatic, requiring the presence of a Counselor to keep the crew from breaking down.
- Ship's Counselors became more common in later Star Trek shows as mental health became a more openly discussed topic.
- Deanna Troi is the best Ship's Counselor, using her empathic abilities and training to provide therapy and assist the crew in processing their experiences.
Life on a starship can be incredibly stressful, demanding, and even traumatic in Star Trek, so it's not surprising that ships would need a Counselor to keep the crew from breaking down. Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) on Star Trek: The Next Generation may have been the first onscreen crew member to bear the title of ship's counselor, but several others have served a similar purpose. Before having a counselor on starships became standard practice, the Chief Medical Officer would often serve in this capacity when required.
When Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966, mental health was not something that was discussed openly. As this was beginning to change by the 1980s and 1990s, later Star Trek shows made the position of Ship's Counselor more common. With all of the strange and often dangerous adventures that Starfleet officers find themselves in, it's not surprising that they would sometimes need to speak with a licensed mental health professional. Here are all 7 Star Trek Counselors ranked from worst to best.
