The Real Reason Southern Charm's Shep Rose Started Going To Therapy

Southern Charm Season 6 was a rough one for Shep Rose. He spent most of it feuding with Madison LeCroy, who just joined the show full-time. Discussing Madison and Shep's animosity during an episode of the Southern Charm After Show, Cameran Eubanks said, "He gets this deep anger within him and it just, he hasn't learned how to control it. He could do well with anger management." While it's unclear if Shep attended anger management classes, he seems to be a whole new Shep on Season 7. 

Craig Conover told Us Weekly, "Shep is such a better version of himself with her. You know, towards the end of last year I had stopped talking to Shep. We just weren't on the same page. I was moving forward with my business and there wasn't anything there for me. It was toxic. And he wasn't in a great place and he started dating Taylor [Ann Green]." Craig also acknowledged that Shep "started talking to a therapist," which has helped them have a better friendship than they did last season.

Shep discussed his commitment to Taylor with Entertainment Tonight, admitting, "I owe that a little to therapy." He added, "I told my therapist it was a breakthrough. It shouldn't have been a breakthrough because it's, like, as plain as the nose on my face." While going to therapy helped Shep feel comfortable in his new relationship, Taylor was not actually the reason he decided to go. Instead, Shep credits two celebrities for the inspiration. 

Shep Rose told Decider, "I owe a debt to a few people — two of them famous. That is Conan O'Brien and Howard Stern. I'm a huge Howard Stern fan. I think Howard wrote in his book, Howard Stern Comes Again, and he said his favorite guest was Conan O'Brien." Apparently the radio host loved that interview "because Conan opened up about therapy." Shep continued, "And then Conan had Howard on [his podcast] Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, which is really funny and I really recommend that too. They really delved into therapy. Both of them are just big proponents of it."

Shep reflected, "I went through some troubles last year, and my head was in a weird space." In addition to arguing with Madison LeCroy and Craig Conover last season, Shep faced backlash after he made fun of a homeless woman collecting cans, according to People. He even posted the video himself to an Instagram Story, as he mocked the woman.

Shep admitted to Decider that he found value in therapy because it's "third party dispassionate advice that you're receiving." He said his therapist is "fantastic," admitting that she "helped" him not be tough on himself. Shep revealed that his therapist said, "Don't be so hard on yourself. These are great things. Yes, you've had some struggles, and yes, you've made some bad decisions. It can be infuriating." Shep revealed that most of his struggles stem from being on Southern Charm.

During his Decider interview, Shep Rose revealed, "A lot of my angst, not gonna lie, was show-based." He explained, "Because when you make a mistake — either on TV or on social media — your average person, no big deal. But it's amplified and then some. It sort of can snowball on you."

The Southern Charm original cast member revealed that his therapist told him, "You should be proud of yourself. You're doing well." Shep admitted, "That was kind of cool, to hear someone say that. Especially it not being a buddy over a shot and a beer." Shep said that his therapist also gave him advice about being more "present," which was helpful, although Shep admitted some of his progress was interrupted because of the isolation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Shep shared, "We've done a few Skypes. But yeah, it's been really constructive."

Shep revealed that he told his brother and his close friends about how much he loves therapy and now they are all interested in reaching out to a professional for help. Shep explained, "Everybody has problems! Everybody second guesses themselves. Everybody is trying to walk a good path." Shep told Entertainment Tonight that his therapist helped him realize he's not "the only one with these anxieties, and these thoughts, and these fears." After a rough showing during Southern Charm Season 6, almost anything is an improvement, but it seems like the reality TV veteran is truly in a much better place these days.