Theory
Watching a movie with conscious awareness can be similar to experiencing a guided visualization. The therapeutic effect and the theoretical basis for both modalities are therefore closely related. In fact, the use of films in therapy allows us to draw from and can be integrated into a range of psychotherapeutic orientations, from depth psychotherapy to cognitive-behavior therapy to systems oriented therapy.
Since films are metaphors, the depth psychologist can utilize movies in therapy similar to the way in which we utilize stories, myths, fables and dreams. The unconscious communicates its content to the conscious mind mostly in symbolic images. We can become aware of this “communication” through dreams and active imagination, which are “windows” to the unconscious: both convert the invisible forms of the unconscious into images that are perceptible to the conscious mind. Since films are consecutive images, feeling touched by a movie scene with pleasant or unpleasant emotions shows client and therapist that this scene symbolically reflects relevant unconscious material.
Just as with dreams, emotionally charged material becomes accessible to consciousness. The therapist is interested in learning about unconscious material because it often is in conflict with a client’s conscious ideas, intentions and goals. Exploring the effect of a film can break down the barriers between the two levels of the psyche and set up a genuine flow of communication between them. This helps the client to resolve neurotic conflicts with the unconscious, and thus to learn more about who they really are as authentic human beings. Negative reactions to a movie, a scene or a character can illuminate “shadow” material. By getting inspired, the client can learn to respond to life’s challenges and changes more successfully from a more present and authentic inner place instead of reacting from old dysfunctional emotional and behavior patterns.
Therapists who use cognitive-behavior therapy can utilize movies in combination with the established modalities of their field. Films can provide a supportive device for understanding maladaptive core beliefs and for cognitive restructuring. Cognitive insights tell clients what to do but affective insights give them the motivation to follow through. In addition films galvanize feelings, which increase the probability that clients will carry out new and desired behaviors.
Suggestions for appropriate films can be found on the page Film recommendations, especially in the section, “Questioning negative beliefs about yourself and rediscovering your strength”. Watching movies at home serves as a bridge between therapy and life. Like any homework, this helps clinicians achieve better continuity of care and leads to greater self-reliance.
Systems oriented therapists can find support for their approach by choosing movies, which communicate unfamiliar concepts of family or organizational systems and their dynamics as well as communication patterns. By utilizing readily grasped images, a film can introduce understanding, often better than can mere words. Suggestions for appropriate films can be found on the page Film recommendations, especially in the section, “Improving communications with your partner or friend.”
Guidelines
Start with a film that your client has already seen and that supports your treatment goal. If no appropriate movie comes to mind familiarize yourself with Guidelines to choosing films.
Choose a film from Film recommendations or books (see A cinema therapy bibliography)
Clarify intent when assigning a film in which a client might mistake the role identification.
Familiarize yourself with Guidelines for watching films and discuss guidelines with client.
Discuss positive or negative reactions to film.
Use material according to your theoretical orientation.
Some evocative questions can be: “If the film had a unique message for you, what was it?” or
“What new ideas for new behaviors did you have?” or
“What other films can you identify that might take the discussion a step further?”
Guidelines for Watching Movies with Awareness
In preparation for each viewing session, sit comfortably. Let your attention move effortlessly, without strain, first to your body then to your breath. Simply inhale and exhale naturally. Follow your breath in this innocent, watchful way for a while. Notice any spots where there’s tension or holding. As you grow aware of them, let your breath travel into these spots. To release tension you may experiment with “breathing into” any part of your body that feels strained. Never force your breath.
Your gentle attention is sufficient to help you become more present and balanced, as it spontaneously deepens and corrects your breathing if it is constricted. Experience your condition without inner criticizing or comment. If you notice yourself judging or narrating, simply listen to the tone of your inner dialog as you come back to your breath. Lay judgments and worries consciously aside.
As soon as you are calm and centered, start watching the movie. Most deeper insights arrive when you pay attention to the story and to yourself. While viewing, bring your inner attention to a holistic bodily awareness (felt sense). This means you are aware of “all of you” — head, heart, belly, etc. Once in a while you might notice your breathing from an inner vantage point — from your subtle, always-present intuitive core. Observe how the movie images, ideas, conversations and characters affect your breath. Don’t analyze anything while you are watching. Be fully present with your experience.
Afterwards reflect on the following:
- Do you remember whether your breathing changed throughout the movie? Could this be an indication that something threw you off balance? In all likelihood, what affects you in the film is similar to whatever unbalances you in your daily life.
- Ask yourself: If a part of the film that moved you (positively or negatively) had been one of your dreams, how would you have understood the symbolism in it?
- Notice what you liked and what you didn’t like or even hated about the movie. Which characters or actions seemed especially attractive or unattractive to you? Did you identify with one or several characters?
- Were there one or several characters in the movie that modeled behavior that you would like to emulate? Did they develop certain strengths or other capacities that you would like to develop as well?
- Notice whether any aspect of the film was especially hard to watch. Could this be related to something that you might have repressed (“shadow”)? Uncovering repressed aspects of our psyche can free up positive qualities and uncover our more whole and authentic self
- Did you experience something that connected you to your inner wisdom or higher self as you watched the film?
It helps to write down your answers.
If some of the mentioned guidelines turn out to be useful, you might consider using them not only in “reel life” but also adapt them to “real life” because they are intended to make you become a better observer.
Why cinema therapy works
One aspect of most movies is that they serve as allegories, in much the same way as do stories, myths, jokes, fables, or dreams which can all be utilized in therapy. The cognitive effect of cinema therapy can be explained through recent theories of learning and creativity, which suggest that we have seven “intelligences”. The more of these intelligences we access, the faster we learn because they employ different methods of information processing. Watching movies can engage all seven of them: the logical (plot), the linguistic (dialogs), the visual-spatial (pictures, colors, symbols), the musical (sounds and music), the interpersonal (storytelling), the kinesthetic (moving), and the intra-psychic (inner guidance).
Mythic stories explain the purpose and place of humans in the grand design. Many films contain a mythical message that reminds us of our virtue and our authentic self.
“Mining the gold” in movies means uncovering our hidden finest attributes by understanding how we project these virtues on film heroes and heroines. Identifying with a character can help us to develop inner strength as we recall forgotten inner resources and become aware of the right opportunity for those resources to be applied.
Like dream work, cinema therapy allows us to gain awareness of our deeper layers of consciousness to help us move toward new perspectives or behavior as well as healing and integration of the total self.
This inner work is a form of “modern-day shamanism”, where we find a way to our soul that makes sense to our mind. Just as in poems, music, and literature, studying film’s symbolic and deeper meanings empowers us by helping to integrate emotions, intuition and logic, and therefore blend our rational and “irrational” processes.
Understanding reactions to characters, who are “different” and unlikable can guide us to discover in the “shadow” of your own psyche our true self and our potential.
As observing helps us to “step back”, the bigger picture becomes more obvious. This way, watching screen movies helps us learn to understand ourselves and others more deeply in the “big movie” of our life. We develop a skill to see our self and the world more objectively — with less of our habitual rigid, judgmental, or emotional filtering.
Information on Movie Therapy, and reference source for this page comes from CinemaTherapy.org.
For a complete list of movies to watch, listed by issue, click the lick below:
Inspiration
Personal Issues
Social Issues
Children
Adolescents
Family Issues
Couple Issues
Mental and Emotional Illness
Physical Illness/Medical Issues
Couple Issues
Affairs
Commitment
Communication
Conflict and Negotiation
Divorce
Nontraditional Partnerships
Renewed Intimacy
Romantic Love
Sex/Sexuality
Widowhood
Don Jon (2013)
Issue: Internet addition/porn addiction/sex & intimacy
A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.
A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.
When Harry Met Sally
Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
Year of Release: 1989
Ask Yourself:
– Do you believe that your relationship(s) will never change for the better?
– Did some of your relationships undergo changes over long periods of time?
– Were changes in the relationship between Sally and Harry similar or different from the changes in yours?
– Are you willing to tolerate the different kinds of emotions that often change relationships?
– Do you sense what could help you to move toward forgiveness if your friend or partner made a mistake?
The Truman Show
Stars: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Ed Harris
Viewing Suggestions:
While you watch the movie be aware that our beliefs can help us or mislead us. We form them unconsciously, without carefully examining all the evidence. Therefore, our beliefs about ourselves and about people are often less than completely reliable. Sometimes they are out of sync with objective reality. Such mistaken beliefs can limit what we see and cause us to act against the best interests of those we love and ourselves. Fortunately, when we discover we are holding a misleading belief, we are not stuck with it forever. Beliefs can change.
Ask Yourself:
– What negative beliefs are you holding about yourself?
– How do these beliefs affect you or other people in your life?
– Does your intuition tell you, or have you repeatedly heard from well-meaning honest friends, that these beliefs are not true?
– Are you willing to consider that these destructive beliefs are not more true than Truman’s beliefs about the world he was born into?
Sliding Doors
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Zara Turner, Douglas McFerran
Year of Release: 1998
Ask Yourself:
– How did Helen first think negatively of herself?
– How, do you think, was she able to let go of self-doubts?
– Imagine yourself as Helen when she let go of her negative beliefs.
– What distorted thoughts about yourself are dropping away as you “become” her?
– Do you believe that you will be devastated and not be able to recover if your partner/spouse and you separate?
– Or are you currently going through a breakup or a job loss?
– Can you recall a time when you have experienced a loss before and recovered from it?
– What helped you to heal again?
– Is there any reason why you would not be able to allow yourself to feel your grief, ask for support, and recover as Helen in the movie and, possibly, you did once before?