Cinematherapy

Cinematherapy is the use of motion pictures, within a therapeutic setting, to help clients gain insight, evoke emotion, create a therapeutic metaphor, give a couple or family a common story about which to communicate, and/or educate clients. Movies can be a catalyst for insight, emotion, and inspiration—they affect people at both conscious [Page 246]and unconscious levels. The characters, how the movie is filmed, the storyline, music, and imagery can influence viewers. They can change the way people think and feel and provide a common ground for discussion in therapy. In cinematherapy, movies are carefully selected and assigned to match the client’s and the clinician’s goals. The movie selections are viewed by the client and discussed in therapy sessions with the idea that the movie contributes ...