“Movies can potentially open a person's eyes to new solutions to any number of difficulties and may provide therapeutic benefits in addition to entertainment.” (GoodTherapy)
Do you remember a movie that made you cry, or
think about your existence in life? Our answers would probably not the same because
of our different backgrounds and preferences. The Back to the Future Trilogy
is my absolute favorite movie trilogy all these years later. (If you haven’t
watched it, do.) After watching the three films in order, you quickly realize
there are powerful, important life lessons such as the following:
·
Don’t let the fear
of rejection get In the way of you achieving your best.
·
If you set your
mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
·
Leadership
involves making tough choices.
·
Seeing choice
outcomes in a unique (and creative) way takes courage.
·
Whatever you allow
in your life, you encourage to being there.
·
You are strong
enough to resist negative influences.
·
Your actions have
consequences.
·
Your future has
not yet happened. So make the best of it.
Cinematherapy involves the therapist-directed
viewing of movies for therapeutic purposes. The combination of thematic
elements (music, dialogue, lighting, and images) can often evoke deep feelings
in a viewer, which allows for personal reflection and provides new
perspective on important life events.
Cinematherapy was created and popularized by
Dr. Gary Solomon, who was the first to write on the topic of using movies as
therapy. The movement started to catch up again in 2019 with the featured
documentary Calypsonians. The idea of this method is to choose films
that mirror current problems or situations. The patient should first analyze it
with a healthcare professional.
Cinematherapy can provide a safe way for
people to discuss their thoughts and feelings. Direct questions from a
therapist may be intimidating to some people (especially those who have
difficulty openly sharing their feelings). Cinematherapy can provide a less
overwhelming way to talk about feelings as it allows people to explore concerns
indirectly by relating to the characters in a film.
Families may find it easier to communicate
when they discuss fictional families in movies who face issues similar to their
own. They mentally connect what they have discovered about these challenges to
their own lives. The use of film has been shown to improve marriages. Couples
who watched movies together communicate more effectively, and feel more
positively toward each other within five weeks.
How to use movies as therapy:
·
After the movie is over, turn off the TV, and be
alone for a few moments. Use this time for introspection and self-exploration.
Look at your notes and write more about what you are experiencing. Keep your
notes in a place where you can reflect on them for weeks and months to come. Never
destroy what you have written.
·
Build a library of your thoughts. Write your own
book of recovery movies. Whether you watch the movies alone or as a group, you
will experience tremendous personal growth and healing.
·
Don't miss the beginning of the movie. The healing
begins the moment the actors start acting. This includes the opening credits.
·
Focus, and make sure you are not disturbed. Turn
off the sound on your smartphone to avoid interruptions. Even if you watch in a
group, make the movie the main focus. Avoid detours that will take you away
from your feelings and the messages the movies have to offer.
·
Read first what the movie is about. Read what
others have commented about the movie.
·
Select a movie you would like to watch. Choose
wisely, and find good movies where directors and producers are recognized.
·
Take note, and highlight the subjects you are
interested in looking for in the movie. Keep a pencil and paper nearby, and
keep a diary of what you are feeling while watching the movie. Before you
start, tell yourself that you will focus on your feelings.
·
Take some notes about what you are experiencing.
Don't worry about how the notes look or what you're saying. Just put your
thoughts on paper. Record your thoughts if you prefer, but keep going through
the film.
·
Try to identify yourself with a character or
situation. What feelings do you experience? Look for the reasons that brought
those feelings up. What is happening on the screen that reminds you of
something from your past, or someone you know or once knew? Have you been
avoiding things, or doing something that has given you a feeling of guilt,
anger, or sadness?
·
Watch the film from beginning to end. Take your
hands off the remote control.
The problem with Cinematherapy is that in
this method people may want to treat themselves, and this can be worse if they
choose a movie that can cause an adverse effect. So, follow some advice if you
intend to use this method:
·
Movies can also worsen some mental conditions.
Emotionally charged events in movies can occasionally bring back traumatic
repressed memories.
·
Nobody should cancel their next therapeutic
appointment to marathon a series or plan the use of Cinematherapy as a
substitute for professional counseling. Like art and music therapy, Cinematherapy
can be a good tool when incorporated into a therapeutic process.
·
Not every movie about depression is good for the
depressive. Some movies can be quite unrealistic and help create or maintain
stigmas and prejudices about health professionals or patients.
“I don't know if i would call it therapy, but filmmaking is really the
only thing I know how to do. For me, making movies is a way to bring on change for
myself, and I really enjoy that part.” (Takashi Miike)[i]
[i] Adapted from:
·
“3
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY” by Marvivi Explains
·
“CINEMA
Therapy ... What is it?” by: Jomel Bajar
·
“Cinema
Therapy” from Wikipedia
·
“How
watching movies can help depression” by Carlos Magalhaes
·
“Leadership
Lessons from the Future” by Jared Narlock
·
“Lessons
Learned from Back to the Future” by pragmatic leadership
·
“Movie
Therapy” by GoodTherapy
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