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Solutions On The Screen - Is Movie Therapy For You?
By Patti McMann Platinum Quality Author

Article Word Count: 500 [View Summary] Comments (0)

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Who doesn't like to kick back, relax and watch a good movie? Movies engage our minds and help us to unwind, letting us temporarily forget our worries. Some movies help us work out problems in our lives by letting us see how others handle the same or similar situations. The use of movies as a coping tool has been in practice for many years. Mental health professionals use "movie therapy" to help clients address and deal with current situations that affect the client's lives.

What is movie therapy? Also known as cinema therapy and reel therapy, movie therapy is described as therapy for the mind where a person views certain films under the supervision of a mental health therapist to help treat mental and emotional conditions. According to Birgit Wolz, an Oakland, California psychotherapist, a movie can help to shed new light on a dilemma in many ways.

So how can movie therapy work at home for the average person who is not under psychotherapy? Watching a movie that parallels a person's current predicament can help the individual cope with the situation. For example, the loss of a loved one might leave a person very sad but unable to cry. A movie that deals with the loss of a loved one such as "The Bridges of Madison County" might trigger the tears that are needed to help the person deal with the loss and start the healing process.

Sometimes only a segment of the movie is helpful. For example, I have always had trouble with public speaking. Two movies that I have found to be helpful with public speaking are "Video Voyeur: The Susan Wilson Story" and "Legally Blonde." These movies have parts where the leading character is doing public speaking. By seeing how calm and assured the characters are when giving their speeches, I have been able to slow down, concentrate, and give better public presentations.

People often handle a situation better when they watch what someone else in the same position does. When a person is inside the situation, he often can't see it from an objective standpoint. Observing the same or similar problem being handled by someone else is like being on the outside looking in, and allows the person to see the dilemma from the view of an outsider.

Movie therapy by itself is not a solution to a particular problem; it is one of the many tools in the toolbox that will help in combination with other tools to aid a person in coping with issues. Many people use movie therapy without even realizing it, and are able to resolve their problems without seeking out a therapist.

By combining the at-home movie therapy with my people skills and my desire to provide information to my audience, I was able to control my fear of public speaking. I didn't get over it, but it is manageable. Movie therapy isn't for everyone, and is not a substitute for professional help.

© Copyright 2007 Patti McMann. All rights reserved.

Patti McMann is a freelance writer. She writes on a variety of topics for print and electronic publications. She has a diverse background in many subjects, and majored in business, marketing and information technology. She is also working on an eBook that will be available early 2008.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patti_McMann

Patti McMann - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Article Submitted On: July 23, 2007


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