Film Therapy, watching movies to solve life’s problems (maybe)

Film therapy, the therapeutic use of movies in psychological therapies, is a growing area of interest. Movies offer a highly accessible and relatable medium that appeals to diverse groups. Talking about movies can open dialogue around difficult issues, help us to process emotions and reflect on how the stories presented may symbolise our own experience. This talk will present the MOVIE model of film therapy, a trauma sensitive framework that draws on mindfulness, experiential, and narrative therapies to explore themes from film and television. The talk will discuss how film can be used in therapy and teaching.

Jenny Hamilton is a Senior Lecturer in Counselling & Psychological Therapies and the Programme Lead for the MSc/ PGDip Counselling at the University of Lincoln. Jenny has developed methods in film therapy over the last decade, drawing together her background in film studies and her research interests and therapeutic work as a counsellor and mindfulness teacher.