Talking Pictures: Working Therapeutically with Mindful Movie-Watching

Film therapy, the therapeutic use of movies in psychological therapies, is a growing area of interest to therapists and researchers. This paper presents the MOVIE model of film therapy, a widely applicable, trauma-informed framework for working with film imagery and themes in individual or group therapy, counsellor education and self-help. Film or cinema therapy is a highly accessible and relatable method for many diverse client and student groups with benefits that include catharsis and emotional processing, greater ease of dialogue around issues, increased empathy, and interpersonal learning, engaging with new perspectives and learning skills. Following the model we mindfully observe and voice emotional and psychological responses to movie watching, identify how the imagery, characters, themes, and narrative symbolize personal experience and consider any new possibilities that emerged through re-authoring personal narratives.