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Films as Therapy



Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

I'm interested in the psychotherapeutic effects of popular films. In particular, do you see any positive benefits of:

(a) religious films in general; (b) the biblical films of Cecil B. DeMille such as, "The Ten Commandments" (1923), "The King of Kings" (1927), "Samson and Delilah" (1949) and "The Ten Commandments" (1956).

Signed,

Wondering

Dear Wondering,

Viewing and then discussing the films in terms of characters, plots, and themes would be one way to learn about human behavior and our own emotional responses to them.

In general, any film which entertains is good therapy for just simply having a recreational timeout from our cares and worries. Films which go further and not only entertain, but touch our hearts, minds, and souls, not only teach us a great deal about ourselves, but about human nature.

There are hundreds of films which would lend themselves to good therapeutic discussions depending on the type of conflicts one is experiencing.

Check out these books:

"Rent Two Films and Let's Talk in the Morning", by John and Jan Hesley.

"The Motion Picture Prescription: Watch This Movie & Call Me in the Morning - 200 Movies to Help You Heal Life's Problems", by Gary Solomon.




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