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© 2002-2008 Birgit Wolz
Canyon, CA, USA
Page last updated May 18, 2008

Useful links

Cinema therapy sites:

Connie Sharp's Cinematherapy: introduction to cinema therapy, discussion forum, links page (warning: pop up ads!).

Group Movie Therapy: Dr. F. Ulus's site contains a brief explanation of cinematherapy and links to other cinema therapy sites.

An educational cinema therapy site: by Lawrence E. Tyson, Ph.D., Linda H. Foster, Ed.S., NCC, LPC,, and Cindy Jones of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. An extensive site complete with pages on theory, application, suggested readinngs and links.

The Movie Therapist UK therapist Bernie Wooder's splashy site about his work in cinema therapy.

Reel to Real is Michael Kahn's approach to Cinema Therapy.

Articles:

Salon.com article on cinema therapy.

Psych Central is a major portal for all things mental health. Use the internal search engine to locate articles on cinema therapy.

Life Goes to the Movies for Conversation by Sean Selman. An article in the University of Alabama at Birmingham newsletter about the use of cinema therapy in classes.

A review of WE: Women's Entertainment Channel's new program, Cinematherapy by June Spence. "The show consists of an introductory song with Ricky Lee Jones-like vocals, opening credits in breezy sanitary-pad-commercial-style animation, and silly skits and commentary by hosts Kate and Jessie, "licensed cinematherapists"--all of which is almost worth enduring to get to the actual movie..."

Download a copy of a newsletter from the University of Pittsburg that includes an article on cinema therapy.

Journal of Technology in Counseling issue that cites uses of film in teaching counselors.

Academic articles and dissertations:

Doing Cinematherapy for the BBC: A Hollywood Tale by Stuart Fischoff, California State University, Los Angeles (Fall/Winter 2004 issue of The Amplifier, the official newsletter of APA Division 46, Media Psychology)

Group cinematherapy: Using methaphor to enhance adolescent self-esteem by Michael Lee Powell, Rebecca A. Newgent and Sang Min Lee (The Arts in Psdychotherapy 33, 2006, 247-253)

Helping and change without traditional therapy: Commonalities and opportunities by Georgios K. Lampropoulos and Paul M. Sprengler (Counselling Psychology Quarterly, March 2005; 18(1), 47-59)

The Life Stories of Children and Adolescents: Using Commercial Films as Teaching Aids by
Adrian Sondheimer (Academic Psychiatry; 2000:214–224)

Psychologists’ Use of Motion Pictures in Clinical Practice by Georgios K. Lampropoulos, Ball State University; Nikolaos Kazantzis, Massey University and Waitemata District Health Board, Cognitive Therapy Center; Frank P. Deane, University of Wollongong (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice , 2004, by the American Psychological Association, 2004, Vol. 35, No. 5, 535–541)

Psychotherapy and Movies: On Using Films in Clinical Practice by Stefan E. Schulenberg (Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy; Spring 2003, 1; ProQuest Psychology Journals, 36-48)

The Use of Popular Film in Psychotherapy - is there a "Cinermatherapy" by Mattew A. Portadin (dissertation at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, 2006)

Utilizing movies in family therapy: Applications for individuals, couples, and families by S. B. Dermer and J. B. Hutchings (The American Journal of Family Therapy, 28, 2000, 163-180)

Film guides:

Psychocinema: a film guide based on psychological issues from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Ruth Levine, MD, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, lists films by Axis I and Axis II disorder types.

Teach With Movies: site devoted to helping parents and teachers use films for teaching. Includes film indexes by subject and by character traits (soon to become a subscription site, $8.99/yr.).

Sports Psychology Movie Database is just what it says. It currently lists 150 movies selected for content useful in dealing with issues in sports psychology. Oriented for the coach, teacher, parent or athlete, it is searchable by sport, issue area or title.

Films Involving Disabilities This site presents a detailed list of 2,500 feature films which involve in one way or another various  disabilities.  It is directed towards teachers, students and anyone who has an interest in how disability is represented in films.  Films are listed in 15 categories and recommended films. Each category is split into Major and Minor films.  Each film is either reviewed or includes a summary.

Miscellaneous:

A definition of the word "cinematherapy".

A cinema therapy thread in a discussion group.

TVTome Guide entry regarding a show that aired Feb. 2000 (warning: pop up ads!).

Contact info for Cinematherapy Inc., a movie distributor. Address and phone only.