ABSTRACT
Cinematherapy has been a growing area of interest among psychologists, providing a context for new approaches to mental health as well as a variety of faculty and student research projects in film. This recent approach to therapy offers patients practical tools for handling stress, anxiety, and depression constructively and for building deeper and healthier social connections through watching films. Considering that cinema is perhaps the most popular contemporary form of mass entertainment, cinematherapy’s healing potential should not be underestimated. This chapter discusses the use of film as a therapeutic tool and offers thoughts to inspire discussion. Even film students who are not doing projects in psychology can benefit from reading the case studies and project ideas outlined below. Indeed, to write compelling and believable characters, and effectively communicate with actors, film students need to deeply understand human behavior, as well as become aware of their own psychological world and emotional landscape.
