Cinematherapy; "Yes, and"

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I would like to share some information about one of my favorite topics related to psychological wellness- cinematherapy. Occasionally, I will recommend a movie or show that illustrates concepts related to a particular area of mental health. Topics include, but are not limited to, exercise, medical problems, stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, financial struggles, divorce, family dynamics, sleep, and work.  

 

Here is an interesting article about cinematherapy: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_movies_help_you_become_a_better_person?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&utm_campaign=37caf0f32f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_GG_Newsletter_May_8_2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-37caf0f32f-50850427 

 

One scene that particularly illustrated the “yes and” concept often used in CBT to teach communication and social skills was in a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy. This won’t be a spoiler for those of you watching earlier seasons, as it is an isolated scene. As you watch, pay attention to the style of communication used to share some “tough love” with a loved one who is damaging relationships related to alcohol abuse history and fears of abandonment. Certainly, this is a difficult conversation. The use of “and” following “I love you” is more effective than the commonly used “but” which tends to negate the “I love you” part. This is a particularly difficult scene to watch. There is some foul language, and it deals with themes of alcoholic addiction, abandonment, negative concerns about the world at large, anxiety, and depression.  

Here is the Grey’s Anatomy scene: 

https://youtu.be/9r1oUjgJeR8

 

 
I welcome you to share recommendations from movies, shows, or books that illustrate mental health concepts with me.   

 

Talking about Difficult Topics with Kids

 Happy Spring!

 

There are times when we find it difficult to explain a big concept about very real-life issues to a child we care about in our life. These topics may include poverty, divorce, stress, trauma, or grief. Sesame Street in Communities has a wonderful collection of resources available for free for families and schools.

https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/

 

 I hope these are helpful resources for your family!

A Case of the "What-ifs"

 The “what-if” question is a commonly expressed theme related to anxiety. People stress and fret about all the things that could happen. These thoughts tend to skew negative (“what if I don’t get an A on that paper?)  and even at times catastrophic (“what if I never graduate college?”). I challenge you to think- what if we explored and decided to accept and embrace or dismiss and redirect “what-ifs” instead of worrying about them?  How would this look? How can you challenge your current habits and develop a new healthier approach? Consider reaching out to a mental health professional who practices Cognitive Behavior Therapy to dive deeper into this skill. 

 

Another form of “what-if" questioning involves problem solving. When we are presented with a stressor or problem, we have the opportunity to develop ideas and explore solutions. This builds resilience, and problem-solving skills. For some fun, watch this video that illustrates this concept.  

 

 

I wonder, What if, Let's Try! 

 

Hailee Steinfeld Teaches How To Solve Problems (Sing Along) | Sesame Street | HBO Max Family 

Playing Outdoors

 

Do you remember spending hours outside when you were younger? Maybe you enjoyed going for bike rides, walks, digging in the dirt, playing kickball, or swinging. I loved playing two-hand touch football in the street with any friends and friends of friends in the neighborhood. Someone would yell “car!” when they saw a vehicle coming and we would all move to the side, wait for the car to drive by, and then happily reset the play. We would be outside almost every day for several hours. We weren’t pulled by digital distractions like texting, or watching short videos being fed to us in an endless stream of content. We just were. We had fun, enjoyed fresh air, the company of others, and nature. We learned how to work together, build a team, solve problems, handle disagreements, learn about each other, and expand our communication skills. Today I enjoy taking mindful walks in nature as often as possible. During these times, I feel happy to see kids and teens still playing outside together. Riding bikes, meeting up at the local playground (and getting there independently-woo-hoo!) and taking walks together are all great ways to be outside.  

Here is an article about the power of playing outside.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/power-of-play/Pages/playing-outside-why-its-important-for-kids.aspx

Happy Reading!

Focus on Love

 In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I am sharing this interesting piece written by my colleague, Dr. Phillips. I hope that you will feel encouraged and celebrate your partner.

Is Fidelity to Your Partner Enough to Sustain a Marriage?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/speaking-about-trauma/202301/is-fidelity-to-your-partner-enough-to-sustain-a-marriage?eml

Gratitude

 Happy Holidays!

While this can be a season of busyness, stress, and worry, we can intentionally slow down and practice gratitude and mindfulness. There are many benefits of practicing gratitude. I encourage you to read this article and learn about some of them.  

How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain

I am thankful for you taking the time to read this post!

Thankfulness

 What are you thankful for this November? Thanksgiving is a special time to celebrate family and friends and pause to remember what is important in your life. Reflecting on people, experiences, opportunities, possessions, memories, and moments is a helpful practice that contributes to well-being. We do not have to wait until Thanksgiving, of course, to consider and express gratitude. I challenge you to spend time each day thinking about and even writing down a few things you felt grateful for that day. It may be simple like a smile from your child or a joke someone shared with you, or bigger like a promotion or making a sports team. Remembering the little things, the big things, seeing the positive side of challenges, and saying thank you can make a significant difference in your life and in the life of someone else. 

 

One thing I am incredibly grateful for is the opportunity to read both for myself, and as a family during read-aloud time. Many of you know that I love reading and I will often provide book recommendations and use books in session as appropriate. I am super thankful that both of my children love to read as well, and I hope they always will. Books provide information, amazing stories, as well as a time of rest, reflection, shared time reading together, and restoration. Choosing high quality books can be a challenge, so utilize resources such as librarians, educators, friends, family, doctors, professional organizations, retail booksellers, book clubs, and co-workers. You may find that you enjoy reading multiple works from the same author, similar titles, or widely varied topics. I have personally enjoyed both fiction and nonfiction recently and have learned that listening to interesting podcasts has a cause-and-effect relationship with my buying and reading more books! 

 

I hope you can enjoy time with the people you love doing the things you love and fully experience the joy of gratitude. 

Happy Thanksgiving!