Cinema Therapy

Cinema Therapy – At a spacious 230-square feet, with a 42-inch flat screen TV/monitor, and a comfortable zero gravity recliner, each client room at New Horizons CSH is itself a “home theater”.  Therefore, from our state-of-the-art computer center we can broadcast to each client’s room – movies, entertainment, meetings with family members and others (such as an empowerment coach), and other  individualized content  from sources such as “Nature Stream”  and “World Vue” (click links below).  Each client can simultaneously receive different, individualized content – either on-demand or on a pre-programmed (scheduled) basis.     

Cinema Therapy is an innovative field premised on the transformational power that certain films can have on the human psyche.  We sometimes leave a movie theater full of emotions, insights and inspiration.  The movie we just saw might make us reflect on our own life experiences – struggles as well as gifts.  

Movies can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth. They allow us to use the effect of imagery, plot, music, etc. on our psyche for insight, inspiration and emotional release.  Choosing and watching films consciously can support personal and spiritual growth. 

• Watching movies encourages emotional release. Even those who often have trouble expressing their emotions might find themselves laughing or crying during a film. This release of emotions can have a cathartic effect and also make it easier for a person to become more comfortable in expressing their emotions. This can be invaluable during counseling as well as in “real life.”
• Sad films can make us happier. While this might seem counter-intuitive, many of us can relate to this. After we watch a particularly sad or distressing film, we feel thankful for our own life and our “smaller” problems in comparison. Others’ tragedies make us more appreciative of everything good in our own lives.
• Watching movies can help us make sense of our own lives. For thousands of years, knowledge and wisdom have been passed down through the art of storytelling. Stories offer us different perspectives and help us understand and make sense of the world. And movies are stories.
• Movies give us a break from whatever is currently bothering us. We are transported to a different time and place and can just focus on the present moment for a short time. This gives our brains a much-needed rest from “the usual.”

• Movies bring us a sense of relief, even if they stress us out first. Watching something suspenseful releases cortisol (the stress hormone) in the brain, followed by dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure.

Our therapists carefully select movies for our clients to watch that are enjoyable feel-good movies that are inspirational and have an uplifting message.