We use mirror dimension in movie therapy in analytical way when we want to
know more about us and understand ourselves, our behavior and our motives better.
Mirror shows us our emotional self-portrait. Mirror works in transference
dimension.
In mirror dimension we can “wake up” our hidden, subconscious emotions, have
better belvedere into our mind and ask those questions we maybe have not asked
earlier. Why I feel like this here and now? What makes me feel like this?
When I feel like this? What this is related to? What is behind this emotion?
Am I using this emotion as self-defense? Is this good or bad? How I should
resolve these problems? Why that feeling is touching me? What this emotion
expands and what it reduces? Why this is satisfying me and that agitates me?
What / why I am afraid of? Why I don’t feel safe? What I the threat behind this
emotion in my real life? Why I am dreaming of this? What this satisfies in my
life? If everything would be possible what would / should change in my life?
What this happiness is? Where it comes from? What this means to me? How can
I be happy in my life? What can I do to be happy? Etc.
We can use mirror dimension in self-care – and in fact, we are using it daily
when we are watching movies. We do it subconsciously and are not so well aware
of it. I think that we use more than 99,9 percent of movie therapy as self-care.
Mirror represents analytical, comprehensive, introspective dimension and
deliberating
causal relations.
If we think about mental health problems or self-esteem or self-knowledge from
outsiders perspective we can notice that those are always very subjective
phenomenons. Meaning of our problems is private and personal like sensation of
pain. Proportion of our mental self-portrait is value binded. Why this dimension
is so important to me?
Mirror dimension allows other people’s reality and us to touch our own: way of
thinking, way of living and way of feeling. And it allows us to have a good
look of that picture in our own mirror which reflects from outside. We can
compare our own opinions to that picture. We can take a look into our ego from
other angle, in new way and from a new point of view.
Mirror dimension allows us to take a look inside from different dimension than
we have used to do.
One reason why therapy or working with our mind is often so hard to do is same
what happens when we are very creative: we are so severely chafed, been exposed
to sensitive, to fragile experience, we are so naked. If we want to create
something new, if we want to find something new inside our mind, our ego we have
to take steps on that thin ice, we need to have courage to go to unknown zone
of our mind. It means defiance, crossing borders and will power and need to
jump into unknown.
Often therapeutic experiences exhaust people because cutting a road through the
mind is hard work.
It is very hard to flounder in the backyard or in depth of our mind, to touch
something unconscious, hidden, declined or frightening. Exposing or being exposed
takes and demands strength. It tears like a grater and – simultaneously – gives
something very important: elixir of life, vitality, and living space.
We can use homemade movies analytic way. It is good for our self-knowledge to be
able to see ourselves like other people can see, from neutral perspective like
outsiders. It offers unique therapeutic possibilities. Therapist doesn’t have
to describe or interpret or guess what is happening when client can see it on
own eyes. We are one big step nearer objectivity and “truth”. Those meanings
and values are described by client, not therapist, and it is very important
aspect if we think of self-knowledge, self-examination and life handling skills.
Therapist is more like a guide than a teacher, more like a coach than guardian of
laws.
Mirror dimension aims at integration of ego or increase self-knowledge. In movie
therapy we use especially those experiences we have during identification and
projection.
Self-made videos give us good possibility to use merciless objective body-image
dimension and reality perceiving and notice how we behave and react in different
situations.
We can use mirror dimension both analytic and supporting.
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6.2.2. SUPPORTIVE MOVIE THERAPY
In supportive movie therapy we use a lot elements that create positive and warm
attitude, harmonization and integration.
Therapist works actively with constructive and replaceable experiences and as an
empathizer.
Because supportive movie therapy doesn’t need very intensive watching situation
we can use television and videos. Watching situation is maybe more niggling but
it also allows more social relationships, conversation and interaction like that.
We can share what we see and feel and how we experience what’s happening. At its
best this kind of supportive experiences can be very warm, positive and
constructive in many levels. For shy or sensitive or inhibited or withdrawn
people this can be very helpful way of working.
In supportive movie therapy we can use humour and even entertainment as well as
more serious subjects.
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6.2.2.1. WINDOW
Window shows a view outside from us. Through a window we can see how other people
live their life and solve their problems. How they think, act and react. We can
have a window to alternative possibilities, visions, hope, belief, etc.
Window represents more supportive dimension than mirror. Through window we can
go forward, see what maybe ahead. We can learn skills other people have. We can
have better knowledge what can be in this world and how we can manage to wander
alive through that dreadful jungle of life.
With positive supporting we can eliminate isolation and sinking too deep inside
ones own inner world. Through window we can notice that wall is not a final
obstacle, it can be possibility to something new and maybe better. Wall is just
a challenge.
We can do movie therapy both indirect and direct.
In indirect movie therapy we can improve other team members or elements of
criticism, self-criticism, education, job control or job description.
In direct movie therapy we do real therapy.
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6.3. INTERACTIVE MOVIE THERAPY
New technology expands movie therapy from silver screens and television sets
to computers and microcircuits and game consoles.
In interactive movie therapy we can watch and create movies at same time. In
many cases we have huge possibilities to use our imagination in real time.
New game consoles are so good that we can do movie therapy with them.
I have noticed that interactive movie therapy works very well especially with
children and young adults. Often it works even better than any other therapy
form. One secret maybe that with game consoles we can stimulate better our
imagination and control and empathy. We are more totally inside that movie
experience than while watching a normal movie.
Game consoles use alter egos with and through which a player can participate
in action and have possibility to control it more than in cinema.
Game consoles give a player excellent possibility to develop in motor coordination
and nerve coordination and facing different kind of emotions and learn more
self-control. And it gives us a good way to act out in safe way.
In games we can face threat and pain of resignation.
While playing a game player goes through different emotions. Those can be very
strong and symbolic. I personally noticed some years ago while I was playing
Super Mario those how strong emotions I went into with that game. It was up
to me if Mario was going to fall from a bridge to death. It made my heart
pumping and I sweat all over. Fear of dying was so strongly present at that
moment that it almost scared me.
When we play more we can handle better a game and our own emotions. Playing
helps to have better self-control and to know better our own emotions. It has
same kind effects like meditation. More we play better we handle those
situations. It is like throwing a stone in water. First it makes big waves but
then waves are getting smaller and smaller. In many cases playing helps with
stress.
Playing games is good for nerve coordination, when we learn to use eyes and
hands at same time. My son was born almost three months too early and in his
first years he had little problem with coordinating his eyes and hands at
same time. Doctor said that it helps if he picks rice from a cup to another
cup. We did few times that but – to be honest – it was boring for all of us.
Then I bought Nintendo 64 and few children games. My son, Jussi, was
interested in playing. In the beginning he was not so good, I win almost every
race with him. But after few months he started to beat me and after few
years I’m a beginner on his side. He made so good results in nerve coordination
that I believe we couldn’t do better with any other methods. And this is
important too: being good in playing grows self-esteem and makes it easier to
have and manage with friends. Playing games can be much more social happening
than reading books or even watching movies.
Interactive movie therapy is good if we have problems of facing frustration or
disappointment because it is so neutral. Super Mario is not going to be angry
if we can’t handle the game. We can face our emotions more safe and free way
while playing. And if we are angry or make mistakes we don’t do any harm to
real people. For quick-tempered people or to those who have bad ability to
concentrate playing games can be very helpful.
In therapy with alcoholics they have had good experiences in using those virtual
small animals, Tamakochies. Keeping them “alive” help people to touch their
empathy and feel the need for it.
I saw some time ago a document of long-term prisoners in USA who were training
stray dogs for new families. Training dogs and feeling friendship with them
helped a lot those prisoners in their human relationships too.
In therapy it is very important to have those integrate experiences. It is
important to notice that I can feel something and be good enough.
It can be very helpful to practice different kind skills in therapy or in
self-care but it is very important to use those skills in real life too.
Interactive movie therapy can be very helpful hired hand but maybe
problematic landlord. Playing games is good thing but it is good to have
moderation on that too.
