Definition
Making films as part of therapeutic work
Film/Video-Based Therapy is a creative approach in which therapeutic work centers on making films and videos with clients. The making process — including shaping images, recording experience, and editing — is the central activity described by the approach, rather than an incidental way to illustrate a conversation (EverybodyWiki, n.d.).
That emphasis distinguishes it from cinematherapy. Cinematherapy centers on watching films or using a film’s imagery, plot, music, and other elements as therapeutic material, rather than making a film with the client (Wikipedia, n.d.).
Distinction
Film/Video-Based Therapy focuses on making films with clients; cinematherapy focuses on watching films as a therapeutic resource (EverybodyWiki, n.d.; Wikipedia, n.d.).
Origins & collaboration
A collaborative effort takes shape
Joshua Lee Cohen, author and co-editor of Video and Filmmaking as Psychotherapy: Research and Practice (Routledge, 2015), helped establish a collaborative effort in forming film/video-based therapy (EverybodyWiki, n.d.; Cohen, Johnson, & Orr, 2015).
In 1997, Dr. Cohen hosted a seminar for Dr. Gary Solomon at Colorado College. Inspired by Dr. Solomon’s work, he looked for ways to build on the concept of cinematherapy: to make films for therapeutic purposes, find others who used film and video as part of psychotherapy, and pursue the subject through his dissertation and later academic publishing (EverybodyWiki, n.d.).
Editorial note
A source-based account
This definitional and encyclopedic description draws on the cited encyclopedia sources and Dr. Cohen’s published work. It is presented as educational context for understanding the terms and their history.
Sources / References
Further reading
EverybodyWiki. Film/video-based therapy. https://en.everybodywiki.com/Film/video-based_therapy
Wikipedia. Cinema therapy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_therapy
Cohen, J. L., Johnson, J. L., & Orr, P. (Eds.). (2015). Video and filmmaking as psychotherapy: Research and practice. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Video-and-Filmmaking-as-Psychotherapy-Research-and-Practice/Cohen-Johnson-Orr/p/book/9781138286962
Solomon, G. The Motion Picture Prescription. Amazon book listing
Solomon, G. Reel Therapy. Amazon book listing
Continue exploring
Read the history, archive, and story
Boundary
A clear boundary
Dr. Cohen is not a clinical psychologist and does not provide psychological services.
This is consulting and education. It is not psychotherapy, diagnosis, treatment, clinical supervision, legal advice, crisis care, or compliance certification.