Reel Therapy

Stress

Expecting Amy: A Documentary of Resiliency

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on July 17, 2020

A new documentary chronicles Amy Schumer's recent pregnancy and offers not just high doses of humor, but some vivid insights as well.

A new documentary chronicles Amy Schumer's recent pregnancy and offers not just high doses of humor, but some vivid insights as well.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Coping With Corona

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on April 15, 2020

How can we best cope with a uniquely contagious and deadly virus, and thread the need of safety and risk?

How can we best cope with a uniquely contagious and deadly virus, and thread the need of safety and risk?

Health

How "Booksmart" Is Cinematherapeutic

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on June 3, 2019

“Booksmart” offers not just entertainment but takeaways for healthy living.

“Booksmart” offers not just entertainment but takeaways for healthy living.

Stress

Tully: A Movie About Parental Stress

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on May 15, 2018

Read on to discover the ways this captivating new movie discusses parenting, depression, and an increasingly prevalent and complex concern, known as caretaker burnout.

Read on to discover the ways this captivating new movie discusses parenting, depression, and an increasingly prevalent and complex concern, known as caretaker burnout.

Personality

Split: Horror with a Side of Split Personality

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on February 1, 2017

Read on to learn how the split personality phenomenon can be considered at the unhealthy end of the identity spectrum.

Read on to learn how the split personality phenomenon can be considered at the unhealthy end of the identity spectrum.

Suicide

The Protest of "Me Before You"

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on June 7, 2016

"Me Before You" seems to be about disability, makes a comment on patient assisted suicide, and shows how depressed characters can dampen entertainment quality in cinema...

"Me Before You" seems to be about disability, makes a comment on patient assisted suicide, and shows how depressed characters can dampen entertainment quality in cinema...

"The Revenant" has already garnered lots of awards for its quality. But a psychological warning should be attached to this film.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Concussion: Psychotherapy for Football

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on December 27, 2015

This movie lays out the crisis in football. What is this threat and how can it be psychologically adapted to?

This movie lays out the crisis in football. What is this threat and how can it be psychologically adapted to?

Trauma

Spotlight: The Trauma Crimes

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on December 17, 2015

Understand the full depth of anger behind this story of abuse.

Understand the full depth of anger behind this story of abuse.

Why is the new animated film "Inside Out" so popular? It might have something to do with how the characters, which are a young girl's emotional states, are actually so much more....

Relapse

Cancer on Reality TV

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on January 26, 2015

How to adapt resiliently to cancer and cancer relapses? Having a quick "trigger finger" is an important and overlooked facet of treatment resiliency.

How to adapt resiliently to cancer and cancer relapses? Having a quick "trigger finger" is an important and overlooked facet of treatment resiliency.

Trauma

American Sniper

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on January 19, 2015

Understand the story of PTSD within this excellent and tragic film.

Understand the story of PTSD within this excellent and tragic film.

Anger

The Drop: A Discussion of Dangerousness

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on September 18, 2014

Read further to learn about a high-quality film and some thoughts on the psycho-legal concept of dangerousness, and the factors that promote/predict violent behavior.

Read further to learn about a high-quality film and some thoughts on the psycho-legal concept of dangerousness, and the factors that promote/predict violent behavior.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on July 19, 2014

The movie could have been about peace; instead it is about war. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder sheds some light on why the story took this tragic turn...

The movie could have been about peace; instead it is about war. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder sheds some light on why the story took this tragic turn...

Motivation

The Americans: Psychological Weapons of War

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on May 26, 2014

The skill set underlying an effective spy is varied. The mission for the Jennings' involves sophisticated psychological skills more than the traditional model of spy strengths like running, jumping and shooting...

The skill set underlying an effective spy is varied. The mission for the Jennings' involves sophisticated psychological skills more than the traditional model of spy strengths like running, jumping and shooting...

Divorce

The Temporary Psychosis of Divorce

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on March 1, 2014

Like the show "True Detective," the divorce process can be horrifying. This blog entry, through a discussion of the hit-HBO series, illustrates the horrifying nature of divorce and what can be done to side-step the otherwise inevitable wave of misery.

Like the show "True Detective," the divorce process can be horrifying. This blog entry, through a discussion of the hit-HBO series, illustrates the horrifying nature of divorce and what can be done to side-step the otherwise inevitable wave of misery.

Happiness

Monuments Men: A Vehicle for Positive Emotions

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on February 8, 2014

This movie proves its entertainment value with injections of happiness. It's a perfect illustration of the psychological function of positive emotions in movies.

This movie proves its entertainment value with injections of happiness. It's a perfect illustration of the psychological function of positive emotions in movies.

Narcissism

The Double-Edged Sword of Narcissism

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on December 26, 2013

The Wolf of Wall Street!

This movie is outstanding - not just because it’s so well made but because it follows such an interesting (obviously and amusingly narcissistic) character, Jordan Belfort (played in outstanding fashion by Leonardo DiCaprio).

The Wolf of Wall Street!

This movie is outstanding - not just because it’s so well made but because it follows such an interesting (obviously and amusingly narcissistic) character, Jordan Belfort (played in outstanding fashion by Leonardo DiCaprio).

Fear

Out of the Furnace

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on December 7, 2013

Three reasons for why you should watch "Out of the Furnace" even though it'll be sure to make you cry...

Three reasons for why you should watch "Out of the Furnace" even though it'll be sure to make you cry...

Fear

What Makes the Film 'Gravity' So Scary?

Jeremy Clyman Psy.D. on October 14, 2013

I list three reasons (of many) that explain why the critically acclaimed 'Gravity,' is efficient and powerful as a vehicle to induce a psychological state of fear/scared-ness in us as viewers.

If we're going to watch a very good movie (as this is) and feel fear than it seems useful to understand the cause...

I list three reasons (of many) that explain why the critically acclaimed 'Gravity,' is efficient and powerful as a vehicle to induce a psychological state of fear/scared-ness in us as viewers.

If we're going to watch a very good movie (as this is) and feel fear than it seems useful to understand the cause...