Woman 2 Watch- Dr. Birgit Wolz
Dr. Birgit Wolz
Dr. Birgit Wolz is a psychotherapist with a practice in Oakland, California and is this week’s Woman 2 Watch. Her love for motion pictures and her desire to help those suffering with informational pain, led her to a innovative and very effective new therapeutic method where she uses the power of movies as an adjunct to traditional therapeutic methods in her work with clients, couples, and workshops. Through this method Dr. Wolz basically uses movies as a healing method for her patients and as a result has published a popular book: “E-Motion Picture Magic – A Movie Lover’s Guide to Healing and Transformation” that is used by the general public as a self-help book and by therapists for their work with clients. Read more below about this Woman 2 Watch!
FG: When did you first realize that you wanted to incorporate film into your therapy?
DBW: In 2002 I visited a workshop called “Movies and Mythic Imagination – Using Films in Depth Psychology”. I became fascinated with the idea of using movies with my clients to understand their emotional issues and to support their process.
FG: How did your colleagues react when you began to talk about and introduce this form of therapy to patients?
DBW: Most of them were curious and fascinated. The may have used movies informally with their clients before, but didn’t know about the systematic methodology that I developed. Therefore I am very passionate about teaching Cinema Therapy to my colleagues.
FG: What kinds of results did you get from your patients when your cinema therapy was introduced?
DBW: I use Cinema Therapy in my practice with individual clients, couples, in a weekly Cinema Alchemy group, and in workshops and have amazing success with this method. Many success stories are documented on http://www.cinematherapy.com/birgitarticles.html.
FG: What sort of problems or disorders is best treated by cinema therapy?
DBW: Because Cinema Therapy is used as an adjunct to traditional therapeutic methods it enhances their effect and can be used for all disorders that are treated with these methods. For example, I have treated depression, grief, anxiety, trauma, addictions, etc.
FG: In your opinion what are the features of Cinema Therapy?
DBW: In Cinema Therapy clients learn to watch movies consciously and reflectively by paying attention to the story and to themselves. They learn to understand themselves and others more objectively in the big “movie” of their lives. Therefore Cinema Therapy can help clients to better understand their life patterns as well as provide catharsis and/or new perspective.
- Clients who hold their feelings back by over-intellectualizing may find it easier to let go of their defenses and access feelings that arise during and after watching a movie. Movies affect them powerfully because the synergistic impact of images, music, dialogue, lighting, camera angles, sound and special effects can elicit deep feelings and help them reflect on their lives.
- Client resistance can dissolve because: 1. Clients become curious when the therapist suggests that they watch a movie, especially if they don’t expect this kind of intervention. 2. Rapport develops faster and is stronger because movies speak a language that is familiar and less intimidating than psychological jargon. 3. Watching and discussing a movie can help clients to see their situation from a bird’s eye perspective. 4. Movies can demonstrate behavior change, enabling clients to envision how their own problems might be solved.
- Cinema Therapy can also help with clinical assessment: In addition to the standard biographical questioning, clients may be asked to name a few films they have found to be personally meaningful and explain why they found them of importance.
FG: Why did you feel writing your book, “E-Motion Picture Magic – A Movie Lover’s Guide to Healing and Transformation” was important?
DBW: Because of my own powerful personal growth experiences with movies, I wanted to write a self-help book for the general population and – at the same time – a book that therapists can use to guide their clients in the therapeutic use of movies. People who don’t struggle with serious mental illness and want to use movies for their healing and personal growth can benefit greatly from my book.
FG: What was the most difficult challenge you faced when first introducing cinema therapy?
DBW: Clients and group members need to let go of seeing a movie through the eyes of a film critic and focus on their emotional responses to film characters and scenes. Because they are often not used to this, it can be hard for them to achieve this orientation. Therefore it is sometimes a difficult task for me to prevent a Cinema Therapy group from drifting into a “movie group”. Film experts, who attend my workshops, can be the biggest challenges for me as a group facilitator.
FG: How many of your business decisions are based on know how vs. your intuition?
DBW: I use a combination of know how and intuition. In my previous career (in Germany), I did mostly scientific research in Economics and Business Administration. Therefore I might have more business knowledge then the average therapist. But I still use a lot of intuition for my business decisions.
FG: What do you consider to be some of the major highlights of your career thus far?
DBW: Publishing my book and teaching Cinema Alchemy workshops at Esalen Institute (http://webapp.esalen.org/workshops/8936).
FG: What is a spiritual mantra or philosophy that you live by?
DBW: Following my inner guidance (Higher Self).
FG: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
DBW: Follow your dreams! “When you build it they will come” (From the movie Field of Dreams).
FG: What would you tell your younger-self if you knew then what you know now?
DBW: Trust your inner strength. This will help you prevail over challenges and help you reach your goals even if you have doubts now.
Finish this sentence….
FG: Women should stop complaining about how ______________ and start _____________.
DBW: Women should stop complaining about how hard or boring their life is and start becoming proactive and pursuing their passion.
FG: If your life had a soundtrack what would be your top three songs?
DBW: Lessons in Love (Level 42), Heart and Soul (T’Paul), Against All Odds (Phil Collins). I like the titles of these songs, but I don’t know their lyrics since I am not familiar with the lyrics of most songs in the English language.
FG: What project(s) do you have coming up?
DBW: In June 2011 my husband and I are moving to our house in the country where I will write more. I am also planning to travel to other countries to teach Cinema Therapy starting next summer.
For more information on Dr. Brigit Wolz email her at bwolz@earthlink.net.
