Explanation of Bibliotherapy/Cinematherapy
Cinematherapy, like bibliotherapy, attempts to help individuals normalize and reconcile their emotional experiences by identifying with characters in a story. “The goal is to help people move through life’s predictable stages by providing information about what to expect and examples of how other people have dealt with the same developmental challenges” (Halstead, 2009, p. 108). Both are used as way to guide participants through healing and/or growth. This project will attempt to use film to help students identify with characters or representations of issues they may face by viewing selected films and/or film clips which portray thematic elements that can often describe or illustrate what one may experience as a gifted individual, and specifically for this course gifted girls. The themes highlighted through this cinematherapy enrichment course have been chosen with the belief that often what we read or watch can have a lasting impact on us and even more so if discussion is incorporated (Halstead, 2009). Through discussion, journaling, other response activities, and a culminating project students will be given an opportunity to express their thoughts, connections, and views of the films used.