African man consuming media art like movies and books as therapy. Podcast with Lisa Bahar LMFT & Jenni Ogden Ph.D.

Media Art as Therapy: When Movies and Books Become Treatment

Original Air Date Wednesday, May 20, 2020

During this time of COVID-19 when we are being ultra-creative in finding ways to satisfy our needs and take care of our mental health, how are we affected by the media we ingest? Watching or reading stories of others overcoming adversity is a wonderful way to approach taking care of our mind, body, and spirit. But, does it make a difference if the story is complete fantasy or a documentary?

To find out how our minds process characters and stories and to offer imaginative ways we can take care of ourselves amidst the COVID-19 crisis, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two women who advocate for stories to heal distress.

Lisa Bahar integrates cinematherapy into her marriage and family therapy practice. She describes how our minds are influenced by all types of media and how movies can relieve distress. And, Jenni Odgen who is well-versed in Bibliotherapy shares how fictional novels can spark psychological and emotional healing when we closely identify with a character in a similar situation to us.

Tune in:

Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio · Media Art as Therapy: When Movies and Books Become Treatment with Lisa Bahar & Jenni Ogden

Meet Our Guests:

Media Art as Therapy: When Movies and Books Become Treatment with Lisa Bahar LMFT & Jenni Ogden Ph.D.

Lisa Bahar, MA is a licensed marriage and family therapist and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Armed with a BA in Cinema-Television Production, she enjoys implementing cinema into a therapeutic process called cinematherapy.

Lisa Bahar LMFT — Being Mindful of Media Intake

Exploring how movies and books can be used to harm or help human psychology. {2:14}
Lisa shares her pandemic watch list, which consists mostly of heartwarming documentaries in which people overcome obstacles. {4:38}
Reality ends here: Being mindful of the media you expose your mind to. {7:20}
How movies and media activate addictive responses in the brain. {13:39}
Healthy, loving relationships are the key to a healthy physiological life. {22:22}
The younger generation is angered by the control the media has over their mind through technology and psychology. {17:42}
Open dialogue about the choices humans make when faced with distress and how movies can predict the future. {21:20}

Follow Lisa Bahar LMFT:

Before becoming a writer of fiction, Jenni A Ogden, Ph.D. researched and taught clinical psychology and neuropsychology at the University of Auckland. She holds several doctoral degrees including zoology and neuropsychology. Her next novel, The Moon is Missing, will be published in mid-2020.

Book: A Drop in the Ocean & The Moon is Missing

Jenni Ogden Ph.D. — Using Movies and Books for Healing:

Jenni describes how media art like movies and books can help us through tough times and how Bibliotherapy works as a healing therapy. {29:52}
Why Biblio-therapists prescribe novels, not self-help books. {42:22}
Why reading media art and fiction may have more therapeutic value than watching TV. {46:20}
How to find a therapeutic, fictional novel without a Biblio-therapist. {51:03}

Follow Jenni Ogden Ph.D.:

Shareables:

“What programs are you feeding your mind?” @lisabahar on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Be mindful of the journey you take your mind into.” @lisabahar on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Sometimes, having our imaginations and emotions stimulated is exactly what we need.” @jenni_ogden on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Novels with too much detail are boring. We want to imagine how a character looks, feels, and sounds.” @jenni_ogden on @HHTalkRadio Share on X

Grab More Joy Below:

Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life — A boot camp manual for greater emotional fitness. Happiness waits for no one and sometimes we all need support. What is getting in the way of your happiness right now?

H–Factor: Where is Your Heart? — Lisa’s documentary film explores the journey of human happiness. Emotions are contagious and happiness is a universally desired state. We tend to forget we all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be miserable each day.