By Margot Escott, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

They say that opposites attract, and that is very well illustrated in my current marriage. This is my second marriage, after being divorced for over a decade, and I must admit that I didn’t know what true happiness and joy was until I remarried — and now it’s too late! One of our greatest areas of differences is our taste in films. He likes the Miramax-Emma Thompson-English “chick flicks,” while I go for the Bruce Willis-Terminator-Pulp Fiction genre (so much for stereo-cinema types!)

In my life as a clinical social worker, humor therapist and a patient, I have watched hundreds of movies and have come to believe that films can be used as therapeutic interventions. In my own experience I use classics like the Marx Brothers’ A Day at the Races to Something About Mary to raise my spirits and increase my endorphin levels. Flicks like Rudy and Rocky serve to inspire me to go an extra mile. And of course, the dysfunctional family favorite Ordinary People reassures me that I am not alone.

There is a growing interest in our field to encourage video therapy for our patients, and these guides are great for the more serious issues like addiction, grief and mood disorders. But I’ve noted a lack of resources in the area of how to help Humor Impaired (H.I.) clients. You know them, the ones with no laugh track, who can’t seem to laugh or smile about anything — since life is such a tragedy. Now, there are certainly valid cases of depression and crises that do not call for humor/video therapy. Indeed, it would be insensitive and intrusive in some cases to suggest film therapy or even humor therapy for the profoundly ill patient.

But for those patients who are struggling with the more common garden-variety neuroses (like most of the therapists who treat them) I would like to give Margot’s Movie Musts for the following issues.

Women’s Issues (water retention, bad hair life, boyfriend ran off with best friend, ad infinitum)

These issues demand dramatic intervention to help promote the sagging self-esteem (not to mention other drooping parts). My favorite film that represents the valiant archetype of woman-as-avenger is: Thelma and Louise — if nothing else, seeing Brad Pitt in his earlier days should provide temporary relief from women’s woes!

Work Issues (17-hour workdays, downsizing dumps, 20 years of schooling and they put you on the day shift)

It’s a sad, but true, statistic that more heart attacks occur on Monday mornings — just when folks are going back to that place where they spend the majority of their lives. For every worker who has had the proverbial “job from hell,” my best bet is Nine-to Five — although some may see it as more of a woman’s movie. After all, back in the 70s, the film’s setting, and 80s, when this classic came out, the euphemistic “administrative assistants” were just secretaries and predominately female. However, gender stereotypes have bent, making this is a good film for anyone who would love to see his/her belligerent boss collared and chained to a leash.

Relationship Issues (haven’t had one in the past year/decade/incarnation, even your mom won’t return phone calls)

Face it, most patients come to therapy around their relationship issues so this is an extremely pertinent category. Quite frankly, I don’t believe that men are from Mars and women are from Venus — I think we’re from entirely different galaxies! But for those lonely hearts that keep looking for Ms. Right, you can never go wrong with Fatal Attraction — is it really better to have loved and lost? For patients who are pining away for romance, this is a good dose of realty testing. Caution: This is not recommended for patients who have a hard time letting go of a lover, multiple stalking convictions and/or an ex-lover who owns rabbits!

Clinical Issues (you deal with anger, depression, addiction, and when you finally leave home and get to the office, you need some peace and quiet; your patient’s problems are beginning to sound good to you)

Therapist-burnout prevention is a serious issue and in this category I personally find any of the classic (first five years) of Saturday Night Live the best prescription. My all-time favorite is on the topic group therapy (want to get in it, want to get out of it, want to understand it) piece found on the Best of SNL with John Belushi. This video has the classic group therapy scene with Eliot Gould as the memory-deficient shrink and John as the Godfather, Don Corleon. This parody of our trade (and remember, when we laugh at ourselves we are truly getting better) is a sure-fire way to laugh away those stress lines!

This is just a sample prescription. Be creative, have fun and remember to use humor and playfulness that feels comfortable (and somewhat appropriate) for you. For the more serious approach on the therapeutic uses of video therapy check out The "Motion Picture Prescription" by Gary Solomon, M.S.W., Ph.D. or "Rent Two Films and Let’s Talk in the Morning" by John and Jan Hesley.

Margot Escott is a clinical social worker in private practice in Naples, Florida, where she has specialized in humor, laughter and recovery issues for the past fifteen years. Ms Escott is available for workshops/seminars and recently began a new career as a talk show host on “West Coast Magazine.” She may be contacted by e-mail at escott@naples.net or call 941/434-6558.