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Characters On The Couch

How a psychologist thinks about your favorite Film & TV characters.

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JOJO RABBIT Why A Boy Needs Hitler As His Imaginary Friend

JOJO RABBIT
Why A Boy Needs Adolf Hitler
As His Imaginary Friend

February 9, 2020 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

When you’re a scared little boy in the middle of a war and your father’s missing, Adolf Hitler can become your best friend. That is, in your mind at least. And, why not? He’s the man with the most power in all of Germany. What better friend to help you stand up to your fears? …

Read moreJOJO RABBIT
Why A Boy Needs Adolf Hitler
As His Imaginary Friend
Vice: Tyrants, Bullies, & Childhood Trauma

VICE
Tyrants & Bullies
What Do These 2 Have To Do With Childhood Trauma?

February 11, 2019 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

What makes someone greedy; heartless; manipulative; and corrupt? So hungry for power that anything goes; even law; morality; & a daughter? Adam McCay’s Vice doesn’t answer questions of what or why. Vice tells the story of who and how. Yet, let’s for a moment think about Dick and Lynne Cheney as two parts of one …

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Tyrants & Bullies
What Do These 2 Have To Do With Childhood Trauma?
The Martian Trauma of Abandonment Self-Sufficiency or Human Connection?

THE MARTIAN
Trauma Of Abandonment
Self-Sufficiency Or Connection?

February 27, 2016 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Director Ridley Scott’s film, The Martian, tells the story of NASA astronaut Mark Watney’s (Matt Damon) accidental abandonment on the barren planet of Mars. Early childhood abandonment also creates a desolate emotional landscape. People can’t be trusted. Hope is fractured. On Mars, Mark has two things to turn to 1. distasteful music of Commander Lewis’ …

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Trauma Of Abandonment
Self-Sufficiency Or Connection?
ROOM How Does Therapy Find Words For Wordless Trauma?

ROOM
How Does Therapy Find Words
For Wordless Trauma?

February 18, 2016 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

Director Lenny Abrahamson and writer Emma Donoghue’s film, ROOM, takes us directly into the emotional experience of trauma. As the film opens, we hear a little boy’s voice introducing us to a girl named Ma. Kidnapped, stolen from her life, and kept in ROOM for seven years, Ma lives in a world as incomprehensible as Alice’s …

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How Does Therapy Find Words
For Wordless Trauma?
SNL ISIS SKIT Why Joke About Terror & Loss?

SNL ISIS SKIT
Why Joke About Terror & Loss?

March 4, 2015 by Dr. Sandra E. Cohen

I find it pretty shocking that the well-respected SNL would vet a skit that pokes fun at something that’s spreading terror across the globe. “Take care of my daughter…. death to America?” What’s up with the SNL ISIS SKIT? Come on. Not funny at all. In the face of the recent attacks, beheadings, and immolation why …

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Why Joke About Terror & Loss?

Inspiration

“We come to Film and TV to find our hidden stories. If we look deeply into a character’s psyche, there is much to see about ourselves.”

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