Documental health: exploring documentary films as a therapeutic resource

While counseling and psychotherapy have utilised film for decades, and documentary film is interpretive of contemporary life as part of visual media’s ever-increasing presence, a thorough understanding of documentary’s place and potential within therapy remains underdeveloped in theory, research, and practice. Autobiographical filmmaking by clients has secured a small foothold in these contexts. However, the viewing of pre-existing documentaries is relatively rare despite such films offering narrative and metaphoric richness that could assist in the conveying and clarification of lived experience. With the intention of addressing this largely latent opportunity and prompting increased attention to the genre’s overall therapeutic utility, this paper sets out prospective practice guidelines under the title of documentalization. This is a collaborative and non-directive process through which therapist-client documentary engagement may be explored and deployed. The paper begins by outlining film-related therapy and the potential of documentary within it before offering guidelines for use and a series of anonymised case study vignettes from therapy practice. Further research around documentalization is required to provide empirical insight into therapeutic outcomes.