Disney Films Used as Therapy to Strengthen Families

Everybody in the U.S. has heard of Disney.  Many have watched at least one of his movies.  Others have watched more.  Some have watched them all many, many times.  These animated movies are sources of entertainment for many people, so who would think they could be used for... therapy?

That's right! Disney movies can be used to assist in family therapy!  Therapists are looking to Disney movies for resources in their work to identify and solve issues within families. By viewing these movies over and over, parents can encourage their kids to learn the family values of Disney's sheltered franchise, just like the ones seen in The Lion King and Brave.

Elinor and Merida

First off, it is important to simply monitor what kind of media your child is seeing, and if that happens to mean playing family-friendly Disney movies, who's to complain?  Not you, and certainly not your child.  I mean, who wouldn't want to see talking animals in Africa or hear those cool Scottish accents in Brave?

Take an active role in controlling what your child does and does not see.  It is much better for your child to watch The Lion King, which teaches moral lessons about family and responsibility, than some generic cartoon show on TV.  You could choose the movies that have morals and beliefs that you want your kids to learn!

Therapists can use these movies to pinpoint exactly the type of situation your family is in and see if there is a movie that describes the same situation.  Luckily, Disney displays so many different types of families with so many different problems.  These problems may be far-fetched or extreme, as they are kids movies, but the ideas behind them can be broken down to something families can apply their own lives to.  Even Merida's problems with her mother are relatable, but maybe that is because Elinor turns into a bear.

Re-authoring the movie is another option.  Also known as narrative therapy, re-authoring involves telling the story of your life, and re-thinking it from a different angle in a positive light.  When the family re-authors the movie's story, they also subconsciously re-author their own family life!  Using this method may pin-point exactly what the problem is between family members.

Mufasa and Simba

What about a parent looking to get more involved?  A mother or father who has somewhat neglected their child may be looking for a way back in.  The therapist could ask the child "What did you like about the father in The Lion King?" and "How can your dad be just like that?"  The same can be asked of the parent.  "What about Elinor did you want in your mother?" They could imagine the character in the same situation.  "Hypothetically, if Elinor was gone for a long time, how could she merge back into Merida's life?"

The Lion King and Brave were both wonderful movies that the audience could take a lot out of, especially the relationships between Mufasa and Simba, as well as between Elinor and Merida.  Using these movies as a an example, you could try to improve your own family's relationship.  These animated films hold a special place in the hearts of many Americans, and I'm sure Disney will continue to represent these strong parent-child relationships in films to come.