TOPIC: BOUNDARIES
 
 

• Did you agree with the boundary definitions presented in the Psychology Today? Where would you draw your lines if you were a therapist? How would you feel about the existence of boundary limits is you were a client?

 

 
 
 
 

• Did you think the therapist in Ordinary People breached boundaries? When? How? What attitude about boundaries is promoted by this film?

 

 
 
 
 

• In what other films seen so far have there been boundary issues? What were they? For you, did they fall in the "Maybe" or the "No" area of permissibility?

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

• How were boundaries crossed in Good Will Hunting, Lovesick, Carefree? What were the differences? What were the results? Which would you say was the most egregious violation? Why?

TOPIC: Dr. Dippy, Dr. Evil, and Dr. Wonderful
 
 

• What are the distinguishing characteristics of each of these stereotypes?

 

 
 
 

• Using these three stereotypes where would you place each of the mental health professionals seen so far?

 

 
 
 
 

• Is this tripartite characterization more or less helpful than the chart in your discussion guide?

• What diagnoses have been given to main characters in the movies you have seen so far?

 

 
 
 

• Why do you think certain diagnoses are used more often in films?

 

 
 
 
 

• Start a list of the diagnoses used in films which you will keep until the end of the term.

• What kind of impression do you get of the clinic in thr first scene? Compare it with the office the therapist has at home.
  
  
  
  
  
• In the first scene at the clinic, what differences did you see between Felix and the others (appearance, approach to clients, qualifications)?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What do you think of his agreeing to speak to his sister-in-law?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What sign of positive transference did the man show right at the first session?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What do you think is the reason why Adam Lucien periodically falls into switching between talking abut his experiences as happening to "him" and in the first person?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What behaviors of the patient led him to diagnose schizophrenia? What misconception about schizophrenia was reinforced by the note he wrote in his book? What diagnosis would you give him?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What do you think about his explanations of his behaviors toward his wife & her sister? What defense mechanisms were involved?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A lot of psychoanalysis is based on symbolism. Look for examples of its use in the dialogue and actions of both the patient and the analyst.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What is your opinion of his going to the home of the boy who is his patient?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What were the attitudes of both Felix and the psychiatrist toward Felix doing what is essentially a medical procedure?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Do you agree with the explanations of how psychotherapists have to be to be effective (in the scene where he goes for advice about his relationship with his wife)?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What was the effect on you of having the camera take the position of Adam in the flashback to the POW experience?
  
  
  
  
  
• What signs of professional burnout do you see in Felix?
  
  
  
  
  
• What is your opinion of Felix's handling of the money issue with Adam Lucien?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Are your attitudes about Felix changing at all during the course of the film? Explain what they are at different points in the film and what influences them.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What is the significance of: the poster Adam tears, the song he hums? How do they foretell his basic problem?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Felix actually complied with the Tarasoff "duty to warn" decree. Do you think he could be sued by her family? What grounds would they have, if any?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Would you have done what Felix did for Adam? Do you think it was his obligation to do this?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Do you agree with the coroner that "Dr. Milne knew he was dangerous and did nothing about it."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Do you think Felix could have done anything different that might have affected the ending?