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ABSTRACT
Group cinematherapy, with its focus on films, is useful as a supplemental mode of psychotherapy in a residential treatment center for adolescent girls. What little that has been published about it stresses film as a metaphor for themes and conflicts. This metaphoric expression can be viewed psychodynamically as a defense against the overwhelming affects that would be generated by a too direct psychotherapeutic approach. The commercial films that were shown monthly to the group of fifteen girls in one unit were chosen by the two co-therapists to promote discussion of relevant topics such as the mother-daughter relationship and the missing father. Gradually, the girls became able to discuss more of their observations about the films and bring in more of their own personal experiences. A recognizable group psychotherapy process was established over the period of a year with the cinematherapy becoming quite important to the group members.