This interactive workshop invites participants to explore horror cinema as a rich space where trauma is represented, enacted, and, often, overcome. Far from being “mere entertainment,” horror films often depict the psychological processes of encountering, surviving, and dealing with trauma – either overcoming it or as cautionary tales to avoid it in real life. Through guided analysis, participants will examine how horror narratives map the terrain of trauma—threat, helplessness, hypervigilance, loss, and alienation—while also providing models (or cautionary tales) for coping, adaptation, safety, and post-traumatic growth.

We will combine Control-Mastery theory, thematic analysis, and group discussion to explore how these cinematic representations can deepen clinical insight, inform case conceptualization, and be used judiciously as metaphors or psychoeducation tools with clients.

This particular training will focus on the movies “Midsommar” and “It Follows.” It is recommended, but not required, that you watch these movies before the training to get the most out of the experience. However, these movies are disturbing by nature, so viewer discretion is advised!  Images from these films will be presented.