​What it is

Cinema Therapy is a creative approach that uses film narratives as mirrors—helping us reflect, discover emotional truth, and grow. At Yes, And…eXercise!, we use it as a narrative engine: not just to process life, but to craft stories that can be shared—stories that move people, build connection, and spark action. Yes, And...eXercise!

 

Why story matters
We don’t live by facts alone. The stories we tell ourselves about what happened, what it means, and who we are now shape our path and reality. When stories becomes fearful, isolating, or limiting, they can quietly imprison us. Cinema Therapy helps you step back (aesthetic distance), see patterns clearly, and rewrite with intention, breaking you out of your inner narrative into a place of joy, adventure, and possibility again.

 

How it works (Discover → Shape → Share)
Meet online for 90 minutes/week over 16 weeks. Each week includes a clip, prompts, and one page of writing shared with the group. You’ll leave with a complete Success Stories™ framework—and an ensemble that reminds you you’re not alone. 

 

Who it's for

• People living with Parkinson’s (and people who love them) who want language for what’s hard to describe. 

• Writers, artists, and “I’ve-never-written-before” humans who want to explore story as an art form. 

• Anyone navigating change, grief, identity shifts, caregiving, or the desire to create something meaningful.

If you love movies, you’re already halfway in.

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What people create (and what changes)
Participants consistently report greater confidence, clarity, and connection. Story turns “I’m alone in this” into “I know what I’m facing, and I know what I’m doing next.” Over time, these narratives become Success Stories™, the kind of crafted, shareable storytelling that helps families, communities, and audiences understand what’s most valuable in life.

 

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​Success Stories™ are crafted, shareable narratives created through Cinema Therapy—stories that transform lived experience into meaning, connection, and forward motion. They don’t just reflect where you’ve been; they help illuminate where you’re going. Explore Success Stories™.

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Upcoming classes (late January 2026)
Go the Distance (Rocky) - resilience, identity, fighting spirit. 

• The ultimate underdog story celebrating its 50 year anniversary and themes of resilience, identity, and love. 

• Step into the ring of your own story with Rocky as your guide - crafted in partnership with Rock Steady Boxing.

Stand By Me - friendship, fear, belonging, and the stories we carry from childhood. ​

• Explore why this film, Rob Reiner, and Stephen King still hit so hard - then write the story it unlocks in you. 

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About the Instructor

Robert Cochrane, PhD developed YAX’s evidence-based storytelling and improvisation programs through interdisciplinary health sciences research. He is an award-winning filmmaker and has spent more than two decades creating the award-winning Boys of Summer documentary series.

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Cinema Therapy is not therapy as a substitute for medical/psychological care. It is a clinically tested, arts-based, fun and approachable  community-centered complement to living your best.