Deadpool
Cinema Therapy
(seriously)
Deadpool doesn’t cope politely. He tells the truth. He breaks the rules.
So will we.
Unapologetically profane, vile and violent, Deadpool also has a heart and knows how to tell a damned good story. His love of Vanessa gives him a reason to live and makes this film irresistible to watch. For those who have faced a difficult, life-changing diagnosis, Deadpool knows you and feels you, too. So if cursing, superhero action, and bad guy blood are your cup of truth-telling tea, Deadpool and this class are your Darjeeling.
This Class Is Not For Everyone - don't sign up if:
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You want clichés
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You want to be told everything will be fine
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You’re not ready to be honest
DO sign up if:
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You were diagnosed before you thought it was possible…
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You know there's no cure and you're kicking ass anyway...
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Or you're just tired of PD stories that don't feel like yours...
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This is for you.
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"This program surpassed the benefits of therapy."
F*ck Parkinson’s. But more importantly…F*ck the way people talk about it.
Most Parkinson’s stories are boring. And boring stories don’t change anything. We'll fix that. This is a rebellious, unfiltered experience that uses Deadpool to blow up how Parkinson’s is discussed.
Each week:
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We watch a scene from Deadpool
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We break it down and connect it to your life identifying the hero's journey
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You write something real through fiction (think of it as slipping on your own super suit)
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We do this together. The people you work with will become like family.
No grades.
No pretending.
No bullshit.
F*ck Parkinson's by telling a better story.
Not the polite version. Not the “I’m doing okay” version.
The real one. The funny one. The angry one.
The one you haven’t been allowed to tell.
Parkinson’s has a story problem.
"It's not that bad", "It's just tremors", "It's just old white men."
Those stories suck - and they're bullshit.
These stories also keep us from getting other people to care. Other people with money. Which we need for research. For that fucking cure we've been waiting for. Time to get loud, people.
This new, evidence-based, clinically-tested writing program is open to everyone, but it's only for the brave. While Yes, And...eXercise! is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving the Parkinson's disease community, this Cinema Therapy class is for the people who are ready to create change. We meet online for 90 minutes, once per week over the course of 16 weeks. Participants will write one page per week about their experience and share it on a password-protected Google Drive with classmates. Each participant is also expected to read and leave feedback on two of their fellow classmates pages as this is an ensemble-based program. We will start each session by moving to music that is themed to the stage of the Hero's Journey, then play improvisation games that support our growth, understanding and connection to one another. We will also watch clips from Deadpool that demonstrate the Hero's Journey. All sessions will be recorded so that students who have to miss a session at its scheduled time can catch up at their convenience.
Perry H., AZ
I would describe Dr. Robert's class as fun, challenging, imagination stretching, and deeply emotional. The Doc is amazing. I have surprised myself when I look over my own weekly assignments.
Shabbir L., CA
I think the most valuable thing I have learned is how much more of a storyteller I am than I thought I was.
The story telling, using metaphors, helps tremendously. They allow me to be more free to express my emotions. This has helped me to experience more freedom.
Stacy K., Italy
This program has dramatically changed my life and reminded me of who I really am, what I’m made of, and where I want to go.
Rewriting disability and trauma with superheroes
"...some of the best love stories start with a murder. And that's exactly what this is, a love story." - Deadpool
Who's teaching this crazy shit?
Robert Cochrane, PhD studied the effect of improvisation and storytelling on the Parkinson's community in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences doctoral program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After several years of running these programs, it became clear that the universal positive effects of his unique form of Cinema Therapy extend beyond those with PD. Cinema Therapy helps us see the films we love differently. It's not just what the films say to you, it's about what you have to say because of what you feel about the film. Your stories, and your relationship to the stories you love, matter. Robert now matches these programs with some of his most beloved films to help you explore, discover and share your stories.
Robert's father, Dan, was diagnosed with PD in 2001. The father and son have made four films in the award-winning documentary series, Boys of Summer. The fourth film, Third Base, will premiere at the World Parkinson's Congress in May 2026.