Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Graduate School
Psychology Department
Sta. Mesa, Manila

ADVANCED PSYCHOTHERAPY
Dr. Hector M. Perez, RPsy

FILM ANALYSIS – GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the personal attributes of the psychologist who worked with Will’s work with
his personal issues of the past.

Mr. Sean, the psychologist, has shown authenticity and empathy towards his client,
Will. He was authentic especially with his emotions and personal experiences, which helped
Will and himself, as the Psychologist, to build rapport. The film also depicted Mr. Sean as a
therapist with personal issues and grievance about his late wife that triggered by Will’s
interpretation of his painting. He was both a good listener and an adviser, which guided his
client (Will) to figure out the reality he was in and the life he may want to live. In the middle
to near-end of their therapy sessions, Will felt Mr. Sean’s emphatic concern and
unconditional positive regard not just as his therapist but, also as a father guiding his son to
the path he chose to take.

2. Describe the nature of the problem depicted in the film concerning incongruency.

Will, rather than spending into jail due to cases of assault, he was consented by the
court to be under Professor Gerald’s supervision with weekly reports of his deveopment
delivered by his therapist/psychologist. In the course of the therapy, Mr. Sean with his
knowledge about Will’s background of being an orphan who was abandoned by both
parents and was born as Mathematics and Chemistry genius without actually undergoing in
formal schooling but, he has emotional and behavioral issues. He was also a university
janitor who often secretly solved math problems that cannot be answered, not even by the
school intellectual experts. As much as Will being knowledgeable with the computations
and memorizations, when the psychologist asked him, what he wanted to do or what he
wanted to be, he was speechless. The reality was Will being a Math genius, a janitor, a rebel
and avoidant to new relationships are literally the incongruence. Furthermore, this reality
promotes incongruence to Will’s psyche.

This study source was downloaded by 100000839551289 from CourseHero.com on 12-30-2021 01:31:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/64148637/Film-Analysis-Good-Will-Huntingdocx/
 In terms of relationships, with his past issue of being abandoned as a child, in turn
he anticipates the end of his newly formed relationship and end it before the other person
abandons him. An instance in the film was when he broke up with Skylar who was
scheduled to fly to California to pursue medicine. Despite of Skylar telling him how much
she loved him, what retained to his mind was the thought of being abandoned.

3. In relating the movie to the person-centered approach of Carl Rogers, describe any
techniques employed by the psychologist in working with Will’s issues of the past.

The third meeting of Mr. Sean and Will is what I considered when the actual session
really started. It was when they both sat for an hour in a room with no one was initiating a
conversation. The technique used by Mr. Sean was being non-directive to his client. I
realized that in a person-centered approach, the client shall be the first speaker or the one
to lead the therapy with the guidance of the therapist. It is also a good start for the therapist
to observe the client and the first words that come out from the client are essential to
analyze the nature of his problem.

In their fourth and fifth meeting, Will talked about his activities over the week. He
began opening up and Mr. Sean was actively listening. He clarified and paraphrased some of
Will’s statements and give affirmations. Mr. Sean also asked him his vision and what he
wanted to do. Will was in denial and defensive and felt stuck with the question. In the
course of the sessions, Will became more engaged and did not notice the time. Mr. Sean
interrupted him by telling him “Time’s up”. At first, I thought that setting time limit during
session especially when the client is still talking is not a good practice but, with Will’s case,
it encouraged interest to attend to more sessions with his therapist.

In their sixth meeting, Will broke down and triggered by Mr. Sean’s repeated
statements “It’s not your fault”. Will showed negative emotions and Mr. Sean despite of
receiving aggressive reaction from Will, he continued telling him those words. From then
Will showed his authentic self and for the first time showed his vulnerability like a child. Mr.
Sean showed genuineness and emphatic concern to Will.

Before the film ends, Will was starting to set goals and realize what he wanted to do
in his life. Will believed in his therapist and planned to live his life with the choice he made.

4. Discuss the importance of being authentic with the experience in the context of the
therapy for the psychologist and client.

Being authentic is the most important attribute a psychologist must have in the
therapy. Being authentic does not mean that the psychologist will reveal everything about
himself/herself but, being genuine and relate some of his/her related personal experiences
and share of his/her feelings with the client. Having this attribute, the client will feel that
he/she is understood and the psychologist is able to help him solve his incongruence.

This study source was downloaded by 100000839551289 from CourseHero.com on 12-30-2021 01:31:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/64148637/Film-Analysis-Good-Will-Huntingdocx/
 5. Discuss your personal reflexivity regarding this film in relation to the humanistic nature
of psychotherapy.

Good Will Hunting is an interesting film that depicted mostly the humanistic nature
of psychotherapy. The view of humanistic psychology is that the individual himself knows
what he is feeling and what his problem is and more likely, he himself can figure out the
solution to these conflicts. The role of the therapist is to make him realize this capacity.
Humanistic psychotherapy is fed by the present and not with what is unconscious or due to
some conditioned stimulus.

The film made Will realized his potentials and resolve conflicts of his past. The
psychologist made him understand that what his thoughts assume about relationship with
other people is not what it actually is. Humanistic approach does not deny the influence of
childhood experiences as a contributing factor to the present conflict but emphasizes that
the individual has control over his life. This is why psychologist plays a vital role in setting
the client’s perspective. The psychologist shall possess persona attributes that does not
overpowers his/her clients but guiding them instead to resolution.

This study source was downloaded by 100000839551289 from CourseHero.com on 12-30-2021 01:31:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/64148637/Film-Analysis-Good-Will-Huntingdocx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)