Using Popular Films to Teach Systems Thinking

Abstract

Making a paradigm shift from a linear perspective to a systemic perspective can present unique challenges to counseling students. Teaching students to make such a paradigm shift can be a challenge facing counselor educators when teaching family systems courses, particularly an introductory family systems course. Integrating feature films into course curriculum can assist student learning and concept development. This article identifies one way to integrate course content, the family circumplex model, and the movie Ordinary People into a family course to help students bridge the gap between course content and application.