Join Scott Bloom, LCSW-R and film enthusiast, for the kick-off to a new series that explores cinematic themes and how they play out in real life. The first selection is Misery, directed by Rob Reiner and based on the book by Stephen King.

One of the more curious phenomena of our time and culture is fandom and the rise of we-ness–the fanatical affinity that people have for sports teams, rock stars, and celebrities. In Misery, danger awaits when psychic boundaries become so blurred that a person doesn’t know where fantasy begins and ends.  Misery sets the stage for us to discuss the role of we-ness in our culture and how symbiotic relationships– with each other and within ourselves– are more pervasive than we care to acknowledge.

Program schedule:

6:30: Dinner available

7:00: Welcome & Introduction to the film

7:15: Film begins

9:00-10:00: Discussion (stay as long as you like!)

About the presenter: Scott Bloom has spent his 33-year career at the intersection of mental health, schools, and communities. He was the founding director of School Mental Health Services for the New York City Department of Education, where he built a city-wide system of mental health services and resources in over 1800 city schools to better serve the needs of 1.2 million students and families. Mr. Bloom has certification as a psychotherapist and a private practice and supervision in New York City. He is currently the director of special projects at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center.