Utah mental health professionals respond to ‘Inside Out 2’

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been almost two months since Disney and Pixar released their newest movie, “Inside Out 2,” which allowed millions of viewers time to process the experience.

The latest episode of “Inside Out” takes viewers to see how Riley’s emotions work as she enters her teenage years. That comes after the first film, where viewers were introduced to the main emotions personified in the characters Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. The sequel introduces more complex emotions, including Anxiety, Envy, Ennui (boredom) and Embarrassment.

In an effort to create a “new Riley,” Anxiety, with the help of his partners, shuts down the original idea in an attempt to change the new generation. The anxiety attacks finally cause Riley to lose it all, and you guessed it: a panic attack.

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We are all on our own paths of healing and connection, and this film is a great resource for everyone of all ages.

–Gabby Accord, LCSW

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Although millions of viewers still relate to many of the experiences described in the film, mental health experts call “Inside Out 2” a “brilliant” way to describe the inner workings of the mind.

KSL.com spoke with two Utah licensed therapists to get their thoughts on the film and its implications for the world of mental health.

“A lot of inner child work is done through the inner family system, and the movie was a great visual representation of that,” Gabby Accord, founder of Mood Psychotherapy and Coaching, Bountiful, said. said.

Internal family systems or IFS is the theory that each person is a system of internal protective and wounding parts led by a core person, which operates on the premise that all minds are “multiple in nature ,” with many functional features.

“‘Inside Out 2’ did a great job of showing us that we are a collection of internal parts, and how these parts work together to build a sense of self,” said Accord. “We have several important moments when we have to decide whether to abandon who we are in order to be someone else. Then you begin to build a sense of independence that includes knowing yourself there. realize that you have a few desirable parts that you don’t agree with, but you just know.”

‘anxiety’ attacks

Before having an epiphany and full adjustment, Riley experienced a panic attack driven by Anxiety. Melissa Lambson, owner of New Leaf Counseling, Sandy, said the Pixar film Anxiety was “visual.”

“I liked how Anxiety portrays a different version of Riley because when Anxiety takes over, she starts to see behavior that doesn’t reflect her true nature,” she said. “Anxiety can cause that fight, flight or freeze response, and in the movie, they showed the freeze response during a panic attack. And now you feel this compassion for Anxiety because he was just trying to protect Riley.”

Accord agrees that the portrayal of Anxiety, and Riley’s relationship with it, is something viewers can benefit from.

“What struck me was how being kind to worry helps,” she said. stay with a snack.

Something for everyone

Lambson said she watched the movie with her teenage daughter during a trip to the national volleyball tournament. As a former collegiate athlete who specializes in mental health for athletes, Lambson said watching Riley overcome her many obstacles as an athlete highlighted the need for mental health awareness in the area. . But, apart from athletes, he said the film offers something for everyone.

He said: “It seems like the organizers didn’t really have a program. “They took a general enough tone for people to have their own experience with it. You know it’s a good movie when they present a scene and anyone can put themselves in it and get something completely different. It’s a brilliant film.”

Accord said he hopes people of all ages and walks of life can find healing in the film.

“I thought it was very well done,” Accord said. “I wouldn’t want someone to go in there and feel ashamed that they weren’t able to address some of these things sooner. We’re all on our own paths to healing and reconnecting with ourselves, and this movie is a great resource for people of all ages.”