Can you visualize your way out of sadness or spin your darkest thoughts into a mindset that helps you shine? World-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Phil Stutz believes you can, and over his 40-year career, he’s helped people all over the world improve their mental health.
One of his patients just so happens to be actor Jonah Hill, who wants to bring Stutz’s magic (and his life-altering tools) to the world in the form of an unconventional new documentary.
Stutz flips the typical doctor-patient dynamic on its head via intimate conversations between Stutz and Hill — the kind you’d only usually get to be a part of if you were lying on your therapist’s couch. The Hill-directed project explores Stutz’s life story, his relationship with his patients and his frank and seemingly effective approach to mental health. The documentary is also a window into Hill and Stutz’s relationship; you’ll see Hill dive deeper into the specifics of his own mental health struggles and see how the psychologist’s techniques have changed his own life for the better.
Despite the raw, vulnerable nature of their conversation, Stutz isn’t a story about a famous person’s therapy appointments. At the center of Stutz is The Tools, Stutz’s series of visualization exercises intended to help anyone let go of their negative innermost thoughts and live happier, less anxious lives — whether or not they’re actively seeking help. It’s part film, part therapy session and a fresh take on what it means to talk about mental health today.
Stutz premieres Nov. 14.
