When Jane's father died, she found herself completely unable to grieve.

For two long years, she could not express her emotions, or even shed a tear, but had no idea why.

Then, one day, Jane watched a film called Platoon, and a piece of music, Barker's Adagio, left her in floods of tears and finally released the grief which had been building up inside of her.

This is just one of the many cases which Borehamwood movie therapist, Bernie Wooder, uses to describe film therapy, which he pioneered 15 years ago.

The 65-year-old father of two is now teaching therapy techniques using film to trainee psychotherapists across the country, with the backing of The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

He has appeared in the national press, and on prime-time television shows, explaining his theories.

"Often, you meet a person who tells you about a film that really moves them," he said.

"Sometimes, the person who is experiencing something in a film is something that connects with our own emotional history. The film acts as a catalyst for our conscious, repressed memories. Or, it can be something you passionately desire in your own life.

"It's a very quick way in for a person to get to quite a deep part of themselves and it speeds up the course of therapy."

Mr Wooder was born in 1940, at the beginning of World War Two, and he lived in the London docks, which became a bomb target during the Blitz.

Whenever his mother got scared, she would take him to the cinema to escape, and this is when he became fascinated by the power of film.

But it wasn't until years later that he began to realise the healing power of movies and the way in which they could be used to confront psychological problems.

He explained: "I was counselling a woman who had been badly let down in a relationship and was having difficulty expressing her emotions. I told her that her situation reminded me of On the Waterfront when Marlon Brando's character realises his brother is crooked and he feels enormous betrayal.

"She immediately identified with how he felt and watching and discussing the film was a catalyst for unlocking all the feelings she repressed."

After hearing about Mr Wooder's work, MGM and Warner Brothers asked him to write an article about The Wizard of Oz, which they were re-releasing, from a psychological perspective.

His work, which gained international recognition and is still discussed in psychology lectures today, analyses the main character, Dorothy, and how aspects of her personality are reflected by those she meets throughout the film.

Although Mr Wooder specialises in movie therapy, he also practices conventional methods of psychological treatment, and does not always use films to help his patients.

"There are different avenues to what I do," he said.

"The power of films won't help everyone. I never recommend the films either. They come to me with a particular film that has touched them in some way, or a moment or piece of music from that film and I work from that.

"I ask questions to get them to open up, then to get to the root of their problem. Part of that may be a pattern of behaviour that they've been aware of and that's affecting the quality of their life and happiness for years, but it was unconscious.

"Film therapy can cut out all the crap and get right to the heart of the matter very quickly. Once that emotion is live, it's not difficult to follow the thread to its life."

Reflecting on the past 15 years, he said: "It's amazing. From a quiet little therapist in Borehamwood, I went on a media rollercoaster and haven't looked back."

Mr Wooder's practice can be contacted by calling 020 8386 4846, and his web site is www.themovietherapist.com