In Soul, the lead protagonist, Joe Gardner, is a middle school music teacher with unfulfilled dreams of becoming a professional jazz player. After an impromptu jazz gig, Joe is offered his dream job. However, misfortune strikes when Joe tragically falls to his death, waking up as a soul heading toward the "Great Beyond." After many failed escape attempts, Joe circumvents his fate by escaping to the "Great Before," where he poses as a trainer to unborn souls; this is where he meets 22, a soul that has succumbed to hopelessness in ever finding her "spark" on Earth. Later, Joe and 22 escape to Earth, where both characters merge with Joe's unconscious body. Over time, 22 discovers her newfound desire to live, refusing to leave Earth. Both Joe and 22 learn that finding one's "spark" is less about being talented and more about feeling ready to live. Ultimately, both characters are gifted second chances, where they return to Earth with a restored desire to fully live and appreciate their lives (IMDB, 2020).

Soul provides a unique perspective on finding one's sense of purpose in life, often tethered to an individual's perceived roles or talents. This movie has practical clinical applications, particularly for clients struggling to find a sense of meaning in life that all individuals seek to attain. This film would also be helpful in a counselor education setting, where trainees could discuss how they would assist clients that were facing the dilemmas that Joe and 22 encountered.

Reference: IMDb (2020). Soul: Plot summary. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948372/plotsummary