Sophia Ansari – Superheroes and Pop Culture in Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Outline

Why Superheroes? Clinically Relevant Themes in Comic books, Movies and TV Shows

• The rise of superheroes in therapy
• ”Geek Therapy” and geek culture
• The latest research on geek therapy in mental health
• Therapeutic alliance: Build trust, security, and vocabulary through their interests

Assessment Tools: Harnessing the “Superpowers” of Passion, Purpose and Playfulness

• Exploratory questions
• Strengths-spotting survey and activities
• Promote engagement with “Fantasy” exercises
• Draw a superhero to assess coping strategies
• Identify resources and obstacles with superhero gadget interventions
• The sidekick intervention – identify advocates in kid’s lives

Treat Trauma through the Filter of Comic Books

• Modalities – CBT, Bibliotherapy, Play Therapy, ACT and more
• Comic books and trauma narratives – help clients share trauma
  • Choosing the appropriate story for the situation
  • Talking about trauma through the filter of comics
• Trigger identification and coping skills exercises
  • The Bat Signal/Utility Belt exercise
  • Moving stories technique – Sandtray play

Help Kids and Adolescents Face Anxiety Like a Superhero

• Modalities – CBT, ACT, Exposure Therapy and Behavior Therapy
• Labeling our villains – help kids understand how anxiety is affecting their lives
• Build your clients readiness to face their worries and fears
  • Create a safe distance from fears
  • Heroes have dysfunctional behavior and cognitive distortions too
• Relating anxiety reduction techniques to superheroes
  • Improve self-esteem and decrease anxiety with Spiderman
  • Guided imagery with the Batmobile

Depression: Manage Change, Conflict and Grief After Loss

• Modalities – Interpersonal Psychotherapy, CBT, ACT, Bibliotherapy
• How relatable characters and situations from fantasy can be incorporated into therapy for clients facing:
  • Social isolation
  • Conflicts in relationships
  • Change/relocation
  • Grief after loss
• Superhero mindfulness techniques for self-compassion
• Harry Potter in the treatment of grieving children and adolescents

Disruptive Behavior Problems: Strategies to Reduce Disruptive Behavior Using Action Figures, TV Shows and More

• Modalities – Behavior Therapy, Play Therapy
• Facilitate self-awareness through “personal archetypes”
• Goal setting with the “superhero journey” metaphor
• Use the Hulk in play therapy to teach behavior management skills
• Level Up – how to use gaming metaphors in goal evaluation
• Directive and non-directive play strategies to promote positive behavioral change