Clinical Development Series: Superhero Therapy: Combining Evidence Based Therapy with Pop-culture Narratives to Heal Clients
Superhero Therapy refers to incorporating elements from popular culture into evidence-based therapy to help a client of any age to become the hero of their own journey. Superhero stories and characters from fantasy and science fiction worlds have become a prominent of American culture, as well as cultures all around the world. Many of our clients turn to these stories at times of their greatest struggle, such as after a painful loss or during the global pandemic.
This workshop will focus on how to incorporate elements of popular culture and interactive games into evidence-based therapies, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and narrative exposure therapy (NET) to help clients better manage anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological disorders.
Adult and adolescent clients have been shown to respond to these techniques as superhero and science fiction/fantasy stories contain powerful narratives and characters that many clients can identify with quickly. These narratives and characters offer a powerful insight into your client’s deepest fears and their core values. You’ll leave this workshop with the tools to help your clients map their own heroic journey using ACT, CBT, and NET. Join clinical psychologist and international speaker/trainer Dr. Janina Scarlet in exploring Superhero Therapy, and learn how it might help you better help your clients in promoting meaningful changes. Capes are optional.
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Joint Accreditation (JA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
Florida Certification Board (FCB)
Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)
New York Education Department Board of Social Work
New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling
New York Education Department Board of Psychologists
New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy
Virginia Certification Board (VCB)
Conference Agenda
Apr 10th, 2021
Clinical Development Series: Certification Course in Superhero Therapy - Part 1
Superhero Therapy refers to incorporating elements from popular culture into evidence-based therapy to help a client of any age to become the hero of their own journey. This workshop will focus on how to incorporate elements of popular culture and interactive games into evidence-based therapies, suc...
Superhero Therapy refers to incorporating elements from popular culture into evidence-based therapy to help a client of any age to become the hero of their own journey. This workshop will focus on how to incorporate elements of popular culture and interactive games into evidence-based therapies, such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and narrative exposure therapy (NET) to help clients better manage anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological disorders. It will also demonstrate how to help clients understand and process their origin stories, as well as how to create a treatment plan using Superhero Therapy and game-based therapy.
AGENDA
DAY 1: ● 10:00 am – 11:30 am: Introduction to Superhero Therapy; Formulation and processing of an origin story ● 11:30 am – 11:45 am: Morning Break ● 11:45 am – 1:00 pm: Creating a treatment plan using Superhero Therapy ● 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break ● 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Introduction to game-based therapy ● 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Afternoon Break ● 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Research related to game-based and demonstrate game-based interventions Establishing emotional safety through pop culture; introduction to willingness and vulnerability - Patronus Charm
Learning Objectives
After taking this activity, you should be able to:
- Explain the concept of Superhero Therapy.
- Demonstrate how to incorporate pop culture examples into treatment.
- Create a treatment plan using Superhero Therapy.
- Explain the concept of game-based approaches to therapy.
- Discuss research related to game-based and demonstrate game-based interventions
- Demonstrate how clients can learn to build emotional safety through pop culture connections
Apr 11th, 2021
Clinical Development Series: Certification Course in Superhero Therapy - Part 2
The ongoing pandemic shed light on how devastating the effects of social isolation and loneliness can be on clients mental health. Finding novel approaches to build rapport, helping clients to feel accepted and understood, and finding tools to create meaningful social connections are essential for c...
The ongoing pandemic shed light on how devastating the effects of social isolation and loneliness can be on clients mental health. Finding novel approaches to build rapport, helping clients to feel accepted and understood, and finding tools to create meaningful social connections are essential for client success. This workshop will present ways in which you can utilize clients’ interests and passions, such as popular culture, cosplay, and fanfiction as an asset to build their skills in therapy. It will also demonstrate how to help clients to identify their sense of purpose and become engaged in core-value-based action as a way of being a real-life superhero. No prior experience necessary. Capes are optional.
AGENDA
DAY 2: ● 10:00 am – 11:30 am: Fostering growth through creativity: Writing fanfiction and creating a comic book for therapy ● 11:30 am – 11:45 am: Morning Break ● 11:45 am – 1:00 pm: Narrative Exposure Therapy and the Introduction to the Superhero Narrative; Using Superhero Narrative to treat PTSD and anxiety ● 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break ● 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Mindfulness as a Jedi Power; Spidey Senses and “Gamifying” homework ● 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm: Afternoon Break ● 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm: Create your own movie – helping clients to find a sense of purpose; Sense of purpose and posttraumatic growth
Learning Objectives
After taking this activity, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate how to utilize creativity exercises, such as fanfiction and cosplay creation to help clients manage anxiety and trauma
- Explain narrative exposure therapy (NET) techniques using pop culture
- Demonstrate how to apply NET to treat complex PTSD
- Discuss how to “gamify” homework practice
- Demonstrate how to help clients to find a sense of purpose
- Discuss how sense of purpose is tied to post-traumatic growth
Conference Speaker
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Janina Scarlet is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, author, and a full-time geek. A Ukrainian-born refugee, she survived Chernobyl radiation and persecution. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 with her family and later, inspired by the X-Men, developed Superhero Therapy to help patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Scarlet is the recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award by the United Nations Association for her work on Superhero Therapy. Her work has been featured on Yahoo, BBC, NPR, Sunday Times, CNN, CW, ABC, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Forbes, the Nerdist, BuzzFeed, and many other outlets. She currently works at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Management in San Diego. She authored Superhero Therapy, Harry Potter Therapy, Therapy Quest, Dark Agents, Super-Women, Supernatural Therapy, as well as numerous contributions to Star Wars Psychology, Star Trek Psychology, Wonder Woman Psychology, Supernatural Psychology and many other books.
Presenting Sessions:
Clinical Development Series: Certification Course in Superhero Therapy - Part 1
Clinical Development Series: Certification Course in Superhero Therapy - Part 2
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