ABSTRACT

Through rich and research-grounded clinical applications, Using Superheroes and Villains in Counseling and Play Therapy explores creative techniques for integrating superhero stories and metaphors in clinical work with children, adolescents, adults and families. Each chapter draws on the latest empirically supported approaches and techniques to address a wide range of clinical challenges in individual, family and group settings. The chapters also explore important contextual issues of race, gender, culture, age and ethnicity and provide case studies and practical tips that clinicians can use to support clients on their healing journey.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

Superheroes, Past, Present and Future

part I|86 pages

Superheroes, Super Theories

chapter Chapter 1|20 pages

Flourishing After the Origin Story

Using Positive Psychology to Explore Well-being in Superheroes and Supervillains

chapter Chapter 2|19 pages

Alter Egos and Hidden Strengths

The Powers of Superheroes in Child-Centered Play Therapy

chapter Chapter 3|26 pages

Control, Corruption, and Destruction, Oh My!

The Role of Villains in Experiential Play Therapy®

chapter Chapter 4|19 pages

The Healing Power of Superhero Stories

Bibliotherapy and Comic Books

part II|51 pages

Using Heroes and Superheroes to Treat Specific Disorders

chapter Chapter 5|8 pages

I Like Them Because They Are Fast and Strong

The Use of Superheroes in Play Therapy with a Latency-Age Boy with Developmental Coordination Disorder

part III|57 pages

Strength in Numbers: Superhero Teams

chapter Chapter 9|10 pages

I Can Be a Super Friend!

Using Scripted Story to Promote Social Emotional Skills for Young Children with Problem Behaviors

chapter Chapter 10|15 pages

Stronger Together

The Family as a Super Hero Team

part IV|50 pages

Villains Rise to the Challenge of Helping

chapter Chapter 13|17 pages

No Joking Matter—Villains are People, Too

Working with the School Bully

chapter Chapter 14|11 pages

Brain Food

Integrating IPNB and Zombies with Diverse Populations

chapter Chapter 15|20 pages

How Secrets Influenced Relationships for Harry Potter Heroes and Villains

Parallels in Contextual Family Therapy

part V|58 pages

Superheroes at the Intersection

chapter Chapter 16|9 pages

Female Superheroes

Raising a New Generation of Girls and Boys

chapter Chapter 17|10 pages

Beyond Canon

Therapeutic Fanfiction and the Queer Hero’s Journey

chapter Chapter 18|18 pages

The Black Panther Lives

Marveling at the Internal Working Models of Self in Young Black Children Through Play

chapter Chapter 19|18 pages

Un-Masking the Alter Ego

Fear and Freedom in the Affirmation of the Inner Hero

chapter |1 pages

Afterword