ABSTRACT
Recently, producers of children’s content have been more socially aware and intentional in portraying themes that are beneficial to youth, with Nickelodeon emerging as a leader in this area. This chapter examines how their program The Loud House depicts mental health care in a positive, applied, and frank way. The Loud House serves to reduce the stigma of receiving care for mental illnesses and teach viewers the modes and methods that they will experience if they need care from a therapist. This chapter argues that The Loud House provides an example of how a modern children’s cartoon can portray seeing a therapist and applying her advice as commonplace, thus providing children who view the show an opportunity to understand mental illness and mental health care through a positive lens. Additionally, the program models positive practices in psychotherapy including WFT and therapeutic listening sessions. The author contends that these can positively influence youth by preparing them for and supporting them through their mental health care and maintenance.
