ABSTRACT
Superhero stories can be healing and can teach us many powerful lessons on resilience and growth. Metaphors from film, television, comic books, and video games can be the guide to therapeutic change. It is through this filter of fiction that children and adolescents can discuss difficult topics, feel less alone, and identify their own superhero strengths. The Caped Crusaders is a strengths-based social skills group that focuses on building a stronger community, harnessing the superpowers of mindfulness and self-compassion, and facilitating post-traumatic growth and positive change after trauma and adversity. The group can be adapted for any age as superhero stories resonate with individuals across generations. The curriculum incorporates popular culture with evidence-based therapies such as play therapy, positive psychology, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
