A real superhero can save the depression in addition to saving the world

Janina Scarlet understands that when the 15-year-old girl she coached began talking to her about the TV series Veronica Mars, the two finally made contact with each other.

                Open up with superheroes

Scarlett, a psychologist at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Management in San Diego, told the girl's story at a recent meeting of the American Psychological Association. At first, it was difficult for her to talk about the trauma she had suffered. In psychological counseling, most of the time, her parents are also talking. The only thing the girl herself is willing to say is the TV series "College Detective".

"College Detective"

In the play, high school student part-time detective Mas is experiencing painful adolescence. In the first episode, she was sexually assaulted during a date, dumped by her boyfriend, and alienated by her friends. Scarlett's patients felt some connection to Mas, as if the character could understand her. So one day after the tutoring ended, Scarlett went home and watched a full season of "College Detective." When she saw the girl again and talked about her depression, Scarlett asked her, "What do you think Mars would do?" The girl said that Mars would give a speech.

After two weeks of preparation, the girl really gave a short speech in front of the class, talking about depression, self-harm, and the importance of seeking help. According to Scarlett, the result was almost like the standard movie "Happy Reunion" ending: classmates (many of them were crying) ran to hug her. The children started talking about mental health, and the girls finally formed a support group to help other classmates.

The age of superheroes

For Scarlett, the girl's story is a perfect example of what she calls "superhero therapy." Of course, this therapy has other names, such as "geek therapy". More and more psychologists are now inspiring patients by incorporating popular cultural roles into therapeutic practice. In this age of "Game of Thrones", "Harry Potter" and countless "Batman" movies, psychologists using this therapy say it works for kids and adults. The acceptance of this therapy by many adults illustrates the importance of superhero stories-and the nature of human psychology.

                   "Superhero Therapist"

In fact, Scarlett herself has a superhero story. In 1986, when the Chernobyl nuclear accident occurred, she was only 3 years old and lived in Ukraine. The scene of the accident was only 300 kilometers away from home. It wasn't until people became ill that her family's talents reacted to what had happened. However, of course, unlike in superhero movies, she did not get super powers because of this, but spent a lot of time to see a doctor. She often had a nosebleed that she couldn't stop; whenever the weather changed, she had a migraine and sometimes even a seizure.

By the age of 12, Ukraine's economy was sluggish and her family's income was modest. As Jews, the family is also threatened by violence. So her parents applied for political asylum in the United States and immigrated to New York a year later. When the students learned that she was from Ukraine, they would also ask her if she had radiation. "I only have one friend, and I'm not in a school," Scarlett said. "Recalling now, I discovered that I had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. I really only wanted to die for a while. "

Poster of X-Men released in 2000

In high school, Scarlett worked in a local movie theater. One night, she watched the midnight show of the newly released X-Men. She was fascinated by the beginning of the film: In Auschwitz, the young Magneto King was forced to separate from his parents and used his superpowers to bend the gate of the camp. This film explores anti-Semitism, prejudice, and difference by telling the story of a mutant. Scarlett felt she had an extraordinarily strong connection with the storm woman who could control the weather. She couldn't stop crying at the end of the movie.

With scarlet hair and a playful face, Scarlett herself now looks like a cartoon character. She is still a hardcore geek and loves sci-fi and fantasy. Her favorite products are Harry Potter and Star Wars. When she was doing postdoctoral training in psychology at the Marine Corps Pendleton camp near San Diego, the soldiers she treated sometimes had difficulty explaining their feelings. At this time, they would use their superhero story to explain their pain: I felt the same emotions as Bruce Wayne (Batman) felt at the time, and so on. In these stories, powerful men are often traumatized or hurt. Scarlett began to use these metaphors to guide her visitors to express emotions, and her treatment was born.

Now Scarlett calls herself a "superhero therapist" on the website. Her website head is waving a sword and shield. She usually asks new visitors at the end of their first session about which pop culture works they are interested in. Some patients prefer standard treatments, such as asking him, "How did you feel?" But Scarlett said that the reason people often seek her help is because they have a strong love for certain works and hope to include them in treatment.

                         Seeing the world through superheroes

Josué Cardona, a pioneer of similar “geek therapy”, said that being open to the circle of powder helps the therapist to build a good relationship with the visitor, and helps people who are aversion to treatment open up their emotions. Difficult. Cardona said that in some movies or books, "you can find experiences that better represent our feelings than you describe."

In addition, for some people, the pink circle is critical to their identity, and without it, psychotherapy is incomplete. "If you really love a work," Cardona said, "you will see the world through this work." Cardona suggested that if the therapist is not familiar with the fan circle where the visitor is, you can let the visitor bring Write a book or play a TV show or movie in the treatment room. At the very least, the therapist reads the plot summary on Wikipedia.

The introduction of characters from popular culture into therapy is nothing new. Lynn Bufka, a psychologist at the American Psychological Association, said: "People's view of the world when they are depressed will become very dim, and they will not see other choices around them." Lynn was not involved in the "pole Customer therapy. " Fictional characters may help people see other trends and endings in life. This is called "social surrogates" in psychology, or "someone who is not our friend but is still treated by us as a friend." One study found that "though these characters are not real," these alternatives "still give people a sense of belonging."

Virtual characters often have to perform tasks, solve mysteries, or fight against people or things that hinder them. The therapists also often encourage visitors to challenge unhelpful thoughts or express their true needs to their partners like these virtual characters to overcome obstacles in life. Watching their favorite characters doing similar things (even if they are doing something more difficult) can be motivating.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Scarlett wrote on the website that she had a patient who liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The patient had a hard time talking about the sexual assault experience, but when they saw Buffy being traumatized in the play, she opened up. Once when they watched the show together, Buffy told her friend Spike, "Everything I feel, everything I touch, is hell." At that moment, the patient pointed at the screen and said: That's it! That's how I feel! "

"After some time," Scarlett wrote, "Taking advantage of the similarities between Buffy's experience in the play and her own personal experience, she gradually realized that our ideas were not always accurate. She began to change As a result, my mental health is beginning to improve. ”

                           Believe in the power of narrative

Coincidentally, Scarlett's recent speech to the American Psychological Association resonated with me. I am also an immigrant child from the former Soviet Union, and I feel that my outsider status makes me incompatible with my surroundings. I still remember that a group of freak children in X-Men lived happily in the mutant school, which fascinated me and gave me comfort.

However, since then I haven't seen much action and science fiction, and I rarely watch movies with such pure and powerful protagonists. In fact, I wonder if the rise of anti-hero TV shows will affect "superhero therapy". My favorite TV series are good because the main characters make bad decisions, but I don't use these characters to inspire myself. Acting the same way as these characters will only lead to catastrophic endings.

Cardona believes that this view is too limited. He explained, "The visitor does whatever the (no) role does." The real significance is that a TV show that resonates with the visitor may provide clues to the hidden emotions that the visitor cannot express. Scarlett said that some villains (such as sanctioners or clowns) may represent our inner desire for justice or retribution. You don't need to do the same thing as a clown, and you can feel like an unlucky guy who is out of step with your surroundings.

Haha

At first I felt that such an explanation was too powerful for superstitious fictional stories. After all, Pink Circle also has its dark side, fans will deify their heroes, harass critics, and be furious because of casting. And, in fact, anything you like can help you achieve your goals. From this perspective, "superhero therapy" seems to be very useful, but it seems useless.

But don't worry too much, because psychotherapy really believes in the power of narrative. Most of the treatment itself is storytelling-talking about an experience as a kid, a conversation with the boss, and then trying to understand it through narrative. Although "Superhero Therapy" may not be suitable for everyone, it is indeed an effective method to help patients better tell their own stories. When you are in psychotherapy, you may try it.

May the superheroes save those who are hurt