Defining Your Origin Story

When Bruce Wayne’s parents are murdered in a dark alley, his life is forever changed by this tragedy. Bruce spends many years of his life and many of his resources to become Batman, the hero of Gotham City, to ensure that no one suffers the same fate he does. Similarly, when T’Challa witnesses the death of his father in Vienna, he elects to fight for his right to become the Black Panther, in order to protect the people of Wakanda from travesty and invasion.

Although these stories are fictional, they demonstrate how we may be able to use our origin stories to develop a narrative to become our version of a Superhero in real life (IRL).

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How an emoji can save a life

Most people report that they are not comfortable asking their loved ones for help when they are going through a bout of depression and/or are having suicidal thoughts. Some people report that they are afraid that their loved ones will judge them for reaching out, while others report that they don’t know how to ask for the support that they need.  Continue reading How an emoji can save a life

EuroTour and Pay-It-Forward

Next month I will set off on my first official Europe book tour during which I will be presenting workshops to mental health professionals on Superhero Therapy and Therapy Quest.

Here are the tour details:

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Publishing my first book

Writing a book was a dream of mine ever since I learned how to read. I was 3 when I was devouring children’s books. My health destroyed by the Chernobyl radiation, I was not allowed to watch television due to migraines and seizures. Often too sick to go to school, books were both my entertainment and my friends. And I swore that one day I would write one.  Continue reading Publishing my first book

Dream Loot Crate

What if you could design your very own dream Loot Crate? What would it contain?

Given my profession and my work with Superhero Therapy, I wanted to put together an idea for a potential Loot Crate, one which could help people in managing their Dementors of depression and their boggarts of anxiety while helping them connect with their superhero potential. Here’s what I came up with.

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Finding courage in the face of tragedy

About this time last year things started to come together. My book was getting signed, I had the support of my loved ones, everyone I knew was alive and well. Things were good.

Until they weren’t.

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Psychology of Batgirl

There have been a number of heroic women who took it upon themselves to protect the city of Gotham as Batgirl. Among the first of these was Betty Kane, who was Bat-Girl (initially hyphenated, similarly to Spider-Man). Others, such as Helena Bertinelli (also known as the Huntress), also at one point put on the bat suit. However, the best-known superhero behind Batgirl is Barbara Gordon.

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The one where I face my fears… also, flying cat

Most people are afraid of something, whether it’s a fear of public speaking, fear of flying, or fear of insects. In the video below I explore common phobias, face my own fears, take on a flying cat.

Did you ever want to be a Superhero? What do Batman, Harry Potter, and The Doctor teach us about facing our fears

Did you ever wish that you could have amazing Superpowers or that you would suddenly discover that you were really a witch or a wizard? Many of us often wish for special powers, especially when times are rough and we might just want to find our strength in something. It’s often for this reason that we tend to relate to fictional characters that have undergone similar experiences to us.  Continue reading Did you ever want to be a Superhero? What do Batman, Harry Potter, and The Doctor teach us about facing our fears

Celebrating Batman: 75 years of instilling hope

It’s hard to believe that the Caped Crusader turns 75 today. Batman was initially created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, although Bill Finger was not credited with Batman’s creation until recently. The first time the world met Batman was on March 30, 1939 in the issue of Detective Comics (see below), and his first full issue was released in May later that year, Issue #27, which is currently worth over a million dollars.

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