Tag: depression

Therapy Quest

Did you ever feel like you don’t belong? Like you are somehow different from the people around you? Did you ever wish you could escape to Hogwarts and find connection like Harry Potter did? I did.

I spent most of my life feeling like an outsider and wanting so badly to belong. Not fit in. But to truly belong. To be a part of something that was bigger than myself. Loneliness has been my biggest tormentor and my closest friend. I remember trying to explain to my family that I was feeling lonely even when I was around my friends. I remember feeling more connected to the characters in the fantasy books I was reading than to the kids around me on the playground.  Continue reading Therapy Quest

Superhero Therapy Podcast Ep. 1: Psychology of Harry Potter

​ST Podcast Ep. 1: Harry Potter Therapy

In this first episode of Superhero Therapy, Dr. Janina Scarlet & Dustin McGinnis talk about the psychological meanings depicted in Harry Potter’s life. Did he suffer from PTSD? What do the boggarts represent? What are the pros and cons of house placement? They’ll discuss all of these questions and more.

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The Guide to Battling Inner Dragons for the Modern Geek

Some people get up and go to work. Other people have to fight a dragon to get there. Or a series of dragons. Not real dragons, of course. Metaphoric ones – the dragons of despairing depression and agonizing anxiety, the dragons that burn us with shame about our supposed “not-good-enoughness” at the pit of our stomach. Those dragons.

Continue reading The Guide to Battling Inner Dragons for the Modern Geek

Superhero Therapy book signing

Last week I was able to attend the Book Expo and Book Con in New York City. I was asked to give a talk at Book Expo and did a book signing at Book Con. It went better than I ever imagined. The book signing was only supposed to last an hour but people kept lining up, with the line weaving around several rows. It ended up lasting over an hour and a half. I wanted to stay as long as possible to sign everyone’s book and give everyone hugs who wanted them. It was such a moving experience, which left me in happy tears. Thank you so much for all your support, my heroes!

Continue reading Superhero Therapy book signing

Announcing my new book!

Hello, my heroes,
I am thrilled and excited to tell you that I can now officially announce the upcoming title of my next book: 
“Therapy Quest: An Interactive Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy“ 

Continue reading Announcing my new book!

Superhero Therapy trailer

I am so honored and excited to reveal the trailer for “Superhero Therapy” – it is more than a book. It is a movement. Thank you all for being my Superheroes and for making this happen. Let’s be heroes together. Today and every day.

You are a Superhero and here’s why

Dear Superheroes,
First and foremost, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your generosity and your amazing level of support.
I am in (happy) tears over seeing the way that Superhero Therapy has grown as a community world-wide. In the last 4 years I have seen more kindness, compassion, openness, and connection than I ever have in my entire life.

Continue reading You are a Superhero and here’s why

Psychology in 13 Reasons Why: Episode 2

Losing a good friend is never easy, especially if you don’t understand why you lost them in the first place.

In this powerful Neflix original series episode we learn about Hannah’s friends, Jessica and Alex and some of the factors which contributed to her later dying by suicide. These factors are important to consider in terms of suicide awareness and prevention.

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Continue reading Psychology in 13 Reasons Why: Episode 2

Psychology of “13 Reasons Why” Episode 1

The new Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why,” based on a popular young adult novel by Jay Asher with the same title, has created a lot of controversy. Some critics have deemed the show inappropriate for teens. While it is true that the show can be triggering for some viewers, I believe that it provides a powerful insight into a possible scenario of what might cause a teenager to die by suicide and can serve to help facilitate important conversation topics.

Warning: Spoilers ahead

Continue reading Psychology of “13 Reasons Why” Episode 1

This is your greatest Superpower

Do any of these sound familiar?

“Why do you always take everything so seriously?”

“You are too sensitive!”

“You don’t even know that person, why do you care what happens to them?”

Continue reading This is your greatest Superpower