Superhero Therapy: Mindfulness Skills to Help Teens and Young Adults Deal with Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma

by Janina Scarlet, Wellinton Alves (Illustrations)

A hero’s journey always begins with a struggle—what’s yours? For the first time ever, psychologist Janina Scarlet and Marvel and DC Comics illustrator Wellinton Alves join forces to create Superhero Therapy—a dynamic, illustrated introduction to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you vanquish your inner monsters, explore your unique superpowers, and become a Superhero questing for what matters to you.

Haven’t you ever wanted to be a Superhero? Wished that you could have amazing superpowers, such as super-strength, the ability to fly, or the ability to heal people? Or maybe you wished that you could travel through time and space, enjoying the many adventures that you would encounter along the way? Many of us wish we had special abilities to help us navigate through life—especially when super villains like anxiety, depression, anger, or shame make an appearance.

This fun, unique, and “outside-the-box” self-help guide provides everything you need to begin your very own superhero training using evidence-based ACT and mindfulness skills. Within these colorful pages, you’ll team up with a group of troubled heroes—inspired by both fictional characters and real-life people—enlisted at the Superhero Training Academy. By learning to face up to their inner villains and monsters, these characters will inspire you to overcome your problems as well. When you’re finished, you’ll have a slew of new tools you can use—like mindfulness, self-compassion, and values—to help you conquer whatever life throws your way.

Sometimes life is hard, and it takes super inner super strength to succeed and reach your goals. With this fun and unique guide under your belt, nothing will stand in your way.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Childrens, Health, Superheroes

112 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[BLynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and think it might be helpful in working with the population I work with. It contained some great ways to change coping skills into super powers or spells.

[Joe Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful guide to mental health issues and resolutions broken down into the journeys of characters containing experiences from real patients. It is a good book to become more aware of the issues and how we all are alike. Perfect for geeks that need a pick-me-up!

[Viewpoints Radio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elements of the Harry Potter series such as dementors and patronuses can be viewed symbolically as representative of the struggle of good versus evil. Many readers connect emotionally to Harry’s loss, struggle, and battle to fight his own demons. Clinical therapist Dr. Janina Scarlet builds on this connection by using superheroes, witches and wizards to help her patients cope with their depression or PTSD. On our weekly podcast Viewpoints, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Scarlet about her magical practice. If you would like to hear the full story, check out this link! https://viewpointsradio.wordpress.com...

[Susan Krafcheck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book would be more for the juvenile/tween end of young adults.
The book in a nutshell:
Experience emotion
Reduce the believability of your thoughts
Mindfulness
Stay true to self
Self compassion
Identify your values

[Dawn DiMaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I bought this book, I didn't realize this was directed at teens for themselves to read. I thought it was more for professionals who worked with the teen and young adult population. Still, I was able to pick up some ideas that I could incorporate into my practice with adolescents, especially since the theme of our summer program is superheroes. This was an easy read and written in a way for adolescents, or really anyone, to understand their mental health and the practices they can implement to work through issues. I love Dr. Scarlet's embrace of fandoms and geek culture in therapy. I'm definitely going to get more of her books.

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. It would have been a much better read as an actual comic book filled with stories that spoke to the topics covered.

[Lisa Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super quick, easy read to help you pinpoint your values, still your inner monster and be the superhero you wish to be. Lots of great information with activities you can do on the page, or, if you are like me, in a separate journal.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. This is written by a therapist as an aid to help teens deal with mental health issues, specifically anxiety, depression and trauma. The book offers lots of helpful exercises that can be done anywhere to help bringing calm and control back to your mind. Some of the techniques are mindfulness, self-compassion, and focusing on your values.

Because this is a book meant for teens, the framing story of the book is about a group of superheroes who have suffered various tragedies/set backs who have come together at superhero college to learn how to move forward. The different techniques/exercises are called things like 'magic spells' or 'super powers' or so on to fit with the theme. Going along with the superhero theme, there are illustrations and mini comics/comic panels throughout that illustrate what is being talked about. The mental struggles are depicted as monsters and that visual imagery is used emphasize the points through out.

I think it would have been really helpful to have this book as a teenager. I hope that its audience finds it and are helped by it.

[Udolpho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy to understand introduction to acceptance and commitment therapy, the metaphors with superheros helped ground it in something familiar.

"Superhero Therapy: A Hero's Journey through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" & "Superhero Therapy: Mindfulness Skills to Help Teens and Young Adults Deal with Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma" - although the subtitles are different they are THE SAME book. I ended up ordering both at my local library, and one version was a lot harder for them to find than the other and this caused some confusion.

Due to copyright (probably) no popular superheros etc are outright mentioned or discussed. It's still worth reading even though you won't see mention of any known characters. But I liked the OC superheros that represented each patient.

[Mihail · Rating 1 out of 5]

A poorly executed rehash of basic ACT principles and techniques. The "superhero" stuff seemed disjointed from the therapeutic bits, and it didn't add any beneficial, or at least interesting, perspectives on inner suffering or psychological flexibility.

As a recent fan of graphic novels, I expected and wanted this to be something memorable and original. Unfortunately for me, it was compiled of mediocre images, chatacters and writing. Would not recommend.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great idea and concept for dealing with anxiety and other issues. What YA would not love to be a superhero and what better way than to tap into your own powers for healing and helping others. The illustrations are great and work well with the set up. I would recommend this to any YA, teen, and even adult who needs help and has a very nerdy/geeky side, this would be a great read.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this while looking for engaging psycho education materials that I could share with my middle & high school clients. I’ve already started a mini “book club” with a client for us to read it together. Some trigger warnings (self harm and sexual assault) would have been nice, but that’s why I read it before starting it with clients!

[Wishbear · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an adult I found some of this super hokey. especially the thinnly disguised super heros. however, I think this will be really beneficial for my 13 year old. and we can all be mindful helpful superheros and put a lot of these steps into practice

[Paula Mc Cune · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful techniques broken down into an easy to use format for mild anxiety, depression etc and could be an aid to more severe issues but would not be sufficient for those with severe trauma. Short and if a young person liked comics may be a good tool to use.

[Brigid Kapuvari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was genuinely so, so, so, so, SO GOOD!

Full review to come.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was useful in giving examples of dealing with different emotional issues in the context of each of us having a super hero alter ego. There were a few exercises as well.

[Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really innovative concept, I actually had in mind for my book.
It was very insightful and I think is already helping me. Need to practice her recommendations. Want to read more from the author.

[♪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and quaint, though too short/vague/childish to be of real long-term use. Definitely recommended, but also by no means the best book on the topic.

[Amber Lynn Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful in my work.

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good to skim, but just a little to teen-y for me. Probably better for young teens and tweens like mine.

[Delanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ORIGINAL AND AMAZING

[Eduardo Lira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janina Scarlet la única que se le ocurrió hacer algo útil con la ACT xd, simp suyo eterno ❤️‍🩹

[Jorge Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

No es mi tipo de lectura favorita, sin embargo me identifiqué con algunos pasajes, no le da vueltas a lo que quiere expresar.

[UnapologeticallyArdis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well thought out and fun to read despite the not so fun topics it took on. It's really approachable and gives an easy once a week read as a supplement for therapy.