Using Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy » (1st Edition)

Lawrence C. Rubin, PhD, LMHC, RPT-S, is a Professor of Counselor Education at St. Thomas University in Miami, where he also coordinates the Mental Health Counseling training program. He is a psychotherapist in private practice where he works with children, adolescents, and families, providing assessment, counseling, and play therapy. Dr. Rubin is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and current president of the Florida Association for Play Therapy. His research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and popular culture, in which context he has recently edited Psychotropic Drugs and Popular Culture: Essays on Medicine, Mental Health and the Media, Winner of the 2006 Popular Cultural Association Ray and Pat Browne Book Award for best edited collection.

Harness the Therapeutic Power of the Superhero!

• Application of the Star Wars Adoption Narrative


• Emotional Literacy and the Incredible Hulk


• Batman and Trauma


• What Would Superman Do--An Adlerian Approach?

With an incisive historical foreword by John Shelton Lawrence and insight from contributors such as Michael Brody, Patty Scanlon, and Roger Kaufman, Lawrence Rubin takes us on a dynamic tour of the benefits of using these icons of popular culture and fantasy in counseling and play therapy. Not only can superheroes assist in clinical work with children, but Rubin demonstrates how they can facilitate growth and change with teen and adults. Early childhood memories of how we felt pretending to have the power to save the world or our families in the face of impending danger still resonate in our adult lives, making the use of superheroes attractive as well, to the creative counselor.

In presenting case studies and wisdom gleaned from practicing therapists' experience, Lawrence Rubin shows how it is possible to uncover children's secret identities, assist treatment of adolescents with sexual behavior problems, and inspire the journey of individuation for gay and lesbian clients, all by paying attention to our intrinsic social need for superhero fantasy and play.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Susan Richardson, MA, PsyD(Private Practice)
Description:This is a casebook and theoretical exploration of the uses of comic book superheroes in therapeutic work with children and adults.
Purpose:It is written for clinicians and therapists who are interested in using fantasy play with both children and adults for a multitude of psychological issues. The contributors draw upon theoretical research with myth and other rich symbolism for therapeutic purposes. The contributors ably display the potential gains for patients with these novel approaches.
Audience:The book is written for clinicians or graduate students for the purposes of training and familiarization with superhero symbolic play therapy. Many of the contributors write from their own experiences of using these symbolic play techniques.
Features:The contributors describe many different applications of the superhero play, from a multitude of theoretical perspectives, e.g. attachment theory, Adlerian theory, etc. The book also includes chapters on work with highly specific populations such as a residential teen sex offender program, adopted children, and autism spectrum clients, to name a few. The contributors do a very good job of showcasing this highly specific type of therapy for a variety of clinical applications. Linkage of theory to practice is evident and thoughtfully done.
Assessment:This is a highly readable, very original casebook for clinicians who work with children and adults. It delineates clinical fantasy play in familiar and aspirational forms for clients with a variety of interests. It is sure to be useful for therapists who are interested in garnering further skill and techniques in play therapy.

Contributors

Foreword, John Shelton Lawrence, Morningside College, Emeritus

Preface

Acknowledgments

Section I: Traditional Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy

1. Introduction: Look, Up in the Sky! An Introduction to the Use of Superheroes in Psychotherapy, Lawrence C. Rubin


2. Superheroes in Therapy: Uncovering Children's Secret Identities, Robert J. Porter


3. What Would Superman Do? Cory A. Nelson


4. Superheroes and Sandplay: Using the Archetype through the Healing Journey, William McNulty


5. The Incredible Hulk and Emotional Literacy, Jennifer Mendoza Sayers

Section II: Superheroes and Unique Clinical Applications


6. Holy Franchise! Batman and Trauma, Michael Brody,


7. Making a Place for the Angry Hero on the Team, Harry Livesay


8. A Super Millieu: Using Superheroes in the Residential Treatment of Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems, Karen Robertie, Ryan Weidenbenner, Leya Barrett, and Robert Poole


9. Superheroes are Super Friends: Developing Social Skills and Emotional Reciprocity with Autism Spectrum Clients, Patty Scanlon


10. Superheroes in Play Therapy with an Attachment Disordered Child, Carmela Wenger


11. Luke, I Am Your Father! A Clinical Application of the Star Wars Adoption Narrative, Lawrence C. Rubin

Section III: Non-Traditional Therapeutic Applications of Superheroes

12. Becoming the Hero: The Use of Role-Playing Games in Psychotherapy, George Enfield


13. To Boldly Go! Star Trek Superheroes in Therapy, Jeff Pickens


14. Hypnosis and Superheroes, Jan Burte


15. Heroes Who Learn to Love Their Monsters: How Fantasy Film Characters Can Inspire the Journey of Individuation for Gay and Lesbian Clients in Psychotherapy, Roger Kaufman


16. Afterword


17. Appendix