Bat Therapy: Psychology of Batman and other Comic Superheroes: Recent Episodes
Dr. Emilia Brown and Keeden Hopkins
Exploring your favorite comic book characters through the lens of clinical psychology. What is a psychologist to do when they have a passion for mental health treatment as well as all things Batman? They start a podcast, of course! This podcast lets you be a fly on the wall (or a bat in the cave), listening in on a friendship built out of a love for talking Batman and other superheroes, comics, and the everyday struggle to achieve mental health and happiness. Emilia (psychologist) and Keeden (educator and professional nerd) want to help every person – every graphic novel aficionado, every superhero lover, every cosplayer, every geek and nerd – have health and healing from life’s struggles. Learn how and why characters from your favorite comic storylines suffer as well as where their resilience truly shines. Join us in practicing skills as if we are these fictional characters in order to learn how they, and you, can achieve some peace of mind and mental health recovery. This podcast is NOT a way to receive mental health treatment, services, or personal advice.
New Episodes Tuesdays and New Mindful Nerd Moments on Saturdays!
The MCU has hinted enough – give us the Young Avengers! While preparing for this episode, Keeden started to wonder what the difference is between psychotherapy for adults and for children and adolescents. We asked Dr. Sasha Jaquez, a board-certified clinical health psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with children and young adults, to join us to talk about psychotherapy for teenage superheroes.
We discuss the confirmed characters for Avengers: Doomsday that we have not discussed yet this season. Is Loki going to have sage wisdom or continue being his prankster self? What in the heck has Shang-Chi been up to? Is this Gambit going to be with the other X-Men? And how stressed out is poor Sam Wilson after all this Captain America and Avengers nonsense?
Psychologist Dr. Emilia Brown provides her Recruitment Assessment for the Avengers Initiative on The Punisher / Frank Castle. Spoiler Alert: Probably not a good fit. We highly recommend The Punisher: One Last Kill. Excellent from a psychological perspective.
Wait. There’s an MCU team-up with HEALTHY approaches to relationships and team dynamics? Heck yeah there is! We love The Marvels. Watch it. Then watch Ms. Marvel, because Kamala Khan continues to be one of the most delightful characters we have talked about. We have no idea if these characters will be in Avengers: Doomsday, but we hope so.
Psychologist Dr. Emilia Brown provides her Recruitment Assessment for the Avengers Initiative on Scott Lang, the current Ant-Man. Do Scott Lang’s optimism and easy-going nature make him a prime candidate for the Avengers or is he too prone to getting himself caught? Dr. Brown and Keeden may disagree about whether his biggest worth to the Avengers is that he is expendable, but one thing is for sure. Scott Lang is likely the most resilient and mentally healthy Avenger. Also, Wasp would be a great Avenger (duh).
Psychologist Dr. Emilia Brown provides her Recruitment Assessment for the Avengers Initiative on Daredevil / Matt Murdock. Although he might not be in the upcoming movie (we shall see!), his character could have potential uses for an Avengers team. We discuss the start of season two of Daredevil: Born Again, and Dr. Brown reacts to Dr. Heather Glenn’s unethical use of the MMPI.
With all the death and restructuring of leadership, how will Wakanda show up in Avengers: Doomsday? And what will the combination of Shuri, M’Baku, and Namor look like given what happened in Wakanda Forever? A psychologist weighs in.
We explore the unique experiences of mutants with the x-gene and what helps them create such effective teams. We speculate about how the X-Men will appear in the upcoming Avengers movie.
Psychologist Dr. Emilia Brown provides her Recruitment Assessment for the Avengers Initiative on Thor, God of Thunder. Perhaps the Avenger with the most personal growth in the MCU, how might Thor be different in Avengers: Doomsday? And what is it that makes someone worthy to wield the hammer Mjölnir?
Psychologist Dr. Emilia Brown provides her Recruitment Assessment for the Avengers Initiative on Steve Rogers. What character traits are relevant when considering him for the Avengers? How might his becoming a father affect his ability to self-sacrifice? Can he maintain a sense of identity without being the one called Captain America?
In preparation for Doomsday, we use psychology to explore the team dynamics of the MCU’s Avengers. We look at what makes this team so hard to keep together and why not every superhero is the best teammate. Bonus: hear us argue about whether Tony Stark is Marvel’s version of Bruce Wayne.
Psychology Source: https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/teamwork
We introduce our season, a series of psychological case studies of the MCU characters who will return in Avengers: Doomsday. Keeden shares what he’s found out about the upcoming movie while Dr. Emilia Brown talks about what a ‘case study’ is and why case studies can help us love the MCU even more.
Journalist Jacob Ward joins us as we use Tony Stark and Ozymandias to explore the psychological dangers of when technology is created and distributed without limits. Bonus: stick around until the end to find out Jake’s perspective on how journalists are portrayed in comics!
Jacob Ward has a background in technology journalism and behavioral science with experiences that include 6 years as technology correspondent for NBC News and hosting "Hacking Your Mind" (NSF-funded PBS documentary series). He wrote the book "The Loop: How A.I is Creating a World without Choices and How to Fight Back” and hosts his weekly podcast, The Rip Current, about the invisible forces driving tech, money, and politics.
https://www.jacobward.com/
Psychology sources: Protecting Our Children Online and Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots
Keeden brings the comic book knowledge and Dr. Emilia Brown brings the psychology research to help us figure out if Bruce Wayne can truly be a superhero when he has so much money. We also explore whether psychology can answer the age-old question: Is Batman’s superpower his wealth?
Source: https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/wealth-empathy
We use the Fantastic Four’s Mister Fantastic to explore the similarities and differences between high intellect and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Brown shares information on autism and the importance of finding good sources when trying to self-diagnose.
Source: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism-spectrum-disorder
This episode has SPOILERS about the newest Fantastic Four movie. We share our thoughts on the movie, including Keeden’s annoyance at enjoying the movie. Dr. Brown explores if people’s reaction to Mister Fantastic’s directness and honesty in this multiverse would be an expected psychological reaction in our own.
For our Halloween episode we went with one of Keeden’s favorites, Van Helsing. We explore how Van Helsing’s personal experiences help to overcome prejudice and the struggle we all have in trying to overcome our initial reactions to a “monster” like Frankenstein’s who may be the most human of them all.
Since the beginning, comics have been a way to explore a variety of social injustices. We talk with Michael Miller, a justice-oriented theological consultant. Michael designed and taught a private high school class called MARVELous Justice that looked at the intersection of comics with social justice. Listen to this episode to find out why the school’s Catholic Sisters approving content on Black Panther, Squirrel Girl, and Harley Quinn isn’t as surprising as you might think.
Michael Miller: mycomicrelief.wordpress.com & https://www.michaeljmillerconsulting.com/
X: @My_ComicRelief
Instagram: @consultingtheologian
Threads: consultingtheologian
Bluesky: @mycomicrelief.bsky.social
We use last week’s episode on the Super/Bat storyline to explore if Batman’s stubborn resolve, attention to details, and perfectionism are part of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. Dr. Brown also describes the differences between this personality disorder and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).
Learn more about OCPD at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597372/
If you have wanted to see what Batman would be like with Superman’s powers, then we highly recommend this 4-part comic book series, Super/Bat (Superman/Batman Vol 1 #53-56 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman/Batman). We provide a psychological breakdown of how getting superpowers may not be as much of a gift for Batman as one might think.
With a background in rehabilitation for mental health disability, Dr. Emilia Brown uses Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to talk about how hard it can be to recognize and correct ableism in our society. Fullmetal does not shy away from characters who have physical disabilities. Still, creating empowering and respectful representations of disability is complicated - - so how did Fullmetal do?
How can we possibly begin to move on from tragedies like death, war, torture, and loss? Hear a clinical psychologist and her nerdy counterpart explore the ways Edward and Alphonse Elrich, Scar, Colonel Mustang and others try to move on in life after the violence they have experienced and, in some cases, participated in themselves.
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Emilia Brown and Keeden Hopkins explore the complexities of therapy for magic users, discussing the ethical dilemmas, coping mechanisms, and emotional well-being of characters like Agatha, Loki, and Dr. Strange. They delve into how magic influences therapy dynamics, the philosophical implications of using magic in therapy, and the unique challenges therapists face when working with clients who possess magical abilities.
Despite how this movie differs from the comics, it is an enjoyable watch. We explore Constantine’s understandable cynicism and how his focus on what is most important helps to keep him going in the face of going to hell.
How would Dr. Brown adapt psychotherapy for a vampire? We answer the questions you didn’t know you had. Why might a vampire go to therapy? Does a vampire need a therapist who is also a vampire, or are there advantages to finding someone warm-blooded? Would vampires have mental health disorders and, if so, would they be like the human versions? Does vampirism involve its own unique version of moral injury? And more!
Nothing like using your lifelong resilience in the face of extreme violence and racism to help prepare you for a sudden realization: vampires are real. Is becoming a vampire the solution to life’s problems?
We compare the witches’ road in Agatha All Along to a new therapy being researched for auditory hallucinations called AVATAR that helps people visualize and confront psychosis-related voices. We also discuss ways that technology may change psychotherapy over time.
More info on AVATAR Therapy: https://wellcome.org/news/avatar-digital-therapy-could-help-people-who-hear-voices
We talk about what it is like to watch a show where the main character is a huge … witch. Unlikable main characters, no clear villains, and a host of loners who manage to find connection with each other. What’s not to love?
It is normal and natural for someone to feel resistant to the psychotherapy process. Wolverine’s stubbornness? Batman never prioritizing his sessions? Spiderman fearing his therapist could turn into a villain? Mind readers???? Find out how a therapist would respond.
Read More: https://positivepsychology.com/resistance-to-change/
What better way to talk about the developing brain than with kid-versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Lantern! As a bonus, find out a psychologist’s thoughts on reverse psychology. If you haven’t watched this JLU episode in a while, we definitely recommend it.
Before we jump into the new season, we had to talk about James Gunn’s Superman movie. SPOILERS! We share our reactions, including our thoughts on whether this movie is political or if our reactions to Superman have changed over time. Hear a psychologist’s thoughts on this version of Lex Luthor, Superman’s ability to train a dog, the realities of having a Superman Complex, and the luxury Superman has in being able to trust people since he is (mostly) indestructible.
Welcome to another season of Bat Therapy! This prologue delves into how we decided on this season’s theme of monsters and magic. We also talk about some of the characters and storylines we want to cover.
Fisk becomes mayor while Matt Murdock struggles to avoid being Daredevil. Being a comics meets mental health type of podcast, we are particularly excited to talk about Matt dating a psychiatrist. Hear a psychologist’s thoughts on Dr. Heather Glenn (and why the doctor becomes more annoying in the end) and the show’s portrayal of couples therapy. And who better than Daredevil, Kingpin/Fisk, and The Punisher to take an opportunity to talk about the important difference between anger and aggression.
Spoiler alert for this new MCU movie! Find out why a therapist finds the start of the movie to be a hilarious representation of depression with Yelena, a gun for hire. Trauma, depression, some hints at dissociative identity disorder and bipolar disorder, then add a dash of good ol' fashioned team bonding. A lot of great mental health related content in this movie, including a great message about why it is important not to ignore our internal demons.
Dr. Emilia Brown introduces Keeden to one of her favorite comics, Venom (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 16-20). When being Batman isn’t enough to save someone, Bruce Wayne begins using a drug to give himself superstrength. Sadly, the drug is highly addictive, and soon Batman becomes a mere shadow of his former self. This comic explores his struggle to leave the pills behind.
SPOILER ALERT! Keeden and Dr. Emilia Brown delve into the psyche of a variety of heroes and villains in the new movie Captain America: Brave New World.
Last week we talked about She-Hulk and Daredevil, lawyers turned vigilante. This week Dr. Emilia Brown shares about how life in the United States is imitating art, highlighting efforts by psychologists and other scientists & healthcare professionals to continue their work amidst numerous data removals and executive orders. How can psychologists embody She-Hulk when the ethics and purpose behind their work are at risk?
Sources:
https://updates.apaservices.org/
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5288113/cdc-website-health-data-trump
https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.r253
We explore two examples of lawyers who become superhero vigilantes. On the surface, She-Hulk and Daredevil have a lot in common, but one is a reluctant superhero while the other sometimes seems more comfortable throwing punches than working within the legal system.
Bat Therapy talks with Manami Yamamoto about why she uses Baymax as a model for how to be a therapist. We explore the importance of seeing all types of families as “normal” and Hiro’s struggle to not let his trauma hurt the people he loves. Manami Yamamoto is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Expressive Arts Therapist, as well as the Founder and President of Blue Humming Therapy. She is a global advocate for mental health and wellness with a mission to create safe, inclusive spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and understood across countries and cultures. Find her at https://www.bluehummingtherapy.org/
Starting right before Captain America: Civil War, Wakanda gets hit with trauma after trauma after trauma. Hear a licensed clinical psychologist talk about the best ways to support someone like these Wakandans in the hours, days, and weeks after a traumatic event.
Sources:
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/tx_survivors_trauma.asp
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/disaster-distress-helpline
We use Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther to explore the impossible juggle of being the leader of your country while also being a superhero. And being the leader of Wakanda? King T’Challa has multiple secret identities to maintain with the outside world. We look at the cracks in Wakanda’s façade and wonder how the country would have felt toward its leader if the snap had not happened.
The Bat Therapy co-hosts reflect on the past year. Hear a psychologist’s suggestions for maintaining those New Year’s Resolutions as we compare ourselves to our favorite superheroes. We also share our most listened to episodes during 2024!
Time for a holiday episode! We explore the emotional complexities of the holiday season, watching as Superman, J’onn the Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Ultra-Humanite find their own ways to ‘celebrate’. Keeden shares how holiday nostalgia helped him realize that the best gift he could give himself was getting mental health help.
Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle’s relationship during Tom King’s comic run had some rocky times, like when Selina left Bruce right before their wedding. Learn from a clinical psychologist about how couples therapy may have helped the Bat and the Cat’s relationship.
Find Out More: https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/relationship-advice
We know, we know, another Tom King related podcast episode. But who can resist talking about Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle going on a double date with Clark Kent and Lois Lane? We explore what it takes to have a good, long-lasting romantic relationship, especially when your significant other is a superhero.
Look, the MCU has worn us out, we get it. Keeden hadn’t even watched this show until we decided to talk about it on the podcast! But we really recommend this 5-episode series about Maya Lopez / Echo. We talk about family dynamics, anger and forgiveness, acceptance, and ancestral power. In this (belated) Native American Heritage Month episode, Dr. Brown also shares the reasons behind the long overdue American Psychological Association’s 2023 offer of apology to the first peoples in the United States.
To find out more: https://echo.choctawnation.com/, https://www.nativepsychs.org/, https://www.nativepsychs.org/apology
When you date Superman / The Blur and your anti-vigilante dad and boyfriend-kissing sister surprise you for Thanksgiving, things will get a bit complicated. We discuss Smallville Season 10 Episode 7 Ambush and how Lois Lane struggles to change old family habits and set some boundaries with the people she loves. Meanwhile, we look at how Oliver Queen and Tess find a path to emotional maturity, highlighting the importance of open communication and showing vulnerability.
Psychologist shares research on how men and women communicate with each other. Interestingly, Wonder Woman’s complete lack of awareness of a world centered around men gives her an advantage in overcoming the men who question her competency.
We discuss Wonder Woman’s jarring transition when she goes from Themyscira to World War I and early 1900s violence and sexism. To be a superhero that lasts for generations, she must break away from her naïve understanding of humanity and find a way to embrace the imperfections.
We continue to explore Supernatural’s Dean Winchester in Season 4 as he teeters on the edge of having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What are his treatment options, and how likely are they to help? What about the fact that most therapists wouldn’t believe him if he told them his traumatic event was about being in Hell?
For more information: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
It’s about time our dynamic duo crossed over into one of our favorite shows, Supernatural. What better excuse than Halloween? Emilia shares a clinical psychologist’s perspective on Dean’s return to ‘normal’ life after literally going through hell, discussing the difference between acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as relating Dean’s experiences to military life and the struggle to cope with moral injury. Meanwhile, Keeden relates to Sam’s religious struggle when Sam meets real-life angels and discovers that they aren’t as angelic as he had believed.
Is there anything more intimidating than being a superhero without superpowers? Oh, that’s right, you could ALSO be Batman’s sidekick, constantly comparing yourself to the very best and getting a lot of… “constructive” criticism. Talk about a situation that would leave most anybody feeling like a fraud. We delve into Dick Grayson’s experience as the first Robin and how he overcomes the inevitable imposter syndrome to become a capable superhero in his own right.
To learn more: Imposter Phenomenon & Environmental Effects Affecting Imposter Syndrome
Remember when we talked about Batgirl: Year One? One of the authors listened and loved it! We talked with Scott Beatty about another comic he co-authored, Nightwing: Year One. Scott Beatty has written several hundred comic book stories for DC Comics and other publishers including CrossGen Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, and IDW Publishing. His most notable releases include Robin: Year One, Batgirl: Year One, Nightwing: Year One, Batman: Gotham Knights, Joker: Last Laugh, Gen13, Number of The Beast, Ruse, Buck Rogers, The Last Phantom, and many others.
Get to know more about Scott here:
- X: @Scott_M_Beatty
- Threads: scottmbeatty
- Instagram: scottmbeatty
- Websites:
- https://scottbeatty.blogspot.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Beatty
- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-Beatty/author/B00JJDIS3K?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1727738848&sr=1-2&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
We delve into the research on how much a person’s income affects their happiness. Hear why our friendly neighborhood clinical psychologist believes that Tobey Maguire’s version of Peter Parker wouldn’t be a happy billionaire. And why she thinks Bruce Wayne would be just as happy if he earned $100,000 a year.
To learn more: Money & Happiness Studies
What’s it like to be a superhero…and be poor? How similar are the effects of Venom to a manic episode (bipolar disorder)? Is it really possible that a superhero could lose their powers because of a psychological struggle? Who is worse / more annoying, Mary Jane or Peter Parker? Listen to find out!
As a clinical psychologist specializing in severe and persistent mental illness, Emilia has a lot to say about what Arkham Asylum should be. We explore the complicated history of United States psychiatric hospitals and deinstitutionalization through the fictional representation of Gotham and its superpowered criminals.
Want to learn more? https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510377/lost-patients
We nerd out with Dr. Schirripa about Bruce Wayne’s path to Batman and answer questions like… Do certain Gotham criminals really belong in Arkham Asylum? How can someone do treatment with the Joker and avoid falling for him like Dr. Harleen Quinzel? Dr. Michael Schirripa is a distinguished Adelaide-based psychiatrist with over two decades of experience, in both forensic and private practice settings. His debut novel, MINDHUNT, is the only psychological thriller to be written by an actual forensic psychiatrist!
Check him out at https://michaelschirripa.com/ or buy his book, Mindhunt, here: https://a.co/d/i5q9TDl
Tom King’s Batman #12 explores a whole new perspective on Bruce Wayne, age 10 and struggling with the pain of seeing his parents’ deaths. We explore this version of Bruce Wayne as a way to talk about Suicide Prevention Month.
We talk about existential dread, the imperfect (and at times abusive) realities of the Umbrella Academy’s family dynamics, and what the difference is between adapting / acceptance and giving up. Bonus: Hear why Keeden was not a fan of the ending of the TV series.
A YouTube channel made famous by interviewing people while having them eat hotter and hotter wings. Hear a psychologist’s point of view on what makes the combination of spicy foods and interviewer Sean Evans a long-lasting (and psychologically genius) success.
Listen in as we talk about our favorite parts of this new movie. Hear our thoughts on if it was fair for Deadpool to get turned down by the Avengers. We also explore the loss of purpose many of the characters are struggling with, including Wolverine and his path to processing his trauma (with a little help from a Professor X style villain).
Wait times, human error, variability in the quality of care…there are issues with current mental health therapy treatments. Are Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots the answer?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mental-health-chatbots-powered-by-artificial-intelligence-providing-support-60-minutes-transcript/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10242473/
We talk to Carolyn about her graphic novel in which she writes the text and uses Artificial Intelligence to create the images, exploring how technology may change art, psychotherapy, and life as we know it. Stand-up comedian turned writer, Carolyn Cohagan has published five novels and two children’s activity books, including The Lost Children (2011 Scholastic Book Club) and her Time Zero Young Adult trilogy (over 10 literary honors). She also founded Kids with Pens, an Austin (Texas)-based creative writing organization.
This Memoir Will Be Written by Robots by Carolyn Cohagan
https://www.carolyncohagan.com/
How do you define ‘personality’? And how do you find ways to measure personality traits? We use the live-action movie portrayals of Bruce Wayne to talk about the Big Five: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Negative Emotionality / Neuroticism, and Open-Mindedness.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traits
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/people-are-strange/201910/how-to-accurately-measure-your-personality
We compare the live action film portrayals of Bruce Wayne. Which younger version of Bruce Wayne do we think led to Ben Affleck’s? Whose Bruce Wayne is more of a façade? What makes some Bruce Waynes more likely to quit being the Batman? We answer these questions and more!
We use The Incredibles to explore ways that having the job of a first responder (EMS, firefighter, police, superheroes, etc.) can affect family life.
Read More: “This is it…this is our normal” - the voices of family members and first responders experiencing duty-related trauma in Ireland - ScienceDirect
When a superhero is forced to retire, how can they still have meaning and purpose in life? With Elastigirl, we talk about how she puts her efforts into raising super-powered children. We compare Mr. Incredible’s struggle to the transition from being in the military or retiring as a professional athlete.
Time for a new season! Find out what we have planned, talking about alter egos and the everyday people behind the superhero masks.
Hello Bat Therapy Fans! While we prepare for Season 6, we cut some behind the scenes for you to listen to while you wait. This is a from a conversation before we recorded episode 23: Fat Thor. Ironically, it's about Wonder Woman... not Thor... See you for Season 6, No Capes!
Hello Bat Therapy Fans! While we prepare for Season 6, we cut some behind the scenes for you to listen to while you wait. This is a from a conversation before we recorded episode 10: Bruce Wayne. See you for Season 6, No Capes!
We explore some big barriers to mental health treatment that superheroes are likely to experience, such as finding the time, confidentiality and building trust, and being willing to be vulnerable.
Even the most capable of superheroes need someone to talk to from time to time. We talk about what Batman might want to talk about during therapy and what theoretical orientations and therapeutic styles he would find most helpful in his therapist.
You’re a warrior god over 1,500 years old, but when the losses start, they don’t seem to stop. You retreat into yourself, drinking and playing videogames to escape any chance of losing something or someone else. Some people reach out to support you, but most make jokes and fat shame you, not seeing the depression. In honor of mental health awareness month, we talk about Thor’s struggles and what mental health treatments could help.
Batman, superheroes, comics, nerd content… and mental health? After two years of Bat Therapy, we talk about how the podcast got started and why we love doing this thing. (We also couldn’t resist talking about why we love Batman so much.)
The X-Men go to high school and it's surprisingly like normal high school just with powers! Dr. Brown and Keeden discuss X-Men Evolution, reminiscing about watching it for the first time as teens and also discussing community inclusion.
We love how Babs comes onto the scene – she is unapologetically herself, just looking for a way to help the city she loves without caring what Batman or her father, Commissioner Gordon, has to say about it. Emilia ends up connecting with Batgirl more than she expected. We also talk about how this comic, much like Cognitive Processing Therapy, explores the complexities of trusting someone.
Finally. You have left the sewer, and the people of New York City can learn to love you and your teenage mutant ninja turtle brothers. And the timing is perfect because you are protecting them from Super Fly! But then you find out that they think you are a monster, attacking the city with Super Fly. There is a lot you are feeling in this moment – it is the perfect time for some mindfulness.
When you’re a teenager, it is only natural to care about what other people think – you want to fit in and find your people. This is especially true if you happen to be a mutant ninja turtle going through puberty. But what do you do when you care so much about being liked that you end up getting in your own way?
You are Cassandra Cain and, after escaping your father, you are living in a Gotham library. You never learned to speak, so you communicate with people through their body language. It speaks to you. You take a moment away from worrying about your father’s assassins to sit and watch the people in the library so that you can connect with them through their body language, their facial expressions, and their movements.
Cassandra Cain doesn’t have many storylines of her own, but she is a very compelling character in the Bat Family. Raised to kill instead of to speak, she has a quirky way to life that you can’t help but love and respect. We talk about Cassandra’s unique communication style and how, like Barbara Gordon, a therapist would try to adjust their approach in order to meet Cassandra where she is at.
Remus Lupin misses the simpler times before he was a werewolf and when all the Marauders were alive. He uses the Memory Extraction spell to immerse himself in a memory from being in school with his friends. He looks into the Pensieve and allows himself to fully experience what that time was like, noticing how it feels to cherish and to mourn those memories.
The only reason you are considering this insipid activity is because you respect Alfred, despite his obsession with you “missing out on childhood”. That, and you already tried to go into the Batcave, and you’ve been locked out. So here you are at the playground, getting ready to see what is so special about the swing set, using mindfulness to try and overcome your belief that this will be an utter waste of time.
You take 11-year-olds, divide them into different teams, force them to compete for points, and then you watch them fight. Eventually, you bring them back together through a common enemy (an enemy that is probably more appropriate for the adults to handle…). Are we talking about Harry Potter or a social psychology experiment from the 1950s? Listen in to find out.
We discuss the animated films: Son of Batman, Batman vs Robin, Bad Blood, Justice League vs Teen Titans. Get a glimpse of what 10-year-old Bruce Wayne would have looked like if he grew up being trained to lead the League of Shadows. We explore Damian’s difficulty befriending others and how, if looked at from a certain angle, his abrasiveness can actually be an endearing trait…sometimes.
Sometimes, if we want to do something really important to us, then we have to be willing to experience something unpleasant. If Clark wants to talk to his crush, Lana, then he has to be willing to feel really sick because she wears a kryptonite necklace. So we practice being Clark and using mindfulness so that he can talk to Lana despite the kryptonite.
Smallville is a lot like social media: pretty on the outside with a lot going on out of view. We explore if Clark’s crush on Lana Lang is caused by anticipatory nausea / anxiety about her kryptonite necklace. And we discuss when might be the best time in someone’s life to get superpowers based on what we know about brain development and causes of disability.
Mindfulness is about stepping back and being an observer of yourself. What better way to practice this than as Deadpool stepping out of his comic book to gain some knowledge and perspective.
“Doing the right thing is sometimes messy and f**ed up, and not particularly convenient.” We talk about the conundrum that is Deadpool and why, despite his erratic killer ways, the X-Men keep trying to turn him into a hero. We also talk about how to approach therapy with a client like Wade Wilson.
Earth, air, fire, water…choose an element to practice bending by using the wisdom the monks shared with Aang. “…bending is about energy and balance. By feeling the energy around you, you can find balance. By finding balance, you can feel the energy.”
Keeden’s wife, Colleen Hopkins, and Sam Leggett from Team JVS join us to talk about the heroes-in-training that appear in Avatar: The Last Airbender the 2024 TV show. We have a great range from Emilia (brand new to the franchise) to Colleen (knows literally everything there is to know). We talk about favorite characters, the struggle to be a child while also having the responsibilities of the world on your shoulders, and how a therapist might approach someone like Zuko to help them heal.
When you have powers like Poseidon, you have to take advantage of your ability to breathe underwater to take a much-deserved break from godly quests.
Percy had a tough start to life. He was different and struggled to fit in, bullied and left unprotected by many of the adults in his life. And then all of a sudden, he was a powerful demigod on a quest of mythological proportions. We talk about teaching, parenting, and what it might take to get a bunch of teenage demigods to get along.
It isn’t easy trying to make your way as a superhero when you have Superman swooping in and taking out your villains. You’re invincible, Superman, we get it. When the Justice League teamwork isn’t making the dream work, mindfulness can help deal with the frustration.
Being a hero-in-training takes on a whole different context when you are talking about expert superheroes who are training to work together as a team. Emilia has brushed up on some I/O Psychology so we can talk about team dynamics and what seems to complicate the Justice League’s attempts to be a well-oiled machine.
It’s been a long night of crimefighting and there is a lot more to do, but the sun is rising so you have begrudgingly returned to the Batcave. Before you shower off the dirt and grit from being out in Gotham, you decide to find a spot in the Batcave to lie down and check in with your body to see how it is doing.
We delve into the many skills of Bruce Wayne and how he honed his natural abilities (and financial privilege). We also explore how he maneuvers through his anger and emotional turmoil to become a crimefighter dressed up as a … bat, what seems to be a comic book version of harm reduction.
You are Tim Drake. You know who Batman is and you know how important it is for Batman to have a Robin. But Batman is hurting…and stubborn… Even though his rejection of your offer to be Robin hurts, you use cognitive diffusion to step back and remember that it isn’t personal.
Tim Drake’s start to being the Boy Wonder was very different from his predecessors, showing detective prowess much like the Dark Knight’s. We explore what it must have been like to try to connect with Bruce Wayne after the death of Jason Todd. And find out if Keeden convinces Emilia to no longer see Tim Drake as her ‘least favorite Robin’!
Dr. Harrison Wells has a wonderful monologue in The Flash 1.17 that uses mindfulness to help Barry Allen phase for the first time. We imagine ourselves as The Flash, needing to phase or we will meet an explosive end. So, we focus on Dr. Wells’ words as he helps us connect with the speed force. “Listen to me, Barry. Breathe…breathe…”
We contrast Barry Allen and Oliver Queen’s journeys to becoming heroes in the Arrowverse. Barry is refreshingly light-hearted despite his family struggles, but even he is affected by the weight of keeping secrets and the repercussions of broken trust. And…what about that secret prison with no legal oversite?
Archery is an excellent way to practice meditation and mindfulness. We imagine ourselves as Green Arrow / Oliver Queen, bouncing tennis balls and shooting them with arrows.
Arrow is a show that really highlights the struggles of adjusting to life after trauma and the importance of social support to be able to have a life beyond that trauma. After all, who would Oliver Queen (and the Green Arrow) be without John Diggle and Felicity Smoak? We also explore when this version of Green Arrow goes from vigilante and anti-hero to superhero status.
You’re wearing your new Ms. Marvel uniform, and you are excited. It’s the perfect day to take your powers out for a run. You open the bedroom window, embrace the Jersey City sky, and focus your mind on creating that first energy beam ...
Kamala Khan has such a compelling story of teenage struggles, culture clashes, and the strength of family and friendship. In this episode, Emilia shares her theory on how adversity and marginalization result in more easily adapting to a life with superpowers. We also can’t help ourselves and take a few pokes at the terrible lies superheroes often make when they keep their secret more tightlipped.
Source: Ms. Marvel TV show
When Psycho-Pirate overcomes you with fear, you are reminded of what Batman always says – “EVERYONE gets scared. But remember, all that means is everyone gets the opportunity to fight that fear. Everyone gets the chance to be BRAVE.” And so you take every ounce of willpower you have and you find a way to embrace the fear.
We talk about the tragic story of two young superhero hopefuls introduced in Tom King’s Batman: Rebirth storyline. Some of the topics include the terrible name “Psycho-Pirate”, humanizing the experience of psychosis, and ways to manage feelings fear and anger. Source(s): Batman: Rebirth series
What good are superpowers if you don’t use them to sit at the top of Mount Everest to reflect and take in the view?
We finally joined forces with Team JVS! Keeden’s podcast and YouTube worlds collide for a review of Invincible. We focus on the psychology of Mark Grayson, a teenager who must learn to manage his superpowers while also dealing with the knowledge that his father is not who Mark thought he was.
Sources: Invincible Seasons 1 & 2 (episodes 1-4)
Keeden and Emilia got to hang out in-person this holiday season! To celebrate, we answered your questions. Listen in if you want to hear our thoughts on the future of superheroes, best holiday superhero episodes, and Dick Grayson’s mullet.
As you steel yourself for battle, you practice your martial arts fighting skills with your aunt. But she surprises you. When you tense up to spar, she walks over to you and flattens out your fists. She invites you to flow with the energy around you rather than fighting against it.
Clinical psychologist and fellow Batman enthusiast Dr. Jack Tsan is Program Director of the Multicultural Counseling Institute and the host of the People of Color in Psychology Podcast. He joins us as we talk about grief, the experience of eternal life, and how in holding too tightly to what we have lost we can lose everything else we care about. We also talk about what it is like to see under-represented groups finally take the spotlight as the main character and break the stereotypical mold, with Dr. Tsan referring to the interesting tidbits he’s learned from taking Implicit Association Tests. Sources: film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Check out Dr. Tsan’s podcast People of Color in Psychology Podcast and The Multicultural Counseling Institute (with Continuing Education courses for mental health professionals).
Want to check out your own implicit biases? Click here to test out your own implicit biases.
It’s your favorite time of day. You have on your Robin uniform, and you are ready to get on your motorcycle and drive out of the Batcave into Gotham. Let’s take in the moment.
The original Robin, the child who took Batman from solo superhero to Dynamic Duo. Their similar childhood traumas form a unique bond that helps Dick Grayson see beyond Bruce Wayne’s stubborn and stoic exterior.
Source: Batman TAS: Robin’s Reckoning
You are Marie Moreau and you can manipulate blood. But then Senator Neuman wants you to do something strange – she wants you to tell her something about herself by sensing her blood. Unsure of what to do but determined to expand your powers, you use mindfulness as your guide.
A college full of superpowered teenagers/young adults…what could go wrong? There are so many interesting tidbits – we talk about eating disorders, inflexible beliefs and odd perceptual experiences of psychosis, the conflict within generation v on how to react to the betrayal of adults they thought they could trust, and so much more.
It is hard to believe we’re already at Season 5! We chat about our plans for Heroes in Training and discuss our thoughts on what makes someone a sidekick. And please chat with us on Discord – we would love to hear from our listeners!
With the end of the season here, we give out superlatives to the Gotham Rogues Gallery villains. Most likely to succeed at villainy, most popular, best tasting (when Killer Croc is feeling peckish) and more!
Keeden finally gets to talk about Spiderman’s villains! What happens when the “evil villain” isn’t some unknown person, but instead they are your teacher, your mentor, your best friend’s dad? Hear about this and our thoughts on what would happen if Spiderman swapped places with the Dark Knight.
Keeden finally gets his wish – we talk Eobard Thawne and his obsessive focus on The Flash / Barry Allen. We explore how his anger and persistent vendetta keep him from finding a place he can call home.
Loki is a great example of how intelligence and wit can be used to deflect from a person’s true self. Loki begins with a hunt for power and domination in order to chase away the fear of not being enough. But it is only when he is forced to let go of the distractions that he can find what he truly wants. Sources: TV show Loki; MCU films including The Avengers, Thor
Juan Lopez is the owner of Nostalgia Newsstand, North Carolina’s oldest comic bookstore located in Greenville, NC. We take advantage of his wealth of knowledge to talk about the history of Hispanic representation in comics, including George Perez’s impact and the power of taking characters beyond the stereotypes.Sources: Check out https://www.facebook.com/NostalgiaNewsstandNC/
Arnold Wesker struggles to separate himself from Scarface, caught in a uniquely toxic relationship that makes him wonder: Who is a ventriloquist without his dummy? We explore this as well as what Arnold Wesker’s mental health diagnosis might be and what it is like to be one of Scarface’s henchmen. Sources: Batman TAS: Read My Lips, Cat Walk, Double Talk
How does a secret, world-dominating organization take over S.H.I.E.L.D. from the inside? We cover this and other topics including how trauma (and being a professional spy) can affect someone’s ability to trust other people.Sources: films Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: Winter Soldier
Family dynamics can be tricky enough without being a part of the Bat Family. Jason Todd has some anger issues (to put it mildly). We talk about his struggle to feel accepted as the rougher around the edges second Robin and how nonjudgmental friends help him go from being seen as a villain and murderer to a hero of his own making.
We explore the powerful film representation of Erik Killmonger, Wakandan royalty raised on the streets of Oakland. The stark contrast between their childhoods brings into question whether T’Challa can truly understand Erik and why Erik would naturally continue to choose violence as the solution to the world’s problems.
Greg Burrow is a Batman Cosplayer who does a variety of charity and community service events and has been a cosplay guest at multiple conventions in Texas. He is a manager at Dragon’s Lair Comics and Fantasy in Austin, Texas, as well as a member of the 501st Legion Star Wars Costuming Group, Austin Ghostbusters, the Fighting 788th GI Joe Costuming Group, and others. If you are in Austin, don’t miss out on the 2023 CASA Superhero Run on September 17th, 2023! Sources: Check out https://www.facebook.com/GbCosplay and https://www.facebook.com/HeroesOfTexas/ !
Watchmen does an excellent job of asking the question – what makes something villainous? Ozymandias is always the smartest person in the room. Does this make the death and destruction he brings heroic or the stuff of villains? Hear what we think!
Cersei Lannister is a compelling villain. Some love her, some love to hate her. We talk about how her growing refusal to acknowledge any vulnerability results in the very mistrust and disloyalty she fears.
Arguably stronger and tactically smarter than Batman, Bane falls short because of his inability to see other people as assets rather than vulnerabilities. We also explore his addiction to Venom and the question of when someone is or is not past the point of redemption.
Whether it’s the films’ Colonel or the comics’ Sergeant/Reverend, William Stryker has an ability to compel others to do his bidding. We discuss red flags that suggest someone is trying to coerce you. And we also throw in a random discussion of why shooting Wolverine in the head would not be the best plan for making him lose his memories.
Batman villains? Obviously, we have to talk about The Joker. First up is Heath Ledger’s phenomenal performance. We discuss psychopathy and this Joker’s ability to be a master manipulator. We explore the psychology behind why people respond to the Joker the way they do, including when things don’t go the Joker’s way when he pits two ferryboats against each other.
Remember November 2022 when we talked about the real-life psychologist written into The New 52 as Barbara Gordon’s therapist? That psychologist agreed to chat with us! We nerd out about the journey to becoming a superhero podcasting/consulting psychologist. True to our season 4 topic, we also discuss Dr. Letamendi’s favorite DC villains and why.
We talk about what happens when The Riddler struggles to cope with his traumatic childhood and, as a result, changes the pattern of his crimes. Bonus content – Keeden complains about a teacher’s bad testing policies.
We explore this portrayal of Barry Allen and his attention to detail that makes him both good at his job and perhaps more likely to struggle with leaving the past behind him. We also talk about how The Flash becomes a personification of everyday struggles some people have with the ‘what ifs’ in life. (Naturally, we also touch on Michael Keaton’s Batman.)
This Independence Day, we celebrate by talking about Homelander! We explore where the responsibility lies when someone’s violent and manipulative actions may be a result of living in a community where those actions are normalized. Also, is it narcissistic personality disorder if you really are more physically powerful than everyone else? We discuss how there may be a better way to define Homelander’s struggles.
Introducing our Season 4 theme…Summer of Infamy! We talk about why we love villains and why we are excited to delve into them even more than before. Also listen for other ideas and updates for the podcast.
This TV series is chockful of goodies. We talk about Dr. Strange’s locus of control and the dangers of trying to control what is not within your power. We explore what might lead us to accept the past rather than dwell on the ‘what ifs’. And we, of course, could not pass up talking about The Watcher and his embodiment of mindfulness, to watch multiverses without “exerting his will”.
This HP Lovecraftian version of Batman is an odd one. We share our thoughts about the general Elseworlds approach and also delve into Oliver Queen’s character and his struggle to atone for killer family secrets.
The Bat Therapy co-hosts love this movie and all the Spider-Folk across the multiverse. We talk about how there will always be great excuses to stay stuck in life like multiverse Peter Parker as well as how Miles Morales can finally use his superpowers when he stops thinking about the expectations of others and finds his own path.
What if Superman landed in the Soviet Union? We talk about the delicate balance between free will and safety, the power of perception, and the benefit of Lex Luthor having a country supporting his Superman obsession.
In this alternative world’s future, Logan/Wolverine’s life seems pretty grim. (Not that it was ever sunshine and rainbows.) We explore how Logan navigates Professor X’s degenerating cognitive abilities and other drawbacks of having ‘eternal life’. And interestingly, we discuss how his harsh exterior is likely exactly what young Laura needs to manage her selective mutism.
The Joker spends one day gunning for Superman and the world is changed forever. We talk about the ethical gray areas of Superman’s decision to remove all violence from the world (unless he decides to put Atlantis in the middle of a desert) and the psychological underpinnings of the superheroes who join Superman’s initiative.
Humor. It can be a great coping mechanism, but it can also be a way to deflect. Despite his ADHD (and potentially some other mental health diagnoses) and persistent joking, Deadpool has found his support network and is able to move beyond his own pain to help a kid in need.
It can be hard to go back to reality after the bloodshed of being super-powered, brotherly dictators. We discuss Superman and Batman’s management of cognitive dissonance, when one’s beliefs do not match one’s actions, and explore how guilt can be an important part of the process.
This movie is chockful of goodies. We take the opportunity to explore the psychological struggles of different versions of Peter Parker, leading to a discussion of the importance of treating even the villains in our lives like people.
We never pass up the opportunity to talk Batman: The Animated Series! This episode explores how Bruce Wayne and his support network might respond to him potentially having psychosis – after all, he is a billionaire who thinks he’s Batman. Also, tune in to hear Dr. Brown touch on one of her pet peeves about Dr. Leslie Thompkins.
Different people have different responses to trauma. What would happen if Bruce Wayne and Kal-El were one in the same? What if this version of Bruce Wayne had to cope with the brutal murder of his adoptive parents while also juggling the isolation and superpowered abilities of being a Kryptonian?
Great Scott! This episode isn’t about superheroes! We just couldn’t resist having our own Doc Brown make like a tree and record this episode. We talk bullying and self-esteem issues, a theme seen throughout the time traveling antics of Marty McFly.
Goals are important. But what if we become hyper-focused, forgetting that one success rarely solves everything? What if we achieve our goals but it is at great cost…is it worth it? Hear us explore these and other psychological questions as we discuss the interesting world of Flashpoint.
We take a break from our regularly scheduled season to celebrate Black History Month with our FIRST BAT-GUEST! In this episode, we talk Isaiah Bradley and the complexities of race-based trauma with clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Layne.
Warning: in this one we talk about suicide prevention. If you are up for it, this is a great story that mixes serious topics with goofball plot devices in ways only Booster Gold can accomplish.
We love this movie! And not just because it fixes the mistakes of X-Men 3 (sigh). We talk about self-fulfilling prophecies, Charles Xavier’s medication/substance use, and how wonderful it would be to be able to reach out and comfort your younger self during those times you needed it the most.
How would the death of a Justice Leaguer affect the Justice League? We talk about the history of lobotomies as well as the delicate societal balance between maintaining safety and freedom.
Hear us talk about our upcoming theme - Elseworlds & Alternate Realities! We share some of our favorites and talk about updates for the new season.
Keeden fires off a variety of suggested New Year’s resolutions for our superheroes, sidekicks, and villains while Dr. Brown shares psychology knowledge about the fallacies of resolutions and how to make new habits stick.
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ Batman: The Animated Series episode? We walk through the 4 storylines in this episode, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining two identities, Batman’s sentimentality (despite his best efforts, of course), and other fun tidbits.
The Penguin’s fight for acceptance, Selina Kyle’s creation of Catwoman as response to a trauma and low self-esteem, Bruce Wayne brooding in the dark for no apparent reason, duck-shaped modes of transportation. This movie has it all.
Somebody saaaaaave meeee…from bad representations of current inpatient facilities and electroconvulsive therapy (both legitimate treatment options that many find helpful). We talk Dr. Claire Foster, Lex Luthor’s psychiatrist as he struggles with psychosis, and Dr. Evans, a therapist Lois Lane sees for some dream interpretation.
The New 52 allowed Barbara Gordon to transition from Oracle back to Batgirl. But despite regaining the use of her legs, Batgirl is left with “pain and darkness”. Hear our thoughts on her therapist who is based on a real-life clinical psychologist!
We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to talk about Marvel’s recently released Wakanda Forever. We discuss grief, anger, and the delicate balance between justice and mutual assured destruction.
What is a therapist to do when Lucifer himself walks into their office? We explore Dr. Linda Martin’s approach to Lucifer’s treatment and answer other questions like how a therapist deals with the pressures of the job (whether they treat godlike creatures or mere mortals).
Not too much is known about the professional life of Dr. Chase Meridian, Gotham PD consultant and expert in “abnormal psychology and multiple personality disorder.” We talk about her professional work and the question of if this Two-Face truly represents Dissociative Identify Disorder. For your listening pleasure, we also may get a little sidetracked into talking about the silly quirks of this Batman film.
Dr. Ellie Staple is a psychiatrist specializing in treating clients who believe they are superheroes. Hear us explore Keeden’s new phobia brought on by the twist in this final movie of the Unbreakable Series as well as Dr. Brown’s thoughts on how to unfold the layers and get to the truth with someone like Mr. Glass.
A psychiatrist specializing in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) who lives in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable universe. What could go wrong? We discuss the benefits of Dr. Fletcher’s approach to her clients while also hitting on the issues with the popular choice to use DID as a movie/TV/book plot point.
Billy Russo (Jigsaw) ‘s psychologist in The Punisher TV show, Dr. Krista Dumont, uses a lot of effective therapeutic skills to help him cope with his trauma and physical rehabilitation. She is also a reminder that therapists are people too, she is both a healer and someone attempting to find her own way to heal.
Artificial Intelligence and robots providing psychotherapy to superheroes – what’s not to love? Tom King does it again, balancing mental health confessionals and a deathly whodunit with lighthearted humor. Recommend this read from a comic book and psychology perspective!
We discuss the comic Harleen, a beautifully illustrated telling of how Harley Quinn came to be. Psychiatrist and therapist to Arkham’s most infamous, Dr. Quinzel had the best of intentions. Sadly, she struggled to maintain healthy boundaries and ended up in her own downward spiral.
After the snap that eradicated 50% of life, Captain America has taken off his uniform and taken on the mantle of support group facilitator. We talk about the power of peer-to-peer connection and shared experiences as well as the struggle to provide support to others while also caring for your own needs during difficult times, particularly a time with many similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It doesn’t matter what role this psychiatrist plays – scientist, mental health treater, chief of Arkham – his ethics are…questionable at best. We talk about what is behind Hugo Strange’s streak of mayhem and how conscientiousness may be a factor in why his obsessive nature results in being a villain rather than a hero.
Professor Charles Xavier is teacher, guardian, mentor, boss, leader, and…maybe therapist? With an MD in Psychiatry and a PhD “in Psychology” (we talk about how little that actually tells us), not to mention some powerful mind manipulation skills, it is important to understand the complications Professor X has with dual relationships and the ethics behind the practices he employs.
Before he was Scarecrow, one portrayal of Dr. Jonathan Crane is of a Jungian psychopharmacologist with a flair for the dramatic. We use Dr. Crane, Carmine Falcone, and Victor Zsasz to discuss competency to stand trial and not guilty by reason of insanity.
Dr. Christina Raynor (likely a clinical psychologist) has a therapeutic style that we love – using spunk and sarcasm to hold Bucky Barnes / the Winter Soldier’s feet to the fire in order to encourage him to grow and change. In this episode, we talk self-disclosure and the importance of a good fit between client and therapist.
Hear about our experiences recording our first season. Get a sneak peek at what’s coming, including a new outro theme for season 2!
Keeden went to San Diego Comic-Con! In this final episode of Season 1, your hosts talk psychology of nerds and cosplay.
This week, we compare the filming of Thor: Love & Thunder with processes that happen in psychotherapy. Listen in as we explore how the way we tell a story can impact how connected we feel to the characters.
Two orphans, ripped from their biological parents by death and destruction. One chooses to symbolize hope, the other fear. One strives to be human, the other does all he can to appear monstrous and inhuman. Hear us breakdown the commonalities and differences between these two beloved superheroes.
Superpower counterparts, a hero and a villain. One wishes their parents still alive while the other wanted them dead all along. Meanwhile, Batman takes a tortured path of loneliness in his struggle to stay at arm’s length from other people.
What do you do when your options are a lifetime (or more) of prison or a few years off your sentence through a dangerous mission and a bomb in your skull? Oh wait, just kidding, you may not even have a choice.
Bruce Wayne makes a pact to be fearless. But what are the consequences of trying to rid our minds of fear? See how Batman’s striving for control and perfection take him down a winding path in this poetic story.
Fear is a driving force in Batman Begins, each character using it to obtain their version of justice. Carmine Falcone, Scarecrow, and Ra’s al Ghul aim to create fear in others for vengeance and retaliation. With the support of his family and friends, Bruce Wayne learns to use his fear as a guide to find compassion and help Gotham grow. Bonus: This movie contains Dr. Brown’s favorite mental health quote!
Villains. Are they born bad, or do we shape them into what they become? This episode explores the dangers of self-fulfilling prophecies by breaking down how the cruelty of societal expectations may have influenced Waylon Jones to match his insides with his scaley exterior, becoming the supervillain Killer Croc.
In this episode, we breakdown Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film. We take a focused look at how this different approach to Batman lore impacts the motivations and moral codes of Batman and the Joker.
In The Killing Joke storyline, Joker wreaks havoc on Commissioner Gordon’s life in an attempt to show that the Joker is not alone – every person has the capacity to reject all reason and rationality. Yet Gordon does not accept Joker’s invitation to use “madness [as] the emergency exit”, instead finding a way to stay true to his beliefs and refusing to avoid his own pain by inflicting it on others.
Wanda Maximoff is a character riddled with grief while also having nearly unimaginable (and untrained) power and abilities. Bat Therapy explores how this creates a complex bereavement process that appears in both WandaVision and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Included is a discussion of the myth of the 5 Stages of Grief.
Living in a world of superheroes isn’t as thrilling as it may sound, especially when you live in Gotham. Listen in as Dr. Brown answers some of Keeden’s most pressing questions: How does someone living in Gotham decide to leave their house? How do you manage the fear of running into a supervillain when that very fear makes you a target for Scarecrow? Despite the high likelihood of an open job market and low cost of living, why would someone live in Gotham?
What does psychology say about what it takes to be the patriarch of the Bat Family? Beneath Alfred Pennyworth's sass and sarcasm lies the glue that holds everything together.
Last episode, we talked about The Batman’s tale of two orphans…but there is a third and her story is a necessary part of Batman’s growth! In part 2, we explore how Batman has benefited from his relationships with Catwoman and Gordon. Batman starts the movie taking a dark, inflexible approach to the criminals of Gotham and it costs Batman and the city a lot. Catwoman and Gordon do not see Gotham in black-and-white and they help Batman find a better way.
Matt Reeve’s The Batman is the tale of an orphan, seeking vengeance through violence and fear so that justice can prevail and the corruption in Gotham can be wiped out. But which orphan do we mean – Batman or the Riddler? We explore how personal connection and hope are necessary for Batman to accomplish the change he wants for Gotham. Also, listen in as Dr. Brown uses the Riddler to explore the important differences between psychosis and psychopathy.
Mr. Freeze is a character with few storylines of his own, but he's stolen the hearts of your podcast hosts. Hear us talk about his capacity for love, his fear of loss, and the importance of accepting death so that one can live.
Let's talk about why it's not so easy to psychoanalyze Batman. To know and understand a person or character, we need to be able to zoom in and look at the patterns and intricacies in their life. Listen in on our comic and psychology inspired reasonings for how we will tackle this beloved hero in our podcast.
We start our Bat Therapy journey by exploring the psychiatric hospital that treats many of Batman's criminal counterparts, Arkham Asylum. No one would accuse this facility of being an effective treatment center, but what does a clinical psychologist think are its worst attributes? Find out by listening in!
Welcome! Meet the hosts of Bat Therapy: Exploring your favorite comic book characters through the lens of clinical psychology. We are longtime friends who can never manage to wander too far from talking about Batman, superheroes, and the next DC/Marvel movie. Share a few laughs with us as you learn about who we are and why we decided to start this podcast that connects our nerdy interests with mental health knowledge and awareness.