Superhero Therapy for the Loneliness Epidemic

**Combining Evidence-Based Therapy with Pop-Culture Narratives to Treat Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD**

People all across the world are struggling with loneliness and PTSD and yet most either don’t know how to process their traumatic experiences or have been shamed for trying. Many teens and adults turn to TV shows, comic books, movies, and video games initially to escape their emotional pain, only to later form meaningful social connections through these avenues.

Live Virtual Event

**Friday, October 23, 2026**
**12:00 am - 2:00 pm (PST)**
**Fees:**
**Early Bird Ends August 7**
$40 No CE’s
$60 Includes 2.0 CE’s
**Regular Pricing after August 7**
$50 No CE’s
$70 Includes 2.0 CE’s

Register Today

How can we make mental health accessible and relatable?

This is where Superhero Therapy comes in. Superhero Therapy (ST) refers to incorporating popular culture into evidence-based therapy (such as CBT or ACT) as a way to destigmatize the client’s mental health experience. ST utilizes client's passions as a way to formulate the client's strengths that can be used to practice mindfulness, as well as the willingness to face their emotions and better understand their painful experiences. And the best part is, you don't have to be an expert in popular culture to use this approach. Your client is the expert. All you have to be is open-minded and curious.
This webinar will focus on how to use ST to help teen and adult clients manage anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, to feel understood and supported, to expand their emotional vocabulary, and to assist them in becoming their own version of a superhero in real life (IRL). No previous experience with popular culture necessary to participate in this training. Capes are optional.

What you will learn:

Describe the detrimental impacts of loneliness on anxiety and PTSD
List 3 psychological benefits of Superhero Therapy
Explain how to help clients to find a sense of purpose and foster posttraumatic growth via popular culture

Dr. Janina Scarlet is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, author of 18 books, and a TEDx speaker. A Ukrainian-born refugee, she survived Chernobyl radiation and persecution. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 with her family and later, inspired by the X-Men, developed Superhero Therapy to help patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Scarlet is the recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award by the United Nations Association for her work on Superhero Therapy. Her work has been featured on Yahoo, BBC, NPR, Sunday Times, The New York Times, Forbes, and many other outlets. She regularly consults on books and television shows, including HBO’s The Young Justice. She was also interviewed for Marvel’s MPower series and was portrayed as a comic book character in Gail Simone’s Seven Days graphic novel. Dr. Scarlet is the Lead Trauma Specialist at the Trauma and PTSD Healing Center in San Diego. and is also the Founding Director of Divine Feminine Publishing, a small press dedicated to promoting speculative fiction with at least 50% of female characters.

Janina Scarlet, PhD

Attendance Policy: CE Credit and Certificates will not be issued to those who arrive later than 10 minutes or leave early from any course scheduled time. This policy is strictly enforced to ensure compliance with APA Guidelines.

Cancellation Policy: No refund will be given to any registered individual who is a no-show to an event, although the full fee can be applied to a future RTI event. Any registrant canceling more than 72 hours before the start time of the event will be refunded 50% of the event fee, or the full fee can be applied to a future RTI event.

The Relationship Training Institute (RTI) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. RTI maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

In California, APA approved CE’s are valid for licensed psychologists, licensed school psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LEP & LPCC licensees. Though APA is a national organization, the out of state licensee should check with their state governing board to make sure that APA approved CE's are valid in their state for their license.