Bat Therapy: Mental Health through the Lens of Comics and Film

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 host...

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

Thre...

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.

We reminisce about Val Kilmer's portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in Batman Forever.

Behind the Scenes of our Brave New World Episode! Toxic Masculinity, DVD Players, and Keeden's first DVDs, just some of the topics in this episode! We'll be back soon with Season 7!

With Season 6 wrapping up, we're busy setting up Season 7! We have some special behind the scenes content to share with you this week. Enjoy some extra content from our guest episode with Dr. Michael Schirripa!

With Season 6 wrapping up, we're busy setting up Season 7! We have some special behind the scenes content to share with you this week. Enjoy some extra content from our guest episode with Scott Beatty!

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.

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 h...

You fought against Killmonger and won back Wakanda for King T’Challa, but you had to fight against people you love – your friends, your family. The battle is over and now that there is time for your mind to settle, you find yourself struggling to sleep because you cannot understand the world you live in now. You feel more and more overwhelmed, not knowing what comes next with so much betrayal and destruction, so you use the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise.

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