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Harnessing the power of fandom--from Game of Thrones to The Legend of Zelda--to conquer anxiety, heal from depression, and reclaim balance in mental and emotional health. Modern mythologies are everywhere--from the Avengers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to
The Wicked + The Divine. Where once geek culture was niche and hidden, fandom characters and stories have blasted their way into our cineplexes, bookstores, and consoles. They help us make sense of our daily lives--and they can also help us heal. Psychotherapists and hosts of the popular
Starship Therapise podcast Larisa A. Garski and Justine Mastin offer a self-help guide to the mental health galaxy for those who have been left out of more traditional therapy spaces: geeks, nerds, gamers, cosplayers, introverts, and everyone in between.
Starship Therapise explores how narratives and play inform our lives, inviting readers to embrace radical self-care with
Westworld's Maeve and Dolores
, explore anxiety with Miyazaki, and leverage narrative therapy with Arya Stark. Spanning fandoms from
Star Wars to
The Expanse and
The Legend of Zelda to
Outer Wilds, readers will explore mental health and emotional wellness without conforming to mainstream social constructs.
Insights from comics like
Uncanny X-Men, Black Panther, Akira, Bitch Planet, and
The Wicked + The Divine offer avenues to growth and self-discovery alongside explorations of the triumphs and trials of heroes, heroines, and beloved characters from
Supernatural,
Wuthering Heights,
The Lord of the Rings,
The Broken Earth trilogy,
Mass Effect,
Fortnite,
Minecraft,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and
Star Trek. Each chapter closes with a mindfulness meditation or yoga exercise to inspire reflection, growth, and the mind-body-fandom connection.