Embracing The Cape: Increasing Social Emotional Skills Using Self-Distancing Superhero Therapy With Middle School Students- A Method

Author

Erika MarinelliFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Michelle Napoli

Abstract

This research explored the benefits of incorporating pop culture into school counseling. A six-week method was implemented at a middle school which included using superhero therapy, social emotional learning, and the expressive arts. The method used self-distancing techniques to allow the clients a feeling of safety when exploring their social and emotional needs. In the six-week method, students created their own superhero using traits from popular superhero figures and had to embody their superhero to solve both fictional and realistic scenarios, both individually as well as a part of a team. Results from this method indicated that students increased their understanding of social emotional learning, self-esteem, and a way to explore traits and skills they wanted to work on. Further research on using this method may offer the ability to strengthen the therapeutic relationship and the use of multiple modalities to facilitate clients the exploration of their own inner strength. Further research of this method may also allow professionals the opportunity for further inquiry into different cultural aspects of younger teenagers today.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Marinelli, Erika, "Embracing The Cape: Increasing Social Emotional Skills Using Self-Distancing Superhero Therapy With Middle School Students- A Method" (2020). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 290.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/290