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Rubin, Lawrence C. (Ed.). (2007). Using Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy. NY: Springer.
Using Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy is a potpourri of interesting papers! The main message of the book is that discussion in psychotherapy of characters from comics, and science fiction and fantasy television or books can be useful as alliance building and as an integral part of interventions. As a reader, I appreciated this message and was left with much to consider for my clinical practice; as a reviewer I believe there are many valuable messages in this book for readers to ponder and enjoy. The book also provides in-depth information about various superheroes; this should help clinicians if they do not know these stories. Most superheroes have stories similar to ordinary people because they have experienced loss, trauma, and adversity; they may have secret identities and special powers, but they have weaknesses and relational difficulties. There are superheroes across the spectrum of social locations, which can serve as tremendous encouragement for clients to rise above their own adversity and make healthy choices.
Lawrence Rubin, the book's editor, uses the foreword to discuss a bit of the history of the relationship between psychotherapy and comics. After World War II various organizational bodies sought to suppress comics. Psychiatrists, several in particular, wrote extensively that comics were either very harmful or potentially therapeutic. In the first chapter Rubin reviews the importance of imagination and fantasy play citing theorists such as Freud and Vygotsky. He then links these important clinical concepts with superheroes, as a "modern-day variant of classical mythology" (p. 8). As early as 1941, only 3 years after Superman's appearance, psychoanalysts had explored use of superheroes in clinical work using "Superman-based fantasy play ... for personal protection, as a barrier against antisocial behavior, as an ego ideal and a problem solver" (Bender Sz Lourie, as cited by Rubin, p. 7). Rubin then shifts to describing heroes' and superheroes' characteristics and how these might be clinically useful (the book also contains an appendix that lists superheroes and their attributes). These include mysterious origins, colorful and often symbolic attire, secret/duel identities, superhero families of choice, special weaknesses, the transformation of superheroes into their role, special powers (science/magic), and villains' attempts to upset...