Even a Superhero Needs Counseling

What Superheroes and Super-Villains Teach Us about Ourselves

By: Daniel Bates LMHC

Narrated by: Mutt Rogers

Even a Superhero Needs Counseling is an in-depth guide to understanding your favorite comic book character from a psychological perspective while providing you with relevant and insightful advice. In other words, by learning more about Thor, the Hulk, Wonder Woman, Stephen Strange, Superman, and many more, you can learn more about yourself. Comic books aren't just entertainment; they can be a window into the strengths and weaknesses of humanity.

Daniel Bates is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who offers his expert counsel for superhero, supervillain, and listener alike. In each chapter, you will find:

• An overview of major comic book character's origin story, arch-enemies, and dynamics of their psychology.
• A mental health diagnosis based on the relevant details of the character's symptoms.
• What mental health treatment would consist of based on the diagnosis and how it would help their life.
• And, most importantly, how your favorite comic book character's story can be informative for you own personal growth.

So, if you struggle with anxiety you're in good company, Superman can relate. If you have had an addiction, you and Tony Stark could go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting together. Or, if you have ever had relationship problems, the Scarlet Witch can commiserate with you. Whatever the problem, you will find a superhero or supervillain that shares your struggle. And it is through their stories, you can find help for yours.

©2017 Daniel Bates (P)2018 Daniel Bates

Great concept and insights but a little shaky on the follow through

This book combines two of my passions (superheroes and counseling). The author did a fantastic job of humanizing these fictional characters and making them not only relatable but also reflective of my own life. I didn’t expect that.

There are some strange issues with the narration. There are several occasions where the narrator stumbles over a word and says “grrrrr” before continuing on. I was honestly really confused until I realized that someone just forgot to do a final edit.

Mental Health and Comic book heroes

Bates wrote a wonderful primer on mental health using Marvel and DC characters. The narrator was good for the most part. An audio editor to cut out mistakes would have improved the narration. Also, some direction on pronunciation would have made Mutt Rogers’ narration 5 stars.

Very interesting!

I really enjoyed this book! Giving superheroes psychological analysis was really fun & interesting. My only criticism is that it seems that no one edited the performance. Many times throughout the book, the reader repeated himself when he'd made a mistake & it wasn't edited out.