From the therapy couch to…..pop culture?
This blog has been prepared for you by Dr Julie Kruss, Board Approved supervisor and lover of all things cats and pop culture!
What… did I read that title right? Isn’t therapy all about talking through feelings, lying on a couch, and having zero fun? Well, fear not, I’m here to break that stereotype. One of the things I absolutely love about therapy these days is how creative it has become. And one of these ways is through pop culture!
Pop culture? What’s that all about?
Pop culture definition: (Reference: Wikipedia. Don’t @ me for using Wikipedia, this isn’t a PhD thesis).
“Popular culture (also called pop culture or mass culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output…pop culture also encompasses the activities and feelings produced as a result of interaction with these dominant objects”.
Or as I like to put it, it’s like when you can’t stop googling memes after binge-watching the latest season of Squid Game….
Many of my colleagues and I love pop culture. I personally love a good meme, tv shows with end of world themes, zombies and I also went through a random Marvel movie binge watch phase years ago. But I know other people love movies, Taylor Swift, D&D, K-pop…and I love that they love these things!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you just come into a session and talk about the latest tv show you are watching (although I am keen to always hear recommendations lol). So here is a little bit of an explanation.
Why and how might we use pop culture in therapy?
Good old rapport building…it is the cornerstone of therapy in many ways:
Sometimes, therapeutic connection can be built through a shared understanding of pop culture. It creates a simple non-clinical entry point into a conversation and you can make a person feel understood and make the therapeutic space feel more approachable and less intimidating.
A different language to express what is often difficult:
Sometimes it’s incredibly hard to put complex feelings and thoughts into words. Pop culture can provide a shared language and a different way of expressing.
Creating distance to address a problem:
It can help us externalise an issue. Externalizing is a powerful therapeutic tool because it helps create a separation between a person and their problem. Instead of seeing the issue as an inherent part of who you are (“I am a depressed person”), you can view it as a separate entity (“I am a person struggling with depression”). This theme comes up a lot in pop culture, but also we can use pop culture references as a way of externalising!
Gaining new insights and skills:
Fictional characters can serve as role models or cautionary tales. Through their journeys, we identify and develop own skills and resources. We can explore how a character in a movie overcame a challenge or how a hero found the strength to keep going. After all, what superhero is also not flawed in some way, just like all of us!
Resource building:
This concept can seem a little ‘woo woo’ sometimes, but it can be quite helpful for people. Resource building appears in many therapies such as EMDR, and is a fundamental step taken before you delve into processing a traumatic memory. The goal is to create a kind of tool kit (internal and external) that you can turn to when things feel overwhelming. Pop culture can be used in this stage of therapy by finding characters from movies, games, books, tv shows etc, who embody specific qualities you need. For example, these characters can be wise, protective, or nurturing. By consciously imagining these figures and their strengths, you’re not just fantasizing. You’re actively engaging a part of your brain that can help you feel more grounded, and capable.
Info dumping / self-regulation:
Sometimes, what looks like a tangent is actually a quiet act of self-soothing. For many people, passionately talking about a show, game, book or band, is a way to calm their nervous system. The act of diving deep into a subject they love helps to ground them. It’s not just about idle chitchat, it can be a helpful tool.
Don’t wait – here is a simple exercise you can try before you hit the therapy space:
Develop Your Soundtrack
A quick note: Please be mindful of the feelings you choose to explore. Don’t pick one that is super triggering or that you might need extra support in. This exercise is meant to be a gentle, low-pressure way to start.
- Pick a feeling: Start by choosing a specific feeling you are having or one you want to cultivate more of. For example, maybe you want something that makes you feel strong.
- Create a playlist and give it a relevant title.
- Things to notice and reflect: As you listen, pay attention to what happens. Notice how the music makes you feel. What is it about these songs that you connect with? What movement might go along with this music to help you connect more with this feeling (remember, no one is watching!). This helps you become more aware of the powerful connection between music and your emotional state.
- Create a cue word, or something that can help you remember and connect with this state again when you need it.
One final thought – your therapist is not going to know every pop culture reference and that is ok! They don’t need to. It’s about helping you understand yourself better by using a relatable engaging format.
Now excuse me as I am off to add to my collection of ‘cats chasing their tails’ memes…
