The Power of Stories: Pop Culture in Clinical Psychology
ABCT 2024 convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pictured left to right: Drs. Ryan DeLapp, Kristin Szuhany, Drea Letamendi, Jason von Stietz (me), and Simon Rego.
How much does pop culture matter? As a child in the 80’s and 90’s, I grew up watching and loving the popular movies and television shows of the time. I spent countless hours watching and mimicking my favorite characters such as Ellen Ripley and the Colonial Marines, Marty McFly, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and an orphaned farm boy named Luke Skywalker among many others. I acted out each of these characters triumphs and defeats and, without realizing it, I instilled deep and valuable lessons into my psyche. Now, I draw from these lessons in my work as a psychologist and I help others to draw from the stories that matter to them.
I recently had the great privilege of participating in a panel discussion at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I sat alongside Drs. Simon Rego, Kristin Szuhany, Drea Letamendi, and Ryan DeLapp during our discussion titled, Stories Matter: Using pop culture examples and metaphors to disseminate CBT principles and engage CBT clients.
When I reflect on my career, it seems surreal that I’ve found a way to incorporate my love of TV and film into my work in clinical and applied sport psychology. I approach my podcast Movie House Sport Psychology as a fun conversation with interesting people. Yet, somehow it is still a medium for psychoeducation, community outreach, and advocacy. During the panel discussion, I mentioned how a colleague and I discussed the movie To Wong Foo, a story about three drag queens who go on a road trip that goes wrong. Our discussion of this movie, over the course of three episodes (1, 2, & 3), became a resource for another colleague to recommend to her LGBTQ clients. A fun discussion of a movie became a source of validation and support for people who need it.
Aside from sharing my own insights and experiences, I also learned from my fellow panelists who were a wealth of knowledge. Dr. Drea Letamendi, a clinical psychologist on staff at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), shared a clinical intervention that draws from the widespread popularity of Star Wars. She asked the audience for an example of a beloved or favorite droid (e.g., R2-D2) and rebel (e.g., Luke Skywalker). She then led those in attendance through a progressive muscle relaxation exercise in which we squatted down into a “droid” position and tensed our muscles as tightly as we could. Next, we stood tall and confidently with the inner strength of our favorite rebel. Dr. Drea then encouraged us all to find our own fun ways to incorporate pop culture into classic therapeutic interventions.
I’m happy to say that our panel discussion was very well received by the ABCT community. Our conference room ran out of seats and was filled with people sitting on the floor and standing wherever they could find room. In fact, our room was at capacity and convention staff were forced to turn away people who wanted to attend our discussion. After our discussion, we all received encouraging and gratifying feedback. I’m always amazed that my attempt to take a fun approach can offer insight to others.
Pop culture is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool for connection, learning, and growth. The stories we immerse ourselves in as children and adults shape our perspectives, values, and even our professional practices. My experience at the ABCT convention underscored the profound impact that integrating beloved narratives into therapy can have on clients and practitioners alike. Whether it’s drawing on the courage of Luke Skywalker, the resilience of Ellen Ripley, or the humor of three drag queens on a road trip, pop culture provides a shared language that can foster understanding and empowerment. As I reflect on the overwhelmingly positive response to our panel discussion, I am reminded that these stories—both fictional and personal—truly matter. They remind us of our humanity and the ways we can inspire one another to grow, heal, and connect.