During the pandemic, I provided counseling for several health care providers. These dedicated medical professionals faced overwhelming stress due to:

My clients desperately needed stress-reduction tools to help them through a challenging time. One client, I’ll call Mary, worried that she might have to leave the nursing profession due to the extreme stress she suffered.

As Mary and I discussed her stress management options, I asked her, “What gives you pleasure every day?”

“Reading. If I can put my feet up and escape into a great story, I feel restored,” Mary said.

Researchers found that deeply immersing ourselves in fictional worlds, talking about books with others, and reflecting on stories can improve mood, well-being, and lower our distress (Carney, 2022). Fiction broadens our perspective, allowing us to consider possibilities rather than dwelling on our limitations.

Therapists often recommend books, a practice known as “bibliotherapy,” to help patients with a variety of mental health conditions. In my own practice, I’ve found that those clients who read novels can find strength and inspiration from fictional characters who triumph over adversity.

From Charles Dickens' David Copperfield to Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, stories of overcoming poverty, abuse, trauma, neglect, and societal conflicts illuminate the path to our own resilience.

Dr. Janina Scarlet, author of Superhero Therapy: A Hero’s Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, utilizes identification with superheroes to help individuals discover the strength they never knew they possessed. She helps people who struggle with trauma,

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