The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)

Marisa chats with Ruta Sepetys, author of A Fortune of Sand, and therapist Callie Manea to explore gaslighting, self-trust, identity, and the challenge of finding yourself after years of being defined by other people's expectations. Together, they unpack how chronic invalidation and manipulation can erode our confidence, why some people become especially vulnerable to gaslighting, and steps that h...

Marisa chats with Ashley Hanna-Morgan, author of In Her Own Backyard, and therapist Caitlyn Wallace of Desert Bloom Wellness about postpartum mental health and the hidden realities of early motherhood. Together, they explore what happens when you don't feel like yourself after having a baby, why breastfeeding struggles (like D-MER) and sleep deprivation can become major mental health stressors, an...

Marisa chats with Lindsay Goldstein, author of Gap Year, and Brittany Parenti, therapist at Matrescence, to explore identity, empty nesting, reinvention, and the challenges of finding yourself when the roles that once defined you shift. They unpack the emotional complexity of launching children into adulthood, the grief and growth that can accompany this major life transition, and how community, s...

Marisa chats with Jessica Guerrieri , author of BOTH CAN BE TRUE , and Leslie Plaia , therapist and Executive Director at Magnolia Creek , to explore relapse, recovery, disconnection, and the quiet ways we can begin to disappear from ourselves. Together they unpack how recovery isn't always linear, why relapse often begins subtly and internally, and how shame, motherhood, overwhelm, and self-compa...

Marisa chats with Laurie Frankel, author of ENORMOUS WINGS, and Dr. Antonia Biggs of the University of California, San Francisco to explore agency, autonomy, and what happens when the power to make decisions about our own bodies is taken away. Through the story of a 77-year-old pregnant woman navigating a restrictive legal landscape, they examine how society limits choice across the lifespan—from...

Marisa chats with Emma Gray, author of START AT THE END , and therapist Tyler Witzig to explore depression and how it uniquely shows up in men. They discuss the hidden nature of depression, focusing on how even when life looks good on paper, anger, withdrawal, and numbness can mask deeper struggles, while stigma and silence can keep people from seeking help. Together, they examine how relationship...

Marisa chats with Shana Youngdahl , author of A Catalog of Burnt Objects , and therapist Danielle Palomares to explore the emotional aftermath of wildfire and the complexity of trauma. They discuss how people cope with loss while life continues, how the nervous system responds to crisis, and how grief, resilience, and connection can coexist in the wake of disaster. Together, they examine what it m...

Marisa chats with Erin White , author of LIKE FAMILY , and therapist Amanda Samuels to explore the interconnection of secrets and intimacy. They discuss how secrets can function as both a bond and a burden in close relationships, shaping trust, vulnerability, and identity, and how thoughtful disclosure and communication can help people navigate connection, repair, and emotional risk. Want more? Fo...

Marisa chats with Karen Winn, author of THE SOCIETY, and therapist Kara Friedman to explore claustophobia. Together they unpack how fear of enclosed spaces can take hold in the body and mind, and how gradual exposure, paired with practical skills to calm the nervous system, can help people reclaim a sense of safety. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is...

Marisa chats with Stillwater author Tanya Scott and therapist Dr. Carlos Perez to explore the process of unlearning unhealthy or harmful scripts. From anger and emotional suppression to accountability and repair, they unpack how inherited beliefs about strength and control can seep into relationships, and how awareness, vulnerability, and small but consistent changes can help rewrite the story. Wa...

Marisa chats with THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH author Jean Meltzer and therapist Dr. Danielle Chesney of Healing After TFMR (termination for medical reasons) to explore grief related to abortion for medical reasons. They unpack the loneliness, trauma, and healing that follow the loss of a wanted pregnancy, and what it takes for couples to grieve together rather than apart. From navigating des...

Marisa chats with FRANCINE'S SPECTACULAR CRASH AND BURN author Renee Swindle and therapist Ed Chen about how depression shows up as disconnection, withdrawal, and loss of momentum—and how DBT offers concrete skills for getting unstuck. From understanding deactivation and rumination to practicing mindfulness, choice, and re-engagement, they explore how pairing insight with skill can help people reb...

Marisa chats with The Favorites author Layne Fargo and therapist Kaleigh Cornelison for a deep dive into adolescence, attachment, ambition, and identity. Together they explore what happens when young love becomes all-consuming, how trauma and attachment shape relationships, why growing up can feel so destabilizing, what it truly means to become your own person, inside and outside of love, and ways...

Marisa chats with Both Things Are True author Kathleen Barber and therapist Jennifer Mullowney of Crossroads Counseling Services to explore how communication, self-concept, and emotional growth shape healthy relationships. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to e...

Marisa chats with Young Fools author Liza Palmer and therapist Phil Lane, author of The Narrative Therapy Workbook for Self-Esteem , to explore the tension between external validation and an internal sense of self. From the stories we inherit to the identities we perform, they unpack how reshaping our personal narratives can move us from shape-shifting for approval to authoring lives rooted in ali...

Marisa chats with Someone's Gotta Give author Alisha Fernandez Miranda and therapist Stacey McCann of Present Moment Counseling Services to explore the tug-of-war between motherhood, identity, and balance. From invisible labor to the stories we tell ourselves, they unpack how families can share the load and find balance together. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character...

Marisa chats with HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS author Allison Larkin and Andrea Maher, Anger Management Specialist of That Calm Mom , to talk about anger, the way it can be passed from one generation to the next, and its impact on both the individual and their kids. They focus on the real-life factors that lead to anger, how we can get curious instead of furious, the importance of practicing anger...

Marisa chats with Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea author Jessica Guerrieri and therapist Janice Johnson Dowd, author of Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery , to talk about wine culture, addiction, and recovery, focusing on what it really looks like in the world of modern parenting. They focus on why so many parents turn to alcohol to cope, and how we can break the cycle, rebuild connectio...

Marisa chats with Promise Me Sunshine author Cara Bastone and Kelly Daugherty, author of The Grief Experience and host of The Grief Ladies podcast, about loss and healing. Together, they explore how to show up with consistency and compassion over the long term, the importance of grieving rather than avoiding, and the idea of creating "live again" lists. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on I...

Marisa chats with author Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort) and therapist Dr. Natalie Feinblatt about overcoming the challenges of rebuilding identity, healing, and embracing freedom after leaving a cult. Want more? Follow  @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy...

Marisa chats with author Marissa Stapley (THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES) and therapist Ryan Dusick (founding member of Maroon 5, author of the book HARDER TO BREATHE, and podcast host of the Harder to Breathe podcast) about young life in front of a large audience, substance use disorders, and the many paths that lead to recovery.  Want more? Follow  @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character's Too...

Marisa chats with Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books author Kirsten Miller and therapist Emily Scheer of New Connections Counseling Center to explore how we can stay connected when politics and beliefs might pull us apart. From navigating tough conversations to protecting meaningful relationships, they unpack what it takes to bridge divides without breaking bonds. Want more? Follow  @TheCh...

Marisa chats with Hazel Says No author Jessica Berger Gross and therapist Kara Friedman of Kara Friedman Counseling to delve into the power and complexity of body autonomy. From early boundary-setting to unlearning people-pleasing, they unpack the power of saying no. Want more? Follow  @TheCharactersToolkit  on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where...

Marisa chats with All the Signs author Jessi Rosen and therapist Haley Moore of Therapy Uninterrupted to explore the winding path of finding and following your passion. From societal expectations to internal roadblocks, they unpack what it really takes to tune out the noise and trust your own signs. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-ba...

Marisa chats with The Undercurrent author Sarah Sawyer and therapist Viviana McGovern of Full Vida Therapy to unpack why we sometimes push people away. From the roots of rigid boundaries to the fear of vulnerability, it's a conversation full of insight, honesty, and a few laughs. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram! The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health po...