Superheroes & Grief: How System Involved Youth Can Be Transformed by Post Traumatic Growth

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT

Training Description

Superheroes are our modern-day mythology, how we use story to help us grasp the existential experience of loss and grief. Regardless of our opinion on the Superhero genre as entertainment, their stories have much to teach us about how we can transform and grow because of loss - not in spite of it. This training will educate participants about the benefits of strength-based services and support and how to utilize the superhero genre as a tool for activating coping and building resilience in system-involved youth and caregivers. Participants will be informed through interactive presenter education, a slide presentation, small group conversation, supportive interventions, and guided discussion.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to identify:

● 4 backstories of classic superheroes and the real-life backstories of their creators that demonstrate the potential for post-traumatic growth after loss;