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

In every episode, therapist (and reader!) Marisa Gelfand chats with novelists and therapists to explore the mental health struggles of fictional characters.Think, bibliotherapy: mental health with a literary twist. Characters in books and literature don't have access to a therapist's insights, but you do, and you walk away with the skills.

The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist) is a health podcast hosted by Marisa Gelfand, with 33 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Marisa Gelfand hosts The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist), a health show with 33 episodes published.

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  Episode #5

  Rethinking Autism, Behavior, and Belonging - BREATHING UNDER WATER (with Jacqueline Friedland and Jamie Bassos)

  Aug 19, 202646 minS2

  Marisa chats with Jacqueline Friedland , author of Breathing Underwater , and Jamie Bassos , autism and behavioral health expert, to explore autism, neurodiversity, and the importance of looking beyond behavior to understand the person. They unpack what happens when we shift from trying to "fix" autistic people to changing the environments around them, challenge assumptions about communication and behavior, and explore how curiosity, strength-based thinking, and creating space for authentic expression can help us build more compassionate and accessible communities. 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 concepts and coping skills.

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  Episode #4

  Understanding Self Deception - SOMEONE ELSE'S HUSBAND (with Kimberly McCreight and Leor Wasser)

  Jul 23, 202639 minS2

  Marisa chats with Kimberly McCreight, author of Someone Else's Husband, and therapist Leor Wasser to explore self-deception, denial, and the stories we tell ourselves to protect against painful truths. Together, they unpack why the mind creates self-deception as a coping mechanism, how fear, anger, and shame can keep us holding onto relationships or identities that no longer fit, and how self-compassion and curiosity can help us face reality once we're ready. 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 concepts and coping skills.

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  Episode #2

  Postpartum Mental Health and Not Feeling Like Yourself - IN HER OWN BACKYARD (With Ashley Hanna-Morgan and Caitlyn Wallace)

  Jun 18, 202641 minS2

  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, and how community can be a lifeline during one of life's most challenging transitions. Using the novel's blend of suspense, friendship, and emotional honesty as a starting point, they discuss the signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, the importance of seeking support, and the hopeful message that healing is possible. 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 concepts and coping skills.

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  Episode #1

  Rebuilding Identity in Midlife - GAP YEAR (with Lindsey Goldstein and Brittany Parenti)

  Jun 4, 202643 minS2

  <p>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, self-discovery, and intentional change can help us reconnect with who we are beyond caregiving.</p> <p>Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!</p> <p>The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used t...

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  Episode #27

  When Recovery Isn't Linear: Relapse - BOTH CAN BE TRUE (With Jessica Guerrieri and Leslie Plaia)

  May 21, 202654 minS1

  <p>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-compassion impact the path back to connection.</p> <p>Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!</p> <p>The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.</p> <...

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