Mental Health through Storytelling - with Dr. Allison Battles

Today's episode features Dr. Allison Battles, a Queer and Pagan licensed clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, and Certified Therapeutic Game Master.  Yes - Game Master!  Allison and I consider topics as far afield as how science can sometimes be unwieldy in healing, using Dungeons & Dragons for identity exploration, and that Dark Elf you made in WoW, but should likely be ashamed of.

REFERENCES:
Dr. Allison Battles's company, BattleRobin Counseling: https://battlerobincounseling.com/

  • (00:00) - Opening credits
  • (00:37) - Show opening
  • (01:30) - Introducing Allison Battles
  • (03:45) - Dodecahedron in a square hole
  • (09:51) - Be yourself...just not too much
  • (13:57) - Healing the system itself
  • (17:00) - We are more than pathologies
  • (22:24) - The overscientification of mental health
  • (26:35) - How much evidence is enough to notice?
  • (31:09) - Pathologization and acceptable healing
  • (37:30) - Does Western medicine prize healing at all?
  • (40:03) - Telling new stories about who we are
  • (45:37) - Exploring gender through tabletop RPGs
  • (51:52) - Quick nerding out on Buffy and Xena
  • (54:28) - Making Queer exploration natural
  • (59:07) - How to find Dr. Allison Battles on the internet
  • (01:01:27) - Show closing
  • (01:02:05) - Closing credits
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Creators and Guests

Amethysta Herrick, Ph.D.
Host
Amethysta Herrick, Ph.D.
Scientist, storyteller, and professional overthinker of all things identity. Also, I happen to be a transgender woman.
Mental Health through Storytelling - with Dr. Allison Battles
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