Janina Scarlet Ph.D.

About

Janina Scarlet, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, scientist, and full-time geek. A Ukrainian-born refugee, she survived Chernobyl radiation and persecution. After immigrating to the United States, Janina was heavily influenced by the X-Men. While completing her postdoctoral training at the Veterans Medical Research Center, where she treated active duty service members with PTSD, Dr. Scarlet noticed that many of her clients identified with superheroes. She later began incorporating superheroes and other fictional characters into Superhero Therapy, a technique which involves implementing pop culture characters into evidence-based therapy, to help people manage depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Dr. Scarlet currently works at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Management in San Diego and teaches workshops and presents at psychology and pop culture conferences all over the world.

Books by Janina Scarlet Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Why Truth Is Harder Than Fiction

Why is it so hard for most of us to be honest about how we feel or what we are going through? Most of us have been carefully taught to follow a precise socially-accepted script.

I Am Not Good Enough: Managing Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever felt like you are an imposter? Like everyone else knows more than you and is more capable than you? If so, you might be struggling with Imposter Syndrome.

Standing Against Racism

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”

Wonder Woman’s Origin Story

One word comes to mind when thinking about Wonder Woman: empowered. But even Wonder Woman feels "not good enough" sometimes.

All the Lonely People

A car honk. An angry driver. People yelling obscenities through their rolled-up windows. And through it all, feeling the soul-ripping, devastating effects of loneliness.

Catwoman and Post-Traumatic Growth

Catwoman is one of the most fascinating DC characters. Sometimes she is a hero, sometimes a villain. One thing is for certain, Catwoman plays by her own rules.

Surviving Real Life Horrors

My family and I are refugees. We moved to the United States to escape violence related to being Jewish. Last Saturday, my heart shattered.

Mental Health Representation Matters

Perspective taking can foster empathy building and compassion toward others. Diagnosing characters or people therapists have not met does not.

Overcoming the Pain of Disconnection

Many of us experienced rejection, heartbreak, and loss. How can we cope with a devastating loss of connection when it might feel like we're dying?

How Harry Potter Fandom Changed My Life

I was going through one of the most excruciating years of my life, and I wasn't sure how I was going to get through it when Harry Potter Fandom changed my life.