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

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 relationships can support healing, how vulnerability can strengthen connection, and how small steps toward openness and care can interrupt cycles of isolation and rumination. 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.

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 means to rebuild practically and emotionally, and how moments of safety can emerge even in a world that feels uncertain. 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.

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? 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.

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 a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

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. 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.

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 despair to finding meaning, connection, and hope, this episode offers insight into a loss too often left unseen. 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.

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 rebuild a sense of agency and meaning. 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.

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 parents can help navigate this path. 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.    

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 explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

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 alignment and self-trust. 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.

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's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.  

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 management skills, and setting boundaries when needed. 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.

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 connection, and redefine self-care. 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.

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 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.

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 concepts and coping skills.

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 Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

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 @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.

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 novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.    

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-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

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 podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.

Marisa chats with FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY author Jennifer E. Smith and therapist Dr. Christine Schneider of Integrative Mind Institute and the podcast The Challenge of Therapy for a deep dive into adult sibling alienation. They explore what drives distance between siblings, why it hurts so much, whether it's ever possible—or wise—to rebuild those bonds, and specific tools for rebuilding them when appropriate. 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.

Marisa chats with What Happened to the McCrays author Tracey Lange and therapist Michael Rose of Wild Minds Consulting to talk about what we're really supposed to do with all those overwhelming emotions. From rage to grief to everything in between, they explore how to process big feelings instead of bottling them up. 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.  

Marisa chats with Pictures of You author Emma Grey, her daughter and Ph.D. candidate Hannah Robertson, and therapist Beverly Engel—author of The Emotionally Abusive Relationship—to unpack the dynamics of coercive and controlling relationships. From subtle red flags to deep emotional manipulation, this conversation sheds light on what these relationships really look like, hot to support loved ones who are in them, and how to begin breaking free. 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.  

Marisa chats with Trust Me on This author Lauren Parvizzi and therapist Maggie Malone of Rosebud Psychotherapy to unpack mental filtering—the habit of seeing things as either all good or all bad. They dive into how this black-and-white thinking shows up in our lives, why it's so tempting, and what it really takes to find a more balanced perspective. 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.  

Marisa chats with Bluebird Day author Megan Tady and sports therapist Peter Falcon of Skadi Sports Psychology to dig into the high-stakes world of sports psychology. From pre-game anxiety to the mental load elite athletes carry, they unpack the hidden side of high performance. 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.  

Welcome! There's a new show, and it's perfect for you: The Character's Toolkit. In every episode, therapist (and reader!) Marisa Gelfand chats with novelists and therapists to explore the mental health struggles of fictional characters. Characters don't have access to a therapist's insights, but you do, and you walk away with the skills.  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. Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!