Self-Trust & Personal Narrative Shaping — YOUNG FOOLS (with Liza Palmer & Phil Lane)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
Release Date: 12/18/2025
DBT Treatment for Depression and FRANCINE'S SPECTACULAR CRASH AND BURN
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 on Instagram!
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Adolescence Identity & Attachment Skills — The Favorites (with Layne Fargo & Kaleigh Cornelison)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 on Instagram! The Character’s Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used...
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Healthy Communication in Relationships — BOTH THINGS ARE TRUE (with Kathleen Barber & Jennifer Mullowney)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 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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Self-Trust & Personal Narrative Shaping — YOUNG FOOLS (with Liza Palmer & Phil Lane)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 on Instagram! The Character’s Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy...
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Motherhood Balance and Identity Skills — SOMEONE'S GOTTA GIVE (with Alisha Fernandez Miranda & Stacey McCann)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 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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Anger Management & Generational Healing — HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS (with Allison Larkin & Andrea Maher)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
Marisa chats with HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS author Allison Larkin and Andrea Maher, Anger Management Specialist of , 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 on Instagram! The Character’s Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used...
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Addiction, Recovery & Parenting — BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (with Jessica Guerrieri & Janice Johnson Dowd)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 on Instagram! The Character’s Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore...
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Grief Processing & Consistent Healing — PROMISE ME SUNSHINE (with Cara Bastone & Kelly Daugherty)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 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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Leaving a Cult & Rebuilding Identity — OUR LAST RESORT (with Clémence Michallon & Dr. Natalie Feinblatt)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 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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Fame, Addiction & Mental Health Recovery — THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES & HARDER TO BREATHE (with Marissa Stapley & Ryan Dusick)
The Character's Toolkit: Bibliotherapy (Mental Health with a Literary Twist)
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 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.
info_outlineMarisa 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.