I’m Cassidy Russell: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, but more specifically I am a huge nerd. 

I used to think those two things didn’t really go together. That a professional couldn’t also be into pop culture. When I first started my traineeships, I did the best I could to look like a classic ‘adult.’ That all changed when I started working at a middle school providing therapy services to students with IEPs. The kids were shocked that I knew what things like Undertale, Wattpad, and Bronies were. Plus, there’s the fact that I didn’t judge them for their fandoms, no matter how strange their interests seemed to the other adults around them.

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That’s when I realized being a nerd could be a strength. I started researching how to bring pop culture into sessions. I took the SuperHero Therapy training course by Dr. Janina Scarlett. Read materials like “Mortal Combat; Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong.” Learned from other clinicians who were all realizing the same thing, therapy is compatible with pop culture.

Since then I have started my own path to combine my knowledge of psychology with pop culture. I created the platform Therapy for Nerds, a YouTube channel and podcast that takes a look at why we are drawn to certain aspects of pop culture. Check it out if you love the intersection of mental health and fandoms.

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The stories we seek out are powerful and provide insights into what we are dealing with in our own lives. I have found patterns like my clients who adore the ‘found family’ trope feel the most isolated. My clients with trauma saw hope through a character's redemption arch. We see ourselves in the characters we resonate with.