The Fainting Couch

Trauma

How Writing Poetry Became a Lifeline for Processing Trauma

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on November 3, 2023

How did harnessing horror ironically pull a poet from horror's very depth? Read this deeply personal interview about the power of poetry and pop culture for identity reclamation.

How did harnessing horror ironically pull a poet from horror's very depth? Read this deeply personal interview about the power of poetry and pop culture for identity reclamation.

Trauma

Slaying Trauma: A Pop Culture Healing Journey

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on October 30, 2023

From Buffy to the scream queen trope, delve into a journey of transformation and self-discovery as Fuhrer uses iconic narratives to confront and transcend personal trauma.

From Buffy to the scream queen trope, delve into a journey of transformation and self-discovery as Fuhrer uses iconic narratives to confront and transcend personal trauma.

Cognition

"Breaking Through" With Books

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on October 2, 2023

Can literature truly transform minds and lives? Explore the findings in this study of Shared Reading as a therapeutic approach.

Can literature truly transform minds and lives? Explore the findings in this study of Shared Reading as a therapeutic approach.

Therapy

Prescribing Poetry and Prose

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on September 29, 2023

The magic of books goes beyond storytelling. Dive into the world of clinical bibliotherapy and explore how literature heals and nurtures our mental well-being.

The magic of books goes beyond storytelling. Dive into the world of clinical bibliotherapy and explore how literature heals and nurtures our mental well-being.

Education

Bridging the Learning Gap

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on September 13, 2023

How do emotions shape learning? Can social and emotional skills boost academic success? Explore the connection here.

How do emotions shape learning? Can social and emotional skills boost academic success? Explore the connection here.

Pregnancy

How the U.S. Is Failing Moms on Maternal Mental Health Care

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on August 15, 2023

The Policy Center’s Maternal Mental Health State Report Cards provide the first-ever comprehensive view into the state of maternal mental health in the U.S. Why are states failing?

The Policy Center’s Maternal Mental Health State Report Cards provide the first-ever comprehensive view into the state of maternal mental health in the U.S. Why are states failing?

Neuroscience

Crying It Out: The Complexities of Mood Regulation

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on June 28, 2023

Does tearful crying help us to regulate our mood and regain emotional balance?

Does tearful crying help us to regulate our mood and regain emotional balance?

Education

Practical Ways to Build Children’s Social-Emotional Learning

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on June 14, 2023

What is bibliotherapy and how can you use it to support children's SEL at home? Practical tips and book recommendations for your next storytime.

What is bibliotherapy and how can you use it to support children's SEL at home? Practical tips and book recommendations for your next storytime.

Grief

#BesideMyself: The History and Psychology of a Hashtag

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on May 19, 2023

Hashtag use is important to social and emotional learning. Here's one example of how.

Hashtag use is important to social and emotional learning. Here's one example of how.

Fantasies

How Fiction Affects Children's Social-Emotional Learning

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on March 31, 2023

Another reason to curl up with a good (fiction) book

Another reason to curl up with a good (fiction) book

Chronic Pain

Why Do We Say People With Chronic Pain Are "Hysterical"?

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on March 21, 2023

What assumptions are at the root of chronic pain stigmas?

What assumptions are at the root of chronic pain stigmas?

Anxiety

Growing Up With Anxiety and OCD in "Turtles All the Way Down"

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on March 7, 2023

What do coming-of-age tales and medical plots have in common? How can novels open up alternative "scripts" for young people grappling with mental illness?

What do coming-of-age tales and medical plots have in common? How can novels open up alternative "scripts" for young people grappling with mental illness?

Trauma

What a Literary Character's Healing Process Might Look Like With CBT

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on June 23, 2022

What would a Victorian character's process of healing his trauma look like today?

What would a Victorian character's process of healing his trauma look like today?

Trauma

Loss, Dissociation, and Trauma in "The Lifted Veil"

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on June 6, 2022

A literary look at the effects of loss and grief.

A literary look at the effects of loss and grief.

Trauma

The Double Mind in Eliot’s "The Lifted Veil"

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on May 15, 2022

What does this gothic novella have to do with dissociation?

What does this gothic novella have to do with dissociation?

Highly Sensitive Person

Managing High Sensitivity, Then and Now

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on January 18, 2022

Do we need to "fix" high sensitivity?

Do we need to "fix" high sensitivity?

Highly Sensitive Person

What Causes High Sensitivity? A Historical Look

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on January 10, 2022

What causes sensitivity? Genetics and the environment might hold the answer.

What causes sensitivity? Genetics and the environment might hold the answer.

Highly Sensitive Person

“Don’t Be So Sensitive!” The HSP Throughout History

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on January 3, 2022

Why do we get so worked up about sensitivity? A look back in time sheds some light.

Why do we get so worked up about sensitivity? A look back in time sheds some light.