FEARapy: Facing Our Monsters Through Horror Media

Horror has more to teach us about fear, grief, and resilience than most people give it credit for. People already turn to monsters, dread, and the unknown to process what they can't yet say directly — in the therapy room, the classroom, and everywhere in between. This session introduces FEARapy, a framework developed by Addie Baldowski, PhD, CGT, LMHC-QS for working with horror media intentionally.

Rooted in narrative therapy's externalization technique, FEARapy gives clinicians, educators, and other professionals a structured way to work with material clients and students already bring into the room. Rather than treating horror as a niche interest to tolerate, this approach treats it as clinical material worth engaging directly.

This is a practical, tools-based session, not a lecture on horror theory. Addie will walk through the FEARapy framework, tools for facilitating reflection and discussion, and real examples spanning grief, trauma, and systemic fear drawn from film and games. Whether you're a clinician, an educator, or someone who works with people navigating hard stories, you'll leave with something you can use.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Recognize when and why horror media can be a meaningful tool for processing difficult emotions.

• Apply a practical framework for engaging horror content with intention.

• Facilitate reflective conversation around fear-based media.

• Understand basic considerations for using this approach responsibly with different audiences.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US

You're probably already doing this, without a name for it.

A client brings up a nightmare, a horror movie, a story about something chasing them — and you follow it, because you know better than to redirect someone away from the metaphor they've reached for. FEARapy gives that instinct a framework: a structured way to work with horror media intentionally, instead of following it by feel and hoping you're doing right by it.

You don't need to be a horror fan, and you don't need to learn an entirely new modality. You need a way to meet a client, student, or group member who's already there.

Walk away with:

• A framework for working with horror content you're probably already encountering in session

• A concrete tool for facilitating reflection on fear, grief, and dread through story

• A clearer sense of what you're doing when you follow a client into the story they're already telling

WORKSHOP STRUCTURE

Part 1: FEARapy Presentation (~45 minutes) — The framework, its roots in narrative externalization, and real examples spanning grief, trauma, and systemic fear from film and games

Part 2: Live Q&A (~15 minutes) — Ask questions and discuss how FEARapy applies to your own caseload, classroom, or setting

AUDIENCE

This course is designed for:

Mental health clinicians, educators, and other professionals who work with individuals or groups through story, media, or fandom.

Professionals who may find the material helpful include: psychotherapists, school counselors, social workers, expressive arts therapists, activity and recreation therapists, youth program facilitators, and educators working with media literacy or narrative curricula.

No prior familiarity with horror media or narrative therapy is required. This is a tools-based session designed to be immediately usable regardless of your comfort level with the genre.

• A 60-minute live webinar with experiential components

• Group discussion with clinicians and healers working across disciplines

• A reference and resource list for continued exploration

• Access to the recording for 90 days

You'll walk away with...

• A way to locate where someone is stuck when insight isn't the problem

• Somatic and experiential practices you can utilize personally and professionally

• Language for bringing the mind, body, and energetic state into alignment

• A clearer sense of your own patterns

This workshop will be recorded and shared with participants after the event ends. You will receive access to the recording even if you aren't able to attend live.

Continuing Education (CEUs)

This course provides optional 1 CEU for licensed mental health professionals in the state of Florida. Participants must attend live, provide license number, and complete course evaluation for credit.