Comics & Counseling is a trauma-informed media project exploring mental health through comics, pop culture, and genre storytelling.
This site and its companion Substack offer essays and podcast episodes that examine how stories reflect trauma, identity, relationships, power, and survival, especially within comics, horror, fantasy, and science fiction.
Why Comics & Counseling Exists
Stories shape how we understand pain, responsibility, love, and resilience. Long before many of us have language for trauma or emotional regulation, we encounter these themes through characters and narratives.
Comics & Counseling exists to slow those stories down and look at them with care. Rather than glorifying suffering or excusing harm, this project focuses on impact, accountability, and context—while still honoring why people connect deeply to the stories they love.
Trauma-Informed Approach
This work is grounded in trauma-informed principles, including:
- Awareness of nervous system responses
- Attention to power, context, and relational dynamics
- Care for readers and listeners engaging with difficult material
- Use of content notes when themes may be heavy
Analysis centers compassion and clarity without sensationalism.
About the Creator
Comics & Counseling is created by Vivian Nelson Melle, a trauma-informed counselor with a background in working with anxiety, trauma, identity, and nervous system regulation.
This project reflects a belief that stories, especially comics and genre media—can help people make meaning, notice patterns, and feel less alone, when approached thoughtfully and responsibly.
What This Is, and What It Is Not
Comics & Counseling is educational media.
It is not therapy, diagnosis, treatment, or crisis support. Content is offered for reflection, learning, and discussion, not as a substitute for mental health care.
Explore the Project
You can read current essays and listen to podcast episodes on the Home page, explore discussions on the Podcast page, or learn how to support this work on the Subscribe page.
Important Note
If you are experiencing distress or are in immediate danger, please seek support from local emergency services or a trusted crisis resource.