L.A. Comic-Con ~ Los Angeles, CA ~

From Star Wars to Studio Ghibli, genre storytelling has a longstanding impact on our connection to spirituality, ancestral healing, and environmentalism. These panel discussions feature experts across the psychological, anthropological, and climate sciences to elucidate the powerful impact of science fiction, fantasy, and animation genres on our sense of collectivism.

Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes CONFERENCE ~ LAS CRUCES, NM ~

In her keynote workshop, "STORYTELLERS," Dr. Drea spent the day with mental health professionals centering strategies for managing fatigue and burnout, championing resilient stewardship, practicing counseling skills derived from media engagement, and fostering ideas to cultivate play as a profound mechanism for growth, healing, and empowerment.

San Diego Comic-Con ~ san Dieg0, CA ~

From Star Trek to X-Men, panel presentations explore and celebrate mental health depicted in science fiction, fantasy, and comics. For all audiences, including scholars, college students, and professionals, these discussions include sources and resources for ongoing learning and development in clinical science, mental health, and beyond!

Wondercon ~ Anaheim, CA ~

With their nuanced characterizations, riveting plots, and struggles against injustices, the X-Men are some of the most celebrated, enduring, and revolutionary superheroes in comics and beyond. Get to really know the X-Men through compelling discussions with "X-perts" including comics historians, writers, and the consulting producers of the newly released animated series from Marvel Studios, X-Men '97.

USDA Forest Service ~ San Diego, CA ~

RESILIENT LEADERSHIP FOR FIRST RESPONDERS is a strength-based workshop that delivers science-backed strategies for reducing burnout, cultivating belongingness, and affirming purpose in public service, humanitarian, and stewardship work. In this plenary session, Dr. Drea worked with USDA District Rangers and wildland firefighters toward building long-lasting solutions for enhancing morale and fortitude in crisis response work.

EDUCATION FIRST

Psychological safety means an absence of interpersonal fear in the workplace. When psychological safety is present, individuals are able to show up, speak up, and feel backed up by their employers. Dr. Drea provided strategic vision and in-vivo practices aimed to champion psychological safety at EDUCATION FIRST, a mission-driven policy firm with deep expertise in education improvement.

Los Angeles COMIC-Con

How would a group of professional clinicians and diagnosticians treat the fictional “Rogues Gallery” in Gotham City? Dr. Drea joins a panel of other expert mental health professionals to share insights, explain clinical strategies, and debunk common myths in their fun panel, “Welcome to Arkham Asylum: An Analysis of Batman’s Rogues Gallery.”

San Diego COMIC-Con

The Arkham Sessions visits the largest comics and pop culture convention with a panel about the psychology of Star Trek: Picard! Dr. Drea’s other panel appearances include an exploration of the science of Star Wars: Andor; an analysis of psychological thrillers through the lens of creative arts and science fiction; and how we can shape the culture of gaming, comics, entertainment, and fandom as an inclusive and intergenerational experience.

An audio recording of our Comic-Con panel can be found here.

Timbre Games

At the Timbre Games software development company, staff well-being is key to ensuring a healthy workplace that allows everyone to thrive. Dr. Drea kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by leading a workshop exclusive to the Timbre team focused on psychological resilience, touching upon topics such as burnout reduction, emotion management practices, social effectiveness and supportive neuro-inclusion.

COMIC CON REVOLUTION ~ONTARIO, CA~

Podcast hosts, Dr. Drea Letamendi and Brian Ward, visit Comic Con Revolution with their panel, “The Healing Power of Stories.” Drawing from the science of media psychology, they explore how storytelling can build positive mental health and shape a culture of inclusivity and healing. The recording of this event with a live audience and Q&A is available as podcast episode #202 of The Arkham Sessions!

UCLA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ~LOS ANGELES~

Today’s leaders must apply mental flexibility, self-awareness, listening skills, compassion, and creativity. At the annual UCLA Administrative Management Group’s (AMG) annual leadership conference, Dr. Drea led a breakout session for emerging leaders at the University to reflect on challenges, to connect psychological health strategies to actual successes, and to create paths that go beyond superficial self-care and toward breakthrough performance.

Resilient coaching with DigiBC

Dr. Drea uses evidence-based coaching to foster relational intelligence, resiliency, and values-driven leadership among highly driven teams. At this info session with the Creative Technology Association of British Columbia, she gives an overview of her training services designed to help digital media professionals use positive psychology to achieve breakthrough performance in life and business.

WONDERCON ~Anaheim, CA~

The hosts of The Arkham Sessions Podcast celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, with a live discussion of how decades of Batman animation have impacted and inspired audiences and fans to reach for self-development, post-traumatic growth, and social change.

UCLA STAFF ASSEMBLY

Are you interested in re-energizing your relationship with work?  In learning new strategies to promote mental well-being? This “Learn@Lunch” webinar showcased Dr. Drea’s evidence-backed tools designed to give professionals the momentum to go beyond superficial self-care toward achieving breakthrough performance in life and business.

LIVEWELL PODCAST

Superheroes, science fiction, and fantasy tell a much more complex story than what meets the eye. Dr. Drea talks with the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA about the power of storytelling in the fictional media landscape– how storytelling accelerates empathy and helps audiences navigate their own personal experiences of joy, grief, resilience, and healing.

Listen to podcast episode here.

“INSIDE FANDOM” VIP Event ~Los Angeles~

Featuring a combination of pre-taped segments and live presentations, Inside Fandom was a networking event for media and gaming marketers based on Fandom’s 4th annual thought leadership study into the complex mindset of fans. As a segment host demonstrating “fan therapy,” Dr. Drea brought personal meaning to behavioral trends and welcomed audiences to a celebration of film, television, and gaming lifestyles.

Family Engagement in higher education National Conference ~ORLANDO, FL~

As the 2022 Keynote Speaker, Dr. Drea presented to thought leaders and affiliates of universities who are passionate about creating healthier and happier campuses for their constituents. Her keynote, “Restore, Refresh, Reignite!” pulled in the science of mental toughness, emotional agility, and positive psychology to equip a challenged workforce in an inspiring event at, of course, The Happiest Place on Earth!

San Diego Comic-con

Pop Culture conferences are some of the best places to champion the work done by professional consultants in behavioral science and mental health. Dr. Drea’s panels include discussions about mental health in media and how storytelling makes a significant impact toward wellness, inclusion, and belonging.

Ask the Expert WITH DNEG

How can we create a work culture that is safe, inclusive, and open to mental health and well-being needs of our team members? Dr. Drea answers critical questions and lends useful solutions to improve work-life health. Clients learn to enhance mental fitness, improve goal-setting, and ask for help in a high-achieving culture. Topics cover workplace fatigue; myths and solutions about the self-care movement; and coping strategies for entry to experienced workers grappling with echo-pandemic impacts such as economic, occupational, social justice, and global threats.

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS

How does entertainment media actually help professionals like therapists, counselors, and coaches better connect with their clients and their goals? Dr. Drea is a featured speaker for the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists - L.A. Chapter to talk about the benefits of storytelling media toward improving mental toughness, self-awareness, and interpersonal effectiveness.

QUebec film and television council

Targeting all professionals of creative industries, these sessions focus on Diversity and Inclusion, Dialogue and Employee Development within the creative industries. Among them is Dr. Drea’s workshop, “Reducing Stress Through Compassion, Resilience and Positive Psychology.”

UCLA Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ~LOS ANGELES~

This workshop is part of a series that delivers strategies for using compassionate self-care, cultivating belongingness, and affirming purpose in our work through frameworks of social justice and decolonized psychology. Dr. Drea creates space for participants to practice self-regulating tools that will be helpful in centering their personhood, calming the body, bringing focus to their work, and creating cadence for change amidst the demanding climate(s) of COVID recovery, racial trauma, economic instability, workplace burnout, and global trauma.

SOCAL MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA

Live Fireside Chat and Q&A on building psychologically rich characters and how to drive compelling stories without using stigmatizing or dismissive language and themes.

superhero therapy conference

Dr. Drea serves as the keynote speaker with her talk, “Stories Matter: Building Resilience, Consciousness, and Empathy Through Media Representation.” Stories—and the connections they bridge—are a part of our psychological fabric. Called “mediated relationships,” the personal and emotionally charged connections we form with faux friends can help us harness essential insights as healers, stewards, and leaders in our practice. Dr. Drea delves into this powerful phenomenon and share how media connections can help us gain grit, emotional growth, and self-discovery as mental health providers facing multiple threats to our personhood and wellbeing in today’s world.