In every episode, therapist (and reader!) Marisa Gelfand chats with novelists and therapists to explore the mental health struggles of fictional characters.
Think, bibliotherapy: mental health with a literary twist.
Characters in books and literature don't have access to a therapist's insights, but you do, and you walk away with the skills.
Understanding PTSD and Hypervigilance NERVE DAMAGE (with Annakeara Stinson and Jessica Huber)
Marisa chats with Annakeara Stinson, author of Nerve Damage, and Jessica Huber, therapist, to explore PTSD, trauma, hypervigilance, and what happens when the brain gets stuck scanning for danger. They unpack how past experiences can shape our sense of safety, influence how we interpret the world around us, and affect sleep, relationships, and trust. Together, they explore how we can honor the protective instincts that develop after trauma while finding greater flexibility, connection, and pockets of safety as we heal.
Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!
The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.
19 Aug 2026
Rethinking Autism, Behavior, and Belonging - BREATHING UNDER WATER (with Jacqueline Friedland and Jamie Bassos)
Marisa chats with Jacqueline Friedland, author of Breathing Underwater, and Jamie Bassos (https://bassosconsulting.com/about/), autism and behavioral health expert, to explore autism, neurodiversity, and the importance of looking beyond behavior to understand the person. They unpack what happens when we shift from trying to "fix" autistic people to changing the environments around them, challenge assumptions about communication and behavior, and explore how curiosity, strength-based thinking, and creating space for authentic expression can help us build more compassionate and accessible communities.
Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!
The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.
Marisa chats with Kimberly McCreight, author of Someone Else's Husband, and therapist Leor Wasser to explore self-deception, denial, and the stories we tell ourselves to protect against painful truths. Together, they unpack why the mind creates self-deception as a coping mechanism, how fear, anger, and shame can keep us holding onto relationships or identities that no longer fit, and how self-compassion and curiosity can help us face reality once we're ready.
Want more? Follow @TheCharactersToolkit on Instagram!
The Character's Toolkit is a bibliotherapy-based mental health podcast where novels and fictional characters are used to explore therapy concepts and coping skills.
Who has been a guest on The Character's Toolkit
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tracey Lange
Michael Rose
Emma Grey
Hannah Robertson
Beverly Engel
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
76
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact The Character's Toolkit
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about The Character's Toolkit
Who hosts The Character's Toolkit?
Marisa host the show. Published by Marisa Gelfand.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does The Character's Toolkit take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of The Character's Toolkit?
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