Spicing Up Therapy with Geek Culture: The "Hot Ones Challenge"
Dear Fellow Therapists,
Integrating popular culture or 'geek culture' into our methodology is becoming increasingly significant in our quest to evolve and innovate therapeutic practices. Known as Geek therapy, this practice uses popular culture as a therapeutic tool and framework for therapeutic work. By leveraging our clients' mutual interests, passions, and hobbies, we can enhance our therapeutic relationships and further our clients' understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
In line with this approach, I have developed a therapeutic intervention that draws from the popular YouTube show Hot Ones. Produced by First We Feast, Hot Ones is a unique web series where host Sean Evans interviews celebrities while they eat progressively spicier chicken wings. The growing intensity of the hot wings encourages guests to shed their inhibitions, resulting in profound and candid conversations.
The therapeutic intervention, aptly named the "Hot Ones Challenge,” applies a similar principle. It encourages clients to discuss and process their emotions, situations, or experiences, rating them based on their 'spiciness' or difficulty. It aims to create an engaging, enjoyable, and productive therapy session, allowing clients to gradually build their resilience while remaining in control of their pace.
The Intervention
The "Hot Ones Challenge” uses two free fillable downloadable PDF worksheets that I created: "Hot Ones Challenge: Feel The Burn" and "Hot Ones Challenge: Cool The Burn" These tools guide the therapeutic journey, promoting emotional tolerance and offering essential coping mechanisms.
Hot Ones Challenge: Feel The Burn
This part of the intervention invites clients to list topics, emotions, situations, or experiences they wish to process, rating them on their level of 'spiciness' or difficulty. For example, these 'hot topics' could range from mild experiences like dealing with day-to-day stress to extremely spicy topics like coping with a significant loss or trauma. By navigating these topics in ascending order of spiciness, clients progressively build their emotional tolerance, thus establishing a stronger sense of self-efficacy.
The intervention is effective across all age groups. The fun metaphor of spicy foods makes daunting subjects more approachable for children. Teenagers, who often struggle with expressing their emotions, can find the 'spiciness' scale a novel and relatable way to communicate their feelings. Adults, too, can benefit from this method, offering a refreshing break from traditional therapy methods to address their concerns.
Hot Ones Challenge: Cool The Burn
Much like specific foods and beverages can mitigate the burning sensation of spicy foods, emotional tools are required to 'cool the burn' of the 'hot' topics processed in therapy.
Clients are encouraged to list coping strategies to manage discomfort or distress. This might include deep-breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, journaling, or calming hobbies. However, this exercise also involves identifying 'water-based' coping tools. Much like how water can intensify the burn of spicy food by spreading capsaicin, these strategies may seem helpful initially but could exacerbate emotional distress over time. For instance, avoidance, procrastination, substance abuse, or self-isolation might bring short-term relief but lead to long-term problems.
The "Hot Ones Challenge” intervention provides an innovative, engaging, and practical approach to therapy. It demonstrates that pop culture can offer valuable tools and frameworks for facilitating personal growth and understanding.
As therapists, it's our role to guide this process and continue to learn, innovate, and adapt to serve our clients best. I invite you to download these worksheets and introduce the "Hot Ones Challenge” to your practice. I eagerly anticipate hearing your feedback and learning about your experiences as you add a dash of spice to your therapy sessions.
To our shared journey in fostering growth and resilience, happy therapizing!
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER The information provided by Guidance Teletherapy Family Counseling Inc. (“we,” “us,” or" “our”) on https://www.guidancett.com/ (the “Site”) is for general information only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith. However, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. Under no circumstance shall we have any liability to you for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the Site or reliance on any information provided on the Site. Your use of the Site and reliance on any information o the Site is solely at your own risk.
EXTERNAL LINKS DISCLAIMER The Site may contain (or you may be sent through the Site) links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. We do not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered by third-party websites linked through the Site or any website or feature linked in any banner or other advertising. We will not be a party to or in any way be responsible for monitoring any transaction between you and third-party providers of products or services.
PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER The Site cannot and does not contain medical/health/mental health advice. The medical/health/mental health information is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals before taking any actions based on such information. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a mental or medication health condition. The use or reliance of any information contact on the Site is solely at your own risk.
AFFILIATES DISCLAIMER The Site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases you make on the affiliate website using such links. We are participants in the Amason Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking Amazon.com and affiliated websites.