Walking the Witches’ Road: Using Agatha’s Journey as a Metaphor for Exposure Therapy and Grieving Loss

The Disney and Marvel series featuring Agatha Harkness presents a powerful metaphor for both exposure therapy and the journey of processing loss. This panel will explore how Agatha’s path along the Witches’ Road mirrors the therapeutic experiences of clients who confront fears, deconstruct a “pseudo-self,” and work through grief. In exposure therapy, clients are guided to face their anxieties, much like Agatha encounters trials that test her courage and resilience. Her journey also reflects the process of finding an individualized approach to grieving—acknowledging losses and releasing parts of herself that no longer serve her true identity. Just as Agatha dismantles old constructs and confronts the shadows of her past, clients in therapy learn to face difficult emotions and create a grieving process that honors their unique needs. Panelists will discuss how Agatha’s story can serve as a framework for understanding the intertwined nature of fear and grief, illustrating the therapeutic journey toward resilience, self-acceptance, and healing.

Learning Objectives:

1 - Participants will learn identifying criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related anxiety disorders

2 - Participants will learn the rationale for exposure and response prevention for anxiety disorders and be able to develop an exposure hierarchy for phobias

3 - Participants will be able to explain the rationale for using narrative therapy to help patients and clients process grief and loss

4 - Participants will learn to apply concrete cognitive-behavioral interventions to assist patients and clients in navigating through grief and loss