Mental Health is Horrifying
A spooky self care podcast about the mental health benefits of horror. Journey into the horrifying depths with Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist, (and all around spooky ghoul), as she explores how mental health themes are portrayed in your favourite horror movies and beyond. Drawing on archetypes from final girls to horror villains, Candis provides guidance in each episode about how listeners can navigate their own mental health woes.
Episodes
39 episodes
Sleepy Hollow — Somatic therapy with the Headless Horseman
In this special Halloween episode, I explore Sleepy Hollow (1999) and its portrayal of the importance of working somatically to process emotions. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by C...
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30:13
Mother! — Mother Nature’s Mental Health w/ Chloe Hurst
On today’s episode, I have the absolute joy of talking to my friend Chloe Hurst aka The Goth Garden about psychological horror Mother! (2017) and its portrayal of what happens to mother nature’s mental health when we push her too far.<...
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48:54
Your Favorite Scary Movie — Interview w/ Ashley Cullins on how Scream changed us
In this horrifying book review episode, I talk to Ashley Cullins — the woman who literally wrote the book on the Scream franchise, Your Favorite Scary Movie. She is basically Gale Weathers. We discuss this iconic Kevin Williamson franc...
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43:26
Midsommar — I’m afraid of women’s circles
In this episode, I explore Midsommar (2019) and its portrayal intersubjectivity, group dynamics, and why I’m afraid of women’s circles. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Gree...
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43:39
I Know What You Did Last Summer — Emerging adulthood is a killer
In this episode, I explore I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its portrayal of the horrors of emerging adulthood.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psycho...
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30:10
Immaculate Conception — Handing our humanity over to tech billionaires... what could go wrong?
On this horrifying book review episode, I’m talking about Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang and its exploration of what happens when we hand over our humanity and mental landscapes to tech billionaires. Mental Health is Horri...
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15:32
Phantom of the Paradise — The mental anguish of the creative soul w/ Angelica Cresci
In this episode, I chat with Angelica Cresci — occultist, content creator, writer, and astrologer — about Phantom of the Paradise (1974) and its portrayal of the mental anguish of artists, and selling your soul to get noticed as a creative.&nbs...
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59:42
Treehouse of Horror VI: Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores — The Overstimulation Crisis
In this episode, I explore the overstimulation crisis that we currently find ourselves in as portrayed through The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror VI: Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores (1995).Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by
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45:06
The Craft — How to become yourself w/ Kait Fowlie
In this episode, I chat with tarot reader, astrologer, and teacher Kait Fowlie about The Craft (1996) and its portrayal of the paths we take to become ourselves — witchcraft, volatile teen friendships and all.Mental Health is Horrifying ...
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42:27
Terrifier — The horrors of imposter syndrome
In this episode, I make a brave confession and explore how Terrifier (2016) reflects the psychological phenomenon of imposter syndrome.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Reg...
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28:10
The Strangers — Engagement Nightmare Story w/ Shannon Knight, LMHC, LPC
In this episode, I chat with Psychotherapist Shannon Knight from the podcast The Tarot Diagnosis about The Strangers (2008) and how the movie portrays nightmares as an emotional processing function when life does not go according to plan. ...
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56:14
Midnight Mass — Existential extravaganza!
In this episode on Midnight Mass (2021), I explore the portrayal of the crisis of faith that accompanies a world-class existential crisis. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis G...
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36:30
The Witch — Satanic scapegoating
In this episode on The Witch (2015), I explore the psychological concept of scapegoating and how it can drive a woman straight to the devil. Hail Satan.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by ...
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28:13
Companion — What f@*%ed up attachment style is this?
In this episode on Companion (2025), I theorize about what new f@*%ed up attachment style could evolve out of our attempts to attach to AI companion bots. Lord save us.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by
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37:41
The Shining — Loneliness will kill ya
This episode explores The Shining (1980) and its depiction of the adverse psychological impacts of isolation and lack of community. Spoiler alert: it's bad.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by
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36:24
Nosferatu — Shame is a nightmare
This episode explores Nosferatu (2024) and its depiction of shame as a horrible, beautiful nightmare. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owne...
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40:19
A Haunting in Venice — Cozy horror makes life less scary
Life is hard! So I'm really glad that cozy horror movies like A Haunting in Venice exist to comfort us through times of hardship and winter frostbite. In this episode, we explore A Haunting in Venice (2024) as a shining example of cozy ...
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33:13
The Substance — We're all gonna die
If there was a drug that would create a younger version of yourself, would you take it?This episode looks at The Substance (2024) and its portrayal of death anxiety via our obsession with female youth and beauty. Mental Health i...
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37:22
The Hitchcock Hotel + Psycho — Maternal enmeshment extravaganza!
As Norman Bates likes to say, a boy's best friend is his mother....Right?This episode takes a look at the book The Hitchcock Hotel (2024) and horror classic Psycho (1960) in this maternal enmeshment extravaganza!Mental H...
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37:21
Trick 'r Treat — Halloween is good for your mental health
In this special BONUS Halloween episode, let’s explore Trick ‘r Treat (2007), and the importance of Halloween for your mental health. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Regi...
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32:37
Halloween (1978) — The *perfect* final girl, and her anxiety boogeyman
This special Halloween episode explores the absolute classic Halloween (1978) and its portrayal of Laurie Strode’s over-functioning anxiety in her pursuit to uphold the mantle of the perfect final girl. As a psychotherapist for fin...
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34:54
Longlegs — Intrusive thoughts, brought to you by Nicolas Cage
I don’t know what the deal is with all of you who didn’t find Longlegs scary, because this movie straight up gave me intrusive thoughts! This episode talks about those thoughts, how I learned to challenge my Nicolas Cage-related intrusive thoug...
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46:51
Trap — Thirst is good for your mental health
Let’s talk about Trap (2024) and about how teen heartthrobs, fantasy, and nostalgia are actually beneficial to our mental health by exploring self-psychology concepts of selfobject needs and reparative relationships. Mental Health i...
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27:22
Lisa Frankenstein — Love as an (un)living altar to grief
This episode talks about 2024 gothic romance horror comedy delight Lisa Frankenstien and its portrayal of the grieving process through the eyes of Lisa in all her sensitive, emo, goth teen glory. This movie is quirky, and silly, and romantic, a...
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41:59