Why Harry Potter is Good For Your Mental Health
Throughout my years as a therapist, there has been one thing I have constantly used in working with my clients, my love of Harry Potter and the lessons it brings to everyone. Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon that taught children and adults across the world to fall in love with books, especially fantasy books. The legacy of JK Rowling, her seven books and the subsequent eight movies can only be compared to other great series, like Star Wars.
Not only is Harry Potter excellent entertainment, there are themes in the series that attribute to making this world a better place. Below is outlined three reasons why watching and/or reading the Harry Potter series is good for your mental health.
1. It is a classic example of good versus evil
Good versus Evil. Harry versus Voldemort. You get the connection. Harry represents all that is good and pure in this world, albeit a little bit mischievous. Voldemort represents greed and desire for power. In the end, it is Harry who prevails and it teaches everyone that good does win out in the end. In this series, the good guy wins! What good are you doing in this world? What good would you like to do today?2. It teaches you to take calculated risk and break rules when necessary
[embed]https://youtu.be/cPsIU9BTbcQ[/embed] Harry, Hermione and Ron are risk-takers. They decided to take on every adventure placed in their way, starting from the Sorcerer’s stone all the way through the Deathly Hallows. They had to break rules. They had to defy authority. They had to forge a path where there wasn’t one for them. A lot of us tend to stay small by following the rules and coloring within the lines. What would your life look like if you created your own path and broke the rules every once in a while?3. The main message is love conquers all
This is the bottom line of the entire series. Love conquers all and if we could take that message in our own lives and apply it, your life will greatly improved. There will be no spoilers here but every hero in the Wizarding World did what they did out of love. Harry’s mother loved him so much and it was her love that kept him safe. How will your love for others keep them safe? How can you love more deeply and fully in order to have a more fulfilling life?Using Harry Potter as an analogy in therapy, especially with children and teenagers has been tremendously helpful. Most parents aren’t always happy when I encourage their children to break rules and be mischievous; however children and especially teenagers need to break the rules (within reason) in order to find their way and it’s through parenting and love that they learn their way, just like the consistent love and discipline the three characters received from all their teachers, like Professor Dumbeldore and Professor McGonagall and from the Weasley’s.
Haven’t seen or read Harry Potter? What are you waiting for? Your lessons in life are waiting for you!
Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP decided to become a therapist while attending Nova Southeastern University. She saw the need to help people achieve the life they wanted to live, while creating a life of her own. She completed her master’s in Mental Health Counseling and started a career in the juvenile justice arena. Since then, she has started a private practice in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specializing in depression, anxiety relationship issues, and substance abuse. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. Find out more about her practice here. For a free 15-minute consultation, call or text Amanda at 954-378-5381 or email her at amanda@amandapattersonlmhc.com.