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. Mental Health is Horrifying is the recipient of two Canadian Podcast Awards — Outstanding Health & Fitness Series, and Outstanding Education Series.
Do you struggle with catastrophic thinking? Well, if sharks getting swept up in a tornado and falling from the sky isn't a catastrophe, I don't know what is. In this episode, I explore Sharknado (2013) and its portrayal of catastrophic thinking. I talk about: How we define catastrophic thinking How final girl Nova accepts and faces her catastrophic thinking How you can challenge your own catastrophic thinking How watching horror movies can actually help with catastrophic thinking How the 9 of swords and 5 of pentacles tarot cards can help us look at the most generous case scenario when having catastrophic thoughts Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy, and is proudly produced in partnership with iHeartRadio Canada. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay
It’s officially summer, and now that school’s out, what better way to spend the summer than by going to camp? And how are we going to get to summer camp? Let’s take the hot mess express to Camp Arawak, aka Sleepaway Camp, where no one has ever heard of PTSD! In this episode, I explore Sleepaway Camp (1983) and the importance of trauma-informed environments. I talk about: The complicated legacy of Sleepaway Camp with respect to gender and queer representation Angela's SIGNIFICANT trauma How to define trauma, and how it shows up What being trauma-informed means How Angela could have benefited from a trauma-informed summer camp experience Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy, and is proudly produced in partnership with iHeartRadio Canada. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay ‘Sleepaway Camp’: The Elephant in the Room [Trapped By Gender] by Alice Collins for Bloody Disgusting The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain by Louis Cozolino
I am so very grateful that Forbidden Fruits exists, and that pink horror is becoming more popular, because pink horror is such a glorious, safe space to explore the horrors or womanhood, while also reclaiming the wounded parts of our girlie pop selves. In this episode, I explore Forbidden Fruits (2026) and the therapeutic benefits of pink horror. I talk about: What pink horror is and why it's a safe space for women to explore their fears The cool girl archetype and how it limits women How abandonment wounds show up in the Fruits' coven, and in female friendships Marilyn Monroe and the wounded feminine Representations of woman as sinful in Forbidden Fruits and... the Bible Horror as an emotionally compensatory function How the hierophant tarot card can help us explore the wounds we pass on in relationships Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy, and is proudly produced in partnership with iHeartRadio Canada. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay Forbidden Fruits (2026) Pretty, Pink, and Poisonous: The “Pink Horror” Era Loved ‘Forbidden Fruits’? 5 Movies to Add to Your Pink Horror Watch List ‘Forbidden Fruits’ Director Wanted Film to Be a “Razor Blade in a Jolly Rancher” Matching Underwear, Bondage Tops & Rodarte: Behind The Costumes of Forbidden Fruits
Obsession has really struck a chord in a world where we are increasingly unsure how to be in relationship with each other, and where true intimacy feels like a horrifying threat. In this episode, I explore Obsession (2025), and its portrayal of the fear of intimacy. I talk about: Why Obsession has broken box office records The fast foodification of intimacy Coercive control Nikki as the manic pixie dream girl archetype, and why this kind of idealization is so damaging for true intimacy Our capacity to really talk about mental health How the 2 of swords tarot card helps us understand Bear's weaponized insecurity Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy, and is proudly produced in partnership with iHeartRadio Canada. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay Obsession (2025) Obsession Filmmaker Curry Barker on the Inspiration Behind the Film's Horrifying Twist ‘Obsession’ Has Made 330 Times Its Budget And Breaks A Box Office Record Coercive control as a form of family violence
Gather 'round sisters, as we leave lavender but our garden gates and bury our abusive exes under the rose bush! In this episode, I explore Practical Magic (1998), its portrayal of intimate partner violence, and the balm of sisterhood. I will be discussing intimate partner violence in this episode, so please take special care when listening. I talk about: How intimate partner violence is defined The complex reasons that make it hard to "just leave" a violent relationship The mental health impacts of intimate partner violence How Gillian is able to access the internal and external resources required to leave How sisterhood aids Gillian in attachment repair and healing How the magician and 9 of swords tarot cards demonstrate the difficulty in leaving abusive situations, even if you have a lot of resources Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay Practical Magic (1998) Government of Canada Fact Sheet: Intimate Partner Violence Homicide leading cause of death for pregnant women in U.S. - Harvard School of Public Health Support someone I know who is being abused - Refuge
I say this with my full chest — Undertone was not lying when it said that it is "the scariest movie you'll ever hear." And I cannot un-hear it! In this spoiler-free episode, I explore Undertone (2025) and the psychology of sound. I talk about: How sound can help us form secure attachments The psychology behind "therapist voice" How sound helps regulate our nervous systems Why we are naturally drawn to live music as a primal act How silence can help grow your brain How the 8 of wands tarot card helps us explore our relationship to silence and the unknown Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Tarot for Creative Therapists — Join the waitlist for this course designed for mental health professions who want to learn how to confidently and ethically incorporate tarot into clinical work. (https://candisgreen.podia.com/tarot-for-creative-therapists) Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay Thunder by Music by John Britton from Pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay Undertone (2025) See ‘Undertone’ with Dolby Atmos, or You’ll Miss Half the Horror Enhancing the Raw Sound of ‘Undertone’ – with David Gertsman and Jon Lawless Ian Tuason haunted his own house when making his new horror film Bady SL. The voice as a curative factor in psychotherapy. Psychoanal Rev. 1985 Fall;72(3):479-90. PMID: 3931132. Soma CS, Knox D, Greer T, Gunnerson K, Young A, Narayanan S. It's not what you said, it's how you said it: An analysis of therapist vocal features during psychotherapy. Couns Psychother Res. 2023 Mar;23(1):258-269. doi: 10.1002/capr.12489. Epub 2021 Nov 18. PMID: 36873916; PMCID: PMC9979575. Sawamura, Yasuaki, Why We Overstimulate Ourselves: How Sensory Overload Blocks Memory and Weakens Learning (March 31, 2025). How Music Resonates in the Brain Gentle Whispering ASMR Moonlight Cottage ASMR
I was there! I was a teenager, there to experience the genius marketing surrounding The Blair Witch Project. It signalled a new era for horror, while the movie itself mirrors a complete uncertainty about reality. In this episode, I explore found footage horror The Blair Witch Project (1999) and how it portrays collective psychosis. I talk about: How an entire generation thought The Blair Witch Project was real (and what that was like!) How the genius marketing around the film created a sort of collective psychosis Current political and cultural unrest, and whether we are in a period of collective psychosis today How hypernormalization causes us to freeze and live out of alignment with our values How the 7 of cups tarot card showcases feelings of disillusionment and uncertainty How to use an ACT Matrix to identify your values, how you may have moved away from them, and how to find your way back Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 virtual psychotherapy for Ontario residents, along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay The Blair Witch Project (1999) Man Vs. Machine by Anthony Milton in Toronto Life For three weeks last spring, ChatGPT convinced Allan Brooks that he had discovered a revolutionary mathematical theory. Now he’s suing OpenAI, claiming its product dragged him down a rabbit hole of lies, caused him to spiral into delusion and destroyed his reputation The Society of the Spectacle by Guy DeBord ‘The Blair Witch Project’ at 20: Why It Can’t Be Replicated by Jake Kring-Schreifels in The New York Times Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real by Adrienne Matei in The Guardian
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, Netflix’s newest horror series, begs the question — do you really want to marry this guy, or do you just feel like you have to? In this spoiler-free episode, I explore bridal anxiety and the curse of heteronormative expectations. I talk about: How weddings are psychologically supercharged events Pressures placed on fulfilling heteronormative traditions How Rachel's nightmares and unconscious are expressed Korea's 4B movement How the 9 of swords tarot card highlights what happens when we ignore our gut Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 virtual psychotherapy for Ontario residents, along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen on Netflix Theme music is by Sound Gallery by Dmitry Taras via pixabay All sound effects and music via pixabay The Collected Works of C.G. Jung by C.G. Jung ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’ Is Not What You Expect by Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter ‘Import young women’ to lift birth rate, South Korean mayor suggests by AFP, CTV News
Lestat and Louis have one of the most complicated, twisted relationships in literature and film. And it brings up the topic of energy vampires – what do you do when you’re in a relationship with someone who is just draining you? In this episode, I explore Interview With The Vampire (1994) and the psychology of energy vampires. I talk about: What is an energy vampire? How shame and dissociation present within energy vampires What happens when you choose to be in a relationship with an energy vampire? How the tarot cards the king of pentacles and five of swords represent the relationship between Lestat and Louis Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 virtual psychotherapy for Ontario residents, along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Get up to 20% Cozy Earth with promo code HORRIFYING. If you get a survey post-purchase, be sure to let them know Candis sent you!
90s nostalgia is everywhere right now, and it's not a random coincidence. In this episode, I explore the documentary In Search of Darkness 1995-1999 (2026) and the psychology of nostalgia. I talk about: How we define nostalgia The mental health benefits of nostalgia How nostalgia is particularly beneficial for those suffering with dementia or cognitive decline Why we cling to nostalgia in times of change or uncertainty When we need to be careful about over-indulging in nostalgia The three of cups and how this tarot card evokes nostalgic feelings for me Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 virtual psychotherapy for Ontario residents, along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Get up to 20% Cozy Earth with promo code HORRIFYING. If you get a survey post-purchase, be sure to let them know Candis sent you! Get 20% off In Search of Darkness 1995-1999 with promo code HORRORFRIENDS26 . Woods B, O'Philbin L, Farrell EM, Spector AE, Orrell M. Reminiscence therapy for dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 1;3(3):CD001120. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001120.pub3. PMID: 29493789; PMCID: PMC6494367. Ismail S, Christopher G, Dodd E, Wildschut T, Sedikides C, Ingram TA, Jones RW, Noonan KA, Tingley D, Cheston R. Psychological and Mnemonic Benefits of Nostalgia for People with Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;65(4):1327-1344. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180075. PMID: 30149444.
In this special tribute to Canadian icon and spooky legend Catherine O'Hara, I talk about all that she gave us, and the healing capacity of a psychological phenomenon called transference. I talk about: Catherine O'Hara's life and legacy What transference is When transference occurs What we transferred onto Catherine O'Hara and how she helped us heal Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Canadian comedy legend Catherine O'Hara, who lit up SCTV and stole scenes on Schitt's Creek, dead at 71 by Anya Zoledziowski The Toronto house where SCTV ideas were hatched by Jane Welowsky Between Therapist and Client: The New Relationship by Michael Kahn
It's winter and all I want to do is solve cozy mysteries! In this episode, I explore Knives Out (2019) and its portrayal of the impact of grief on family dynamics. I talk about: What grief is and why it doesn't fit into tidy stages Emotional displacement What grief does to family dynamics Two tarot cards that I selected for Knives Out — the seven of swords and the hierophant Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint
The holiday season always makes me think of ballet and how it is both a horrifying and beautiful dance. In this episode, I explore Black Swan (2010) and its portrayal of perfectionism. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Winter Solstice Enchanted Eve Join me on December 18 for a cozy online evening of ritual, tarot, and collective dreaming for the winter solstice. Set aside some time at this magical moment in the wheel of the year, as we travel into the psyche with tarot, dream journeying, and intention setting for the coming winter months. Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint
In this episode, I explore Frankenstein (2025) and its portrayal of narcissism. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: I am so honoured to have been nominated for 5 Canadian Podcast Awards — and I need your help! Outstanding Health & Fitness Series Outstanding Television & Film Series Outstanding Education Series Outstanding Artwork for a Series (artwork by Chloe Hurst ) People’s Choice Award Members of the public can vote on the People's Choice Award , and it would mean the world to me to receive your vote! Voting takes 5 seconds — Click on this link: https://canpodawards.ca/vote/ Click on "People's Choice" Click "Vote" next to MENTAL HEALTH IS HORRIFYING Voting is open to the public until November 22. I would be grateful beyond the depths of my bat-filled heart to receive your vote. Thank you!
I am so honoured to have been nominated for 5 Canadian Podcast Awards — and I need your help! Outstanding Health & Fitness Series Outstanding Television & Film Series Outstanding Education Series Outstanding Artwork for a Series People’s Choice Award Members of the public can vote on the People's Choice Award , and it would mean the world to me to receive your vote! Voting takes 5 seconds — Click on this link: https://canpodawards.ca/vote/ Click on "People's Choice" Click "Vote" next to MENTAL HEALTH IS HORRIFYING Voting is open to the public until November 22. I would be grateful beyond the depths of my bat-filled heart to receive your vote. Thank you!
In this special Halloween episode, I explore Scary Movie (2000), the connection between laughter and trauma, and its regulatory function as we navigate the horrors of our lives. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: For the month of October, use code ITSOCTOBER for 15% any program in the Final Girls Club. Your Halloween Blessings Kit —Halloween psychoeducation and rituals to help you connect with your own depths, enjoy the blessings this Halloween has to offer you, and harness Halloween’s true meaning, legends, and traditions as a pathway back to yourself. Illuminative Tarot for Working with Trauma — This is my most popular program! Learn how to move beyond tarot spreads and use tarot in creative ways to visualize trauma narratives, organizing principles, feelings, and experiences as a supportive partner in the healing process. Out of the Broom Closet — Move from shame to pride in claiming your identity as a witch. Through the Dream Veil — Heighten your psychic abilities by developing your own dreamwork practice. Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: For the month of October, use code ITSOCTOBER for 15% any program in the Final Girls Club. Your Halloween Blessings Kit —Halloween psychoeducation and rituals to help you connect with your own depths, enjoy the blessings this Halloween has to offer you, and harness Halloween’s true meaning, legends, and traditions as a pathway back to yourself. Illuminative Tarot for Working with Trauma — This is my most popular program! Learn how to move beyond tarot spreads and use tarot in creative ways to visualize trauma narratives, organizing principles, feelings, and experiences as a supportive partner in the healing process. Out of the Broom Closet — Move from shame to pride in claiming your identity as a witch. Through the Dream Veil — Heighten your psychic abilities by developing your own dreamwork practice. Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint
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. Chloe and I explore how mother earth feels when we constantly ask her for more more more. Chloe shares the mental health life and death cycles of a gardener, and how we can all do our part to make the earth a more hopeful place. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: About Chloe Hurst Chloe Hurst is the owner and creatrix of The Goth Garden located in Carleton Place, Ontario. By day, Chloe is a Director of Visual Communications for a marketing agency, while also operating her own branding design studio catered to fellow gothic and alternative businesses. Every night during gardening season you will find her elbow deep in the soil tending to her goth garden, consistently adding new dark beauties to her collection. The Goth Garden was brought to life entirely through local garden centres and Canadian online vendors, enabling Chloe to craft and share her unique vision with fellow plant lovers – quickly becoming one of the standout gardening trends of 2024. Follow Chloe Hurst (aka The Goth Garden) Instagram | TikTok Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Do you like my podcast logo? Chloe designed it! www.contempomint.com
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 franchise, and how Scream not only changed horror, but how it has changed all of us too. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: About Ashley Cullins Ashley Cullins is an award-winning entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. After graduating with a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School, Ashley began her career in broadcast news before making the jump to print. Your Favorite Scary Movie is her first book. Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins
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 Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy. .............................................................. Show Notes: Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Toronto), along with tarot, horror, and dreamwork services (anywhere my bat signal reaches), both individually and through my group program, the Final Girls Club. Podcast artwork by Chloe Hurst at Contempo Mint Mothered by the Work: What Therapy Gave Me and Took Away by The Tarot Diagnosis Making Sense Together: The Intersubjective Approach to Psychotherapy by Peter Buirski and Pamela Haglund Relational Psychotherapy: A Primer by Patricia D. DeYoung
