Mental Health is Horrifying
A spooky self-care podcast that explores the mental health benefits of horror. Hosted by registered psychotherapist Candis Green, it examines how mental health themes are portrayed in horror movies and uses archetypes like final girls and villains to provide guidance for listeners navigating their own mental health struggles. The show has won two Canadian Podcast Awards for Outstanding Health & Fitness Series and Outstanding Education Series.
Episodes
Halloweentown — Must be the season of the witch wound
"Halloween is cool, nature boy. I mean, it's exciting, strange, and ancient." Marnie knows! In this episode, I explore Halloweentown (1998) and its portrayal of the witch wound. I talk about: The history of the burning times What the witch wound is How the witch wound shows up in Halloweentown How the Cromwell/Piper family needs a family thearpist How you can notice the witch wound in yours
Practical Magic 2 — The mental health benefits of watching spooky movies with your besties
Let's have another round of midnight margaritas, shall we? In this spoiler-free episode, I explore Practical Magic 2 (2026) and the mental health benefits of watching spooky movies with your besties. I talk about: What Practical Magic 2 means to a generation of fans who love the original How PG horror movies make the genre more inclusive The mental health benefits of bonding with co-v
What Lies Beneath — Haunted by intuition
Get out your Ouija board because we're having a séance in the bathroom! In this episode, I explore cozy horror What Lies Beneath (2000) and its exploration of how our intuition speaks to us. I talk about: Why What Lies Beneath is the perfect cozy horror Emotional avoidance and displacement How Claire's intuition speaks to her in What Lies Beneath How gaslighting disrupts intuition Ho
Addams Family Values — Debbie Jellinsky and the horrors of emotional spending
Debbie Jellinsky is the gold-digging, murderous, glamorous, Black Widow in Addams Family Values who when Fester says gimme a kiss, she says gimme a 20. Today, we honour her legacy. In this episode, I explore Addams Family Values (1993) and its portrayal of achieving one’s identity through consumption. I talk about: Debbie Jellinsky’s origin story How Debbie never felt understood
The Devil’s Mouth — When your BFF status gets the chomp
The Devil's Mouth may seem like just another sharksploitation movie, but this is a therapy shark! And this shark wants you to face that wonky friendship in your life. In this episode, I explore The Devil's Mouth (2026) and its portrayal of how friendships change. I talk about: Dunbar's number and the number of people we can can have relationships with in our lives Anna Goldfarb's Bath
Sharknado — The psychology of catastrophic thinking, but with sharks
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 ca
Sleepaway Camp — Trauma un-informed summer camp
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 com
Forbidden Fruits — The divine therapy of pink horror
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
Obsession — I’m afraid of intimacy, so I’ll just wish on this patriarchy stick
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 man
Practical Magic — Sisterhood is a spell to banish violent men
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 def
Undertone — How sound can heal (or curse) you
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 systemsWhy w
The Blair Witch Project — Are we in a period of collective psychosis?
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 Proj
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen — The curse of hetero expectation
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 eventsPressures placed on fulfilling heteronormative traditionsHow Rachel&
Interview With The Vampire — This relationship is draining me!
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 prese
In Search of Darkness 1995-1999 — The psychology of 90s nostalgia
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 nostalgiaThe mental health benefits of nostalgiaHow nostalgia is particularly beneficial for those suffering with dementia or cognitive declineWhy we cling to nostalgia in times of
Catherine O’Hara — The healing capacity of transference
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 legacyWhat transference isWhen transference occursWhat we transferred onto Catherine O'Hara and how she helped us healMental Health is Horrifying is ho
Knives Out — How grief scrambles family dynamics
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 stagesEmotional displacementWhat grief does to family dynamicsTwo tarot cards that I selected for Knives Out — the seven of swords and the hierophantMental Health is H
Black Swan — Perfectionism is a horrifying performance
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 Ev
Frankenstein — Narcissism is the real monster
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 SeriesO
I need your help, ghouls!
I am so honoured to have been nominated for 5 Canadian Podcast Awards — and I need your help!Outstanding Health & Fitness SeriesOutstanding Television & Film SeriesOutstanding Education SeriesOutstanding Artwork for a SeriesPeople’s Choice AwardMembers 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 —Cl
Scary Movie — Laughing through the horrors
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
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:For the month of October, use code ITSOCTOBER for 15% any program i
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.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
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 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
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 Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and
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 Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychotherapy both virtually (Ontario) and in-person (Tor
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 Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Wan
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. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy..............................................
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Want to work together? I of
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 is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Abou
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, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Out Of The Broom Closet if you would like to move from shame to pride in
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. We also pull some tarot cards to try and make sense of what the hell is going on in this relationship between James and Kristen. Mental Health is Horrifying is h
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 Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Illuminative Tarot for Working With Trauma to learn creative ways to
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Illuminative Tarot for Working With Trauma to learn crea
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Illuminative Tarot for Working With Trau
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 Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Illuminative Tarot for Working With Trauma to l
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 owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:Join Illuminative Tarot for Working With Trauma to learn creative ways to work with tarot as a supportive partn
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 horror, and why cozy horror is good for our mental health. I also pull some tarot cards to try and make sense of why there is such divisive rhetoric in the hor
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 is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show Notes:
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 Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show No
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, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy.Instagram: @mentalhealthishorrifying..............................................................Show Notes:Want to work together? I offer 1:1 psychoth
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 final girls, this episode is a love letter to all of you.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy.I
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 thoughts, and how you can challenge yours too through cognitive strategies and (seemingly paradoxically) through horror. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by
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 is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychotherapist and owner of Many Moons Therapy...............................................................Show No
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, and touching and I’m so glad that it exists and that it pays a beautiful tribute to its godmother, Mary Shelley. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Can
Tarot — Relax, it’s only a portal into your soul
If you were staying at a spooky old mansion for the weekend and you found a condemned tarot deck in the basement that definitely looked haunted… would you read from the deck? Or would you run?I guess your answer depends on the power you believe that a deck of cards can have. Because even the non-believers — even those who think that tarot cards are fake and just a bunch of hocus pocus — even they
Scream — What if this is all Sidney's trauma nightmare?
Have you ever been in the middle of experiencing something so strange, or so cruel or surreal that you think to yourself – I have to be in some kind of nightmare? Well, what if you were? What if it was “all one great big movie”... uhh I mean nightmare?What if Scream is actually Sidney Prescott’s trauma nightmare? Let’s explore that theory and look at how Scream (1996) portrays the formation of tra
The Haunting — Caregiver burnout is a haunted house that you live in
Does spending a weekend in a haunted house conducting paranormal investigations with a bunch of other spooky weirdos sound preferable to spending it with your codependent family members? Yes? Then pack your bags, sister. We’re heading to Hill House to talk about The Haunting (1968) and its portrayal of caregiver burnout. Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis Green, Registered Psychothera
Cam — Double double ego trouble
How would you feel if one day you tried to login to your online social media accounts, only to discover that they were locked and your online persona had taken on a life of its own? Pretty scary stuff, eh?Cam is an obvious commentary on the nature of camming and is based on writer Isa Mazzei’s own experiences as a cam girl, but what I’m most interested in is how this movie reflects the increasingl
Host — Even the ghosts have lockdown anxiety
Remember lockdown? I know I'm sorry — I know you don’t want to, but I think it’s worth considering for the sake of talking about Host (2020) and its genius encapsulation of the total anxiety of Covid lockdown. We’re in the depths of winter anyway, so why not hunker down at home at relive the horrors of Zoom hangouts with friends? And you know what might make It a bit more fun — is if we throw
Krampus — It’s beginning to look a lot like seasonal depression
Let’s talk about Krampus (2015) — everyone’s favourite half goat, half demon creature who has come to punish all the misbehaving children and dysfunctional families on Christmas — as a symbol for seasonal depression. It’s no surprise that December is a month of peak seasonal depression despite being labelled as the most wonderful time of the year. People tend to be ultra stressed out during the ho
Five Nights at Freddy’s — Dreamwork to navigate the unconscious and a murderous teddy bear
Let’s talk about Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) and its portrayal of the personal unconscious through dreams.K so the reason I went to see this movie is because Matthew Lillard is in it and I think he is one of THE BEST horror film actors of all time and I will see anything he is in. But I was SO pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this movie! I immediately saw that this movie was about the n
Hocus Pocus — I put a spell on your nervous system
On this special Halloween episode, I’m going to risk having my horror hall pass revoked by diving into a movie that is uhhh not TECHNICALLY a horror movie, but I believe still deserves a place somewhere in the genre for reasons we will explore in the episode — HOCUS POCUS (1993)!It’s for the same reason that I believe so strongly that everybody should be able to connect with feelings of pure joy a
The Ring — Grief is a well you’ve been thrown down
So — have you heard about this tape? Let’s talk about The Ring (2002) and its portrayal of grief, nature vs nurture, and the psycho-therapeutic theory of emotional dwelling.There are many readings of what the metaphors in this movie are really about. And for a lot of people this movie is about technology — viral media and misinformation, technology as a virus, technophobia etc etc — but for me, th
They Live — 5 tips to manifest out of this dystopian hellscape, babe
Let’s talk about They Live (1988) and its portrayal of mental health themes of oppression, manifestation vs. reality, and the attention economy and ADHD.They Live focuses on an ordinary man who discovers an alien race has been controlling the human population through subliminal messaging that promotes vapid consumerism. Is this a documentary? Maybe.Mental Health is Horrifying is hosted by Candis G
Jaws — Don’t ignore your emotions or they’ll swim up and bite you in the ass!
It’s summertime, ghouls! It’s hot, it’s humid, and wouldn’t you non-vampire people just love a day on the beach? Or are you afraid to go in the water? On today’s episode, I’m going to be talking about the OG summer blockbuster that made everyone afraid to go in the water, Jaws (1975).Let’s talk about Jaws as a metaphor for emotional avoidance, its portrayal of existential themes of meaning vs mean
The Mist — Cloudy with a chance of monsters (+ climate anxiety and xenophobia!)
Let’s talk about the apocalyptic— today’s forecast is misty with a chance of monsters — low key 2007 creature feature, The Mist.I had seen this movie a handful of times over the years and upon a rewatch for this episode, I really wanted this movie to just be about climate change. It’s easy to see it that way pure and simple — there’s literally monsters in the mist outside that prevent people from
M3GAN — an AI robot treating mental health... what could go wrong?
Let's talk about 2023 AI dystopian murderous doll from the bowels of tech hell masterpiece — M3GAN. It is my belief that horror movies reflect not only the zeitgeist of the time in which they are made, but also our inner most fears and anxieties. While this movie is a lot of fun and M3GAN herself is a riot, it also carries an incredibly powerful message about the potential impacts of AI on hu
Carrie —she's not a monster, she's just religiously traumatized!
Let's talk about the blood-soaked, prom queen of our dreams who — spoiler alert! — burns the whole ass gymnasium down cinematic masterpiece from 1976, Carrie.One of my favourite things about the origin story of this movie is that after Stephen King scoured the deepest, darkest, recesses of his mind to conjure up the most horrific scenario that he could —a teenage girl has her period for the f
Trailer
Are you someone who watches horror movies and thinks — that nasty old well that Samara climbs out of in The Ring is really a metaphor for her grief? Or that like…Ghostface at his core is a spectre of intergenerational trauma?I’m your host of darkness — Candis Green and I’d like to welcome you ghouls to Mental Health is Horrifying — the podcast where we journey
