Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.

Some villains just needed a session — or ten.

In this episode, Nareesa and Vanessa unpack the psychology of literary and fantasy antagonists: the misunderstood, the morally gray, and the ones who were one good therapist away from redemption.

From trauma responses to origin stories, we explore what makes a “villain,” why context matters, and how storytelling shapes who gets labeled the bad guy.

Insightful, funny, and just a little unhinged — because even villains deserve reflection.

Disclaimer: We're licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for education, reflection, and inspiration.

Follow Once Upon a Session for new episodes exploring stories, psychology, and healing.

Welcome back to Once Upon a Session — where stories meet healing.

We’re pulling back the curtain on life inside a psych ward — not the movie version, but the human one.

Vanessa and Nareesa talk about the realities of inpatient care, the stigma around psychiatric treatment, and how fiction gets mental health right (and wrong).

Disclaimer: We're licensed therapists, but not your therapists. This podcast is for education, reflection, and inspiration.