Soho’s Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art was one such museum, which coincidentally showcased images of blinded superheroes (Dr. Mid-Nite and Daredevil) who developed other skills after losing physical sight (Superheroes and Superegos: Analyzing the Minds Behind the Masks; Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO-Praeger, 2009). Such excursions into fantasy encourage brainstorming about creative ways to cultivate new skills, while broaching reality testing about what is possible in today’s world.
Ms. A has continued to make slow, but steady progress, and is less dysphoric and more hopeful. The therapeutic alliance is strong, and Ms. A is setting new goals for herself and making use of the resources we provided to her.
Dr. Packer is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, and is in private practice. Her most recent book is Cinemas Sinister Psychiatrists: From Caligari to Hannibal (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2012). Dr. Ascher is a senior resident in psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York.