As we continue our coverage of Doom Patrol, we notice that the stories are beginning to get more personal. Cyborg and Robotman are forming a friendly bond over their mutual “father issues.” Meanwhile, “Crazy Jane” leads the rest of the gang to a home for gifted meta-humans. Much like the X-Men, there’s a team of guidance counselors and instructors mentoring young scholars interested in honing their powerful skills. But as the facade of the perfect institute dissolves, we notice this is another nightmare of sorts. “Mento,” a former member of the Doom Patrol, is using his psychic powers to manifest an alternate reality. We learn that decades ago, he and Rita were in a romantic relationship, characterized by him being her therapist and delivering treatment through psychic intrusions. Like a respectable counselor, Mento initiates his therapeutic relationship with Rita from a place of compassion and kindness, seeking consent, patience, and trust; however, we realize his motivations take a turn for the worst, and Rita’s boundaries are violated.

In examining this episode, we talk about the ethics of entangling romance with psychotherapy. We also discuss the field of psychology and the emerging counseling interventions known under the umbrella of “energy psychology.” From healing crystals to tapping, we examine various fringe psychotherapeutic practices in order to better understand the real from the fantasy.

Additional Links:

Fandom: “Is Harley Quinn Crazy?”

Time: “Do Crystals Work?”

The Kill Lock, Issue 3