This book combines empirical support, clinical acumen, and practical recommendations in a comprehensive manner to examine creative augmentations to the robust cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model. It discusses augmentations that are supported by research and practice and are also clinical-friendly tools. Each chapter briefly summarizes research findings, offers parsimonious explanations of theoretical concepts and principles, presents vivid descriptions of therapeutic procedures, and describes rich case illustrations. The book addresses the use of humor in CBT with youth, playful applications of CBT, applications of improvisational theatre in CBT and integrating superheroes into CBT.

Chapter 1. Introduction: Integrating Play, Humor, Improvisational Theater, and Superhero Characters into CBT with Youth.- Part I. Integrating Humor into CBT with Children and Adolescent.- Chapter 2. Humor and Engagement in Children and Adolescents.- Chapter 3. Humor and Irreverent Communication in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with Adolescents.- Chapter 4. Humor with Pediatric Patients.- Part II. Playful Applications of CBT with Youth.- Chapter 5. Overview of CBT Play Therapy.- Chapter 6. Integrating Play into Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth.- Chapter 7. Playful CBT with Aggressive Youth.- Chapter 8. Playful CBT with Children Diagnosed with OCD.- Part III: Integrating Improvisational Theater in CBT with Youth.- Chapter 9. Improvisational Theater with Socially Anxious Youth.- Chapter 10. Integrating Psychodrama and CBT with Adolescents in Groups.- Chapter 11. Popular Culture Character and Theater Techniques in CBT Supervision.- Part IV. Integrating Superheroes in CBT.- Chapter 12. CBT and Use of Superheroes with Youth.- Chapter 13. Using Fiction and Fandom with CBT for Youth: Creating a Climate of Safety, Tolerance, and Trust.- Chapter 14. The Force Awakens: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Star Wars.- Chapter 15. The Last Stanza: Concluding Thoughts.