Therapeutic Gaming

What is Therapeutic Gaming?

Therapeutic Gaming is for all ages! Group members meet and engage in collaborative storytelling using an agreed-upon set of rules (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons).  Players develop their own characters in the game, and shift perspective back and forth between player and character. This provides a space in which to practice skills like self-advocacy, frustration tolerance, anger management, and more in a fun, supportive environment.

Groups meet weekly for ten (10) weeks, with each session lasting between 90 and 120 minutes. Groups are no larger than 6 people, and are built to be appropriate to age and developmental level. Therapeutic Gaming does not replace psychotherapy, though it may be an effective adjunct.

Each group starts with Session 0, where we review house rules and behavioral expectations for players. Subsequent sessions will follow a general format that includes check-in, game play, and reflection on skills practice.

d20 Therapeutics offers Therapeutic Gaming as a form of skills practice and development, and as such, Therapeutic Gaming is not billable to insurance.

Safety

d20 Therapeutics seeks to create a physically and emotionally safe space at every gaming session. As the group forms and as the campaign progresses, each player will have the opportunity to identify privately subject matter that may interfere with their participation. All players will have access to a master list of identified challenging topics and material, and will be asked to refrain from introducing such at the table.

Groups

Young Adventurers is for players in grades 6 through 8. Parents and players can expect players to engage in imagined social encounters, exploration, and fantasy combat stories organized around themes such as good citizenship, growing up, or going on a heroic journey. Within these narratives, participants will practice targeted skills identified at group enrollment.

High School Heroes is for players in grades 9 through 12. Parents and players can expect players to engage in imagined narratives similar to those in Young Adventurers, but also developing individual identity, engaging empathy, and similar topics. As with Young Adventurers, players will practice targeted skills identified at group enrollment.

Grown-Up Gamers is for players who have finished high school and older. Participants can expect a full range of social, exploration, and combat encounters. Skills practice goals might include frustration tolerance, anger management, mindful action, distress tolerance, or any other appropriate skill identified in concert with the game master.

Playing with Pride

d20 Therapeutics offers gender and sexual orientation affirming Therapeutic Gaming groups for adolescents and young adults who are identified with the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to social and emotional skills, these groups may address body dysphorias, internalized homophobia, and awareness of self and the unique identity that each participant brings to the table.

Scheduling Groups

Groups will be scheduled as they fill. During the school year, groups for young people will typically be scheduled on a weekday between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. Other groups will form as time, space, and schedule allow.

Fees

Therapeutic gaming groups meet for 10 sessions at $40 per session for a total cost of $400 per participant. At the time of enrollment, d20 Therapeutics will collect a $80 non-refundable desposit to secure space for the participant and fund the first two sessions. Subsequent payments of $160 each will be collected at session 3 and session 7. In the event of voluntary withrdawal from participation, unused sessions may be refunded at their full value.