Role for Insight: Using Dungeons & Dragons as a Group Therapy Tool

“The more I can follow the needs and energies of the group, rather than feeling like I have to make this story or make this intervention happen right now, the better the experience will be in the end.” That’s a lot,” Dehili added. For the most productive and positive group experience, therapists using D&D as a therapeutic tool should create additional boundaries and rules to ensure the session benefits everyone, not just one person. There may be cases. “It’s important to have safety tools in-game and conversations about what content is and isn’t acceptable based on (players’) trauma and background,” Dehili said. “Like most things in our society, D&D has a history of white supremacy and other types of racism and misogyny. It’s very important to be intentional about how you frame your story. You can use humor, slapstick, and other techniques, but avoid parallel political and social references. We try to avoid stereotypes, for example, the monster’s name is usually feminine, and orcs are dark-skinned and savage. is. So we want to encourage people to notice what energizes them and change within that space. ” A wide variety of game settings, plotlines, and characters allow therapists to create a wide variety of treatment scenarios for their patients. Ian Baker, professor of psychology at the University of Derby, said: “There is no ‘standard’ way to play D&D and it really depends on the group you belong to.” Experts recommend not using D&D as the sole therapy, but combining it with other therapy sessions and methods. “D&D can be complex and very rules-heavy, which in itself can be a barrier to entry, so that’s something to consider,” Jones said. The complexity of the game may reduce its impact on patients compared to other treatments. However, if therapists/DMs can navigate the rule-heavy format while promoting positive group dynamics, significant results can be achieved. “In general, if the group is thoughtful, considerate, and most importantly makes the game enjoyable for everyone involved, it’s very likely to be a positive gaming experience,” Colman said. he said. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is a science communicator at JILA, a joint physics research institute between the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder, and a freelance science journalist. Her work focuses on quantum physics, quantum technology, deep technology, social media, and the diversity of people in these fields, especially women and people from minority and racial groups. Follow her on LinkedIn or visit her website.