What is Dungeons & Dragons™?

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop game that was developed in the 1970's by Gary Gygax and David Arneson, now published by Wizards of the Coast (a subsidiary of Hasbro), that has recently become popular thanks to the television show Stranger Things. Many popular video games are directly based on D&D and many youth who enjoy gaming are already familiar with D&D, or aspects of it. However, unlike a video game, D&D requires no screen time and is a fully in person, social, pen and paper and dice based game that encourages the development of social skills, literacy, mental math, and spatial awareness.

Along with the extensive evidence suggesting that role playing therapy can be very effective for mental health support, a small but growing evidence base shows that D&D therapy groups can be extremely effective.

D&D sessions consist of the Storyteller (also known as the DM or Dungeon Master) laying out a fantasy adventure story framework. Each player, including the therapist, creates a fantasy character and they make decisions individually and as a group about how they will achieve their goals and move through the story. Dice are used as part of the game to determine how successful players are in battle and in completing difficult tasks. Our stories include many opportunities for social engagement as part of a team, group decision making, spatial navigation using maps, solving puzzles, and combat. The game allows the group to collaboratively create a story while exploring their own identity through telling the story of their character.

Watch a D&D game in the video below:

How D&D Therapy Works

Getting Started

We combine Dungeons & Dragons with neurodiversity affirming, strengths-based therapy plus elements of CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to create immersive group therapy sessions that act as a super powered conduit for personal and interpersonal growth. All providers have extensive experience working with neurodivergent individuals and will unilaterally encourage and support neurodivergent communication and self regulation styles and behaviors, while ensuring that group members are kind and respectful of each other. Our providers also have extensive experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and are happy to incorporate each client's cultural norms and values into our therapy sessions.

New group members receive a therapeutic assessment which includes an interview with a licensed therapist to explore strengths and challenges, establish therapeutic goals, and arrange any necessary accommodations for the D&D sessions. The new group member will then meet with their therapist and the Storyteller and create their D&D character based on what they recognize as their personal strengths, weaknesses, and interests.

Ability levels and accommodations

D&D is linguistically complex. We can make accommodations to the language level of the game to suit the abilities of children age 8 or older. We can also accommodate a variety of developmental disabilities and needs, as long as the individual has no current physically aggressive or self-harming behaviors, is able to accurately respond (vocally or not) to spoken directions, and is able to read at at least a 4th grade level. Our staff has training and experience in AAC and we would be delighted to include AAC users in our groups, although we may request to collaborate with their AAC specialist to establish game specific supports..

Playing the game

Once the assessment is complete, we will place you (or your child) in a group of four of similar age and language ability, and determine a schedule for sessions that works for everyone involved. We ask for a commitment to a monthly membership, which consists of 3 sessions per month, plus additional individual sessions with our staff. Our games are ongoing, so even if we do not have a new group starting, we may be able to incorporate you or your child into an existing group.

Clinical staff will assess group member's progress in their goals during each session and will work with them to adjust supportive interventions and any necessary accommodations. The group member and/or their caretakers will have the option to receive individual or family therapy, and/or behavioral consultation and support services as needed for an additional cost.

During the game, our mental health clinicians will support participants in exploring and practicing social behaviors in a structured environment with explicit rules and boundaries in place. This can be very beneficial, especially for individuals who feel socially anxious or frustrated by unspoken social rules. It can also be very helpful for people dealing with video game addiction.

D&D creates a low risk environment in which players can try out a wide range of actions and see their results, without having to face any serious real world consequences. Players will have many natural opportunities to practice taking the perspective of others, evaluate one’s own actions and choices, improve frustration tolerance, explore and accept uncomfortable and undesirable parts of self, express themselves creatively, and develop creative problem solving, team building, and leadership skills. As a result of this freedom to safely explore through the game, player’s self esteem improves, and they learn to practice self-autonomy and self-advocacy outside of the game in their everyday lives as well.