TTRPGs & The Therapeutic Power of Play
In the past five or so years, there has been a resurgence of popularity in tabletop roleplaying games (commonly referred to as TTRPGs). You may have heard of these through popular shows such as Critical Role or Dimension 20, or perhaps you’ve played some yourself. Regardless of your familiarity with the concept, you may be wondering: what does this have to do with therapy?
Roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder offer expansive worlds in which you, the player, get to decide the story. Maybe you’re a thousand year old elf searching for meaning, or a burly giant with the power to defeat any foe. Or maybe you can shift into animals—almost anything is possible, and the game only ends when you want it to. There is no right or wrong way to play tabletop games, so long as everyone at the “table” is having fun (in quotes because the play space can be and often is virtual).
But I’m not here to talk about how fun roleplaying games are—though my hundreds of hours of playtime speak for themselves. No, I am here to talk about how we can use that playtime as a catalyst for personal growth, because I believe TTRPGs have the potential to be one of our most powerful therapeutic tools when utilized effectively.
What is a TTRPG?
A TTRPG is categorized by a few different elements: a game master (GM), a party of players, and a setting. The GM (in this context, the therapist) facilitates some sort of adventure or quest in which the players (the clients) work together to advance the story. Most TTRPGs also involve rolling different dice to determine how successful a player is in achieving their goal. This adds an element of chance, and more importantly, creates barriers or challenges that the players must overcome. There is no “winning” a TTRPG—it is about imagination, problem solving, teamwork, and creativity. The goal is simply to have fun, and hopefully learn something along the way.
Identity, Fantasy Fulfillment, and Boundaries
In a game where you can be whoever and whatever you desire, players have the freedom to explore their own real life identity and values. The character someone chooses to play may be a reflection of themselves, or maybe an ideal of who they want to become. Sometimes they are the complete opposite—I will admit that the characters I have the most fun playing are the impulsive, inconsiderate type who don’t think before speaking. I’m sure you can guess why.
For LGBTQ+ clients, roleplay is especially powerful because it creates a world where you can be yourself fully and without judgement. A trans teen can inhibit a body that feels congruent with their gender, even if only for a little while; a questioning young adult can experiment with expression without having to spend money on new clothes or accessories.
Roleplay also gives us the opportunity to behave in certain ways with lower stakes. If you “mess up” in roleplay, it’s okay because it’s just a game. People say and do things in TTRPGs that they’d never say or do in real life—and sometimes that is all someone needs to push them out of their comfort zone or discover something new. We often don’t realize we want something until it’s offered to us. We may have gut reactions to different moral or ethical situations, but we’ve never really taken the time to reflect on what we would actually do in those situations. TTRPGs allow us the freedom to explore these things without the real life consequences.
Collaboration and Empowerment through Play
The single most important factor in the effectiveness of therapy is the connection between the client and the therapist. This is especially true for younger clients. No ten year old is going to divulge their trauma to some strange lady they just met, and I don’t blame them! A therapy session is an incredibly vulnerable space, and there needs to be a foundation of trust there for any real growth to occur.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to build a bond with someone is through working together to achieve a shared goal. Another is through play; I often utilize games such as UNO or chess when first getting to know a younger client. TTRPGs have the advantage of combining collaborative storytelling and imaginative play, making them the perfect vehicle for building rapport. Ideally, a game like D&D would be utilized in a group setting (4-6 clients and one therapist), but it can work in individual settings as well. The important piece is that the client is empowered and engages with the storytelling. It is not the therapist’s job to build this adventure from the bottom up—it is a joint effort, and should be reflective of the client(s) and their worldview.
Though I most commonly utilize play with my younger clients, anyone can roleplay! Even if you’ve never played a TTRPG in your life, games like D&D or even a less structured imaginative roleplay can open up so many different topics for reflection and growth. Through the power of creativity and collaboration, we can transform what therapy looks like, ultimately making it less intimidating and more accessible to all.
Play brings people together. The healing process doesn’t have to be scary—let’s make therapy fun!
Have you ever tried playing a TTRPG? If you’re a clinician, have you ever used this tool with your clients?
Kelly O’Connor is a licensed LMHCA with Freesia Therapy Collective, specializing in working with children, teens and young adults.