Tabletop Role-Playing Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master

by Megan A. Connell, Rebecca H. Lee (Narrator)

A comprehensive book explaining "applied RPGs"—using role-playing games therapeutically.

Across the globe, therapists are using tabletop roleplaying games (RPG) such as Dungeons & Dragons as a part of their practice. This book provides an overview of what RPGs are and what makes them such an effective and powerful tool for therapy. By examining research on gaming, flow, immersion, and role-play, listeners will gain a better understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and how to skillfully and ethically use RPGs in their own practices. The author also looks at the history of RPGs, specifically focusing on issues of diversity and representation to help providers understand some possible pitfalls that exist within the medium. The book utilizes an example group to walk through everything from conception, planning, running, documentation, and termination of the group.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health

Audible Audio

Published March 28, 2023

Reviews

[Michael Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expect that there will be more literature coming out on this topic, but this is the first I've read that is professional throughout. It is well written, with plenty of research cited to support the author's argument. The author makes carefully explicit disclaimers as to the sparsity of evidence in the form of research specific to applied role playing games, as a therapeutic modality; yet, she provides a compelling argument for more research. I hope to get with some colleagues to start tooling around with how we could use something like this. I'm a far cry from being ready to facilitate a group, but I will enjoy having this discussion with colleagues and some clients about the field becoming less averse to the use of Table-Top Role Playing Game (TTRPG) as a viable platform, like other groups and other modalities.

Hardly an adequate comparison, but Existential Dragons: A guide for mental health therapists that would like to use Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games as a group therapy tool was a bit of a disappointment, especially given the cool title, but I still will appreciate the author of that book's willingness to put forward this idea, perhaps inspiring others to take the baton and go farther with it.

[Adam9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this provides a great overview of the topic of therapeutically applied TTRPGs. It gives clinicians looking to try the approach a good place to start and many helpful tips. I really appreciated the author’s sections on the theoretical ideas and frameworks that may warrant the use of applied tabletop games in clinical setting. She articulated her ideas clearly and left room for the limitations of the approach as well as the gaps that exist in current research. The main thing I wish was different is I wish the section on creating therapeutic encounters was lengthier, more detailed, and provided more examples and scenarios for reference.

[JL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written walkthrough of how applied table-top role playing can benefit patients in therapy alongside traditional treatment plans. The author summarizes the research that has been done so far (and expresses the need for much more research) and very responsibly creates guidelines and examples for those who may want to try this in their own practice.
I’m very excited to see what an updated edition of this book may look like 5 or 10 years from now as applied RPGs become more studied and practiced.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really helpful in me getting my head around running not only an applied RPG group as well as a non-applied RPG group.

There isn’t much literature on applied RPGs as it is a growing field. But this is a great collection of literature and real world examples. I also like how the author gave real world examples and explained the reasoning very well.

[Tom Killen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting application of role playing games!

The book is aimed at mental health practitioners. I'm not one, so didn't make it through all of the gory details, but enjoyed learning about the creative approach to mental health practice.

[Luiz Fabricio Calland Cerqueira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but underwhelming. Maybe I had too high expectations and the amount of research on the subject, which is little, didn’t let her deliver more.

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book assumes you are already familiar with role-playing games. Many of the suggestions could be applied to any therapeutic use of games. But there are some interesting ideas.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been working my way through this one for awhile. The introductory chapters are excellent in setting out theory. The practical pieces suffer from the lack of research /research still pending.

[Criss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice solid foundation, but quite basic if you're already familiar with the 2 areas.