Photo taken as a frame from video Boys React to Girls Playing Dungeons and Dragons (DnDnG)
Over the years, many therapeutical strategies have been developed for the most different needs and conditions, helping children and adults reach the planned outcomes with lower stress and higher comfort. Among the many options of therapy tools, games are among the essential ones for the expected bonding and engagement of children, games that include tabletop role-playing games, or TRPGs.
Famous in the whole world due to the success of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), TRPGs used to be restricted to introverted and self-isolated social groups, who usually suffered from social stigma. More recently, a kind o “geek wave” dominated pop culture and helped invert the image of TRPG players into cool people. You can see scenes of D&D being played in ET, Freaks & Geeks, The Big Bang Theory, Stranger Things, Community and many other movies and series. Celebrities such as Vin Diesel, Jason David Frank, Terry Crews, Joe Manganiello, Joe Favreau, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and many others are known for having played in the past or even nowadays keeping their playing groups.
According to The Bodhana Group, a not-for-profit organisation especialised in the use of TRPG for therapeutical purposes, some of the following benefits of TRPG are:
Social Skills
Coping Skills
Behavioural Management
In case you are in the USA, The Bodhana Group would be the main organisation to seek for support in using TRPG in therapy sessions. In Singapore, there is the amazing job conducted by Swords & Stationery, led by the talented Shaun Low. And if you are in the ACT here in Australia, Dice 4 Diversity is the best supplier of such services. If you are in Sydney, feel confident to contact Speakable, with a highly talented team, which includes a TRPG writer who is not only a Game Master but also a Master in Special Education!
Because you can.
Suite 10, L2 79-85 Oxford St
Bondi Junction
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Sat 9am-4pm