Therapy Meets Dungeons and Dragons!
In person groups forming now
Manage
stress
Anxiety
And have some fun !
Practice Managing Stress and Anxiety
And have some fun doing it!
Most therapy involves sitting across from someone and talking about your life. That works for some. But what if you could practice the hard stuff inside a story, with other people, guided by a licensed therapist who also happens to be a Certified Therapeutic Game Master? A group now forming in Portland uses Role-Playing Game Therapy for managing stress and anxiety IRL.
How It Works
Each session focuses on a specific therapeutic skill. You create a character around your personal goals. Before the group begins you meet with me individually so we can set those intentions together.
We use tabletop role-playing games in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons as the medium for real clinical skills work. This style of RPG therapy puts your character at the center of the work. Your character faces challenges. You make decisions under pressure. You practice connection, collaboration, boundary-setting, and staying grounded when things get uncertain. The game is the context. The skills are the point.
No prior gaming experience needed. Seriously, none.
What We Work On
What you practice in the game, you carry into your life
- Stress tolerance and anxiety reduction
- Mindfulness and present-moment awareness
- Confidence in connecting with others
- Practicing new ways of responding under pressure
Who This Is For
Adults 18 and older who are stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or feeling disconnected. People who feel uneasy or self-conscious in group settings. Those who learn better by doing than by talking, think better when they are moving or creating, or have always connected more easily through story and imagination than through direct conversation.
If you have ever thought therapy wasn’t really for you, this might be worth a look.
Sometimes called D&D therapy or TTRPG therapy, this is a skills group, not a replacement for individual therapy. If you are navigating more acute concerns, individual counseling may be a better starting point.
What to Expect
A small in-person group of four to six people starts mid-October at my Portland office. Sessions meet three times a month, two hours each, at $75 per session, billed monthly. We use a beginner-friendly, rules-light system in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons, which works well for both newcomers and more seasoned players.
Want something to share with a friend or your own therapist? Download the flyer (PDF)
Looking Ahead: January Groups
If October’s timing doesn’t work, or you’re wondering about this for a teenager in your life, two more groups are taking shape for January: another adult group, and a new group for teens ages 14 to 17.
Details for both are still coming together. If either sounds like a fit, schedule a free consultation and mention which group interests you, and we can talk through timing. For the teen group, I’d want to connect with a parent or guardian first.
Ready to Talk?
Groups are forming now. Schedule a free consultation and we can explore whether this is a good fit.