When you consider video games and Dungeons and Dragons, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not how these pastimes can be utilized to improve one’s mental health. However, recent studies have begun to examine how these hobbies can be utilized to engage clients in their own mental health journeys. Through a form of play therapy, children, adolescents, and adults alike can embark on a creative journey of fun whilst undergoing the process of personal growth and self-reflection.
What is Dungeons and Dragons?
Dungeons and Dragons – or D&D – is a tabletop role playing game where players create their characters according to specific classes and races which indicate player abilities in the areas of fighting, intelligence, history, and more. The Dungeon Master or Game Master creates vibrant worlds, characters, and lore for the characters to navigate in their campaign. A group of typically 4-6 members play as their characters in a party, often working together to achieve a common goal by fighting monsters, traversing lands, and navigating politics. As the party members overcome obstacles together, they level-up and grow their characters.
For some, D&D is a way to play as a character who embodies many of their personal traits or struggles. For others, D&D allows freedom of playing as a character who is quite different from themselves, free from past traumas or present struggles. Regardless of the player’s choice of character strengths and backstory, an element of themselves always remains a part of their character and their character journey.
The Benefits of Dungeons and Dragons in Psychotherapy
It has been suggested that Dungeons and Dragons mirrors aspects of mental health recovery as the narrative nature of D&D often focuses on themes of overcoming struggles in the face of adversity and exploring personal strengths and weaknesses. D&D can be used in group therapy sessions for treating the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Players are afforded the opportunity to develop strategies for emotional regulation, engage in empathetic communication and perspective-taking, learn to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the environment and their fellow party members, manage conflict, and practice problem solving in a relatively risk-free setting. Additionally, role playing in a therapeutic setting has been linked to increased reflection, empathy, and peer learning. Players are confronted with tough in-game barriers that require them to cope with unexpected scenarios and adopt out-of-the box thinking strategies. Overcoming these obstacles alongside party members helps to build self-confidence and cultivate effective communication skills.
What are Video Games?
Put simply, video games are electronic games where players control video images on a screen through a user interface such as a controller or keyboard. Video games can be found in all types of genres including strategy, role playing, survival, simulation, sport, and first-person shooter (FPS). Each game type can promote a variety of skills as players are engaged in different activities. For example, gamers who frequently play FPS games have greater cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is the mental ability to shift internal attention between different tasks and behavioral responses. It plays a key role in the adaptability of thinking processes as it pertains to the situations we face.
The Benefits of Video Games in Psychotherapy
Video games can be used in all types of counselling including with individuals, couples, families, or groups. They can address a variety of clinical concerns such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, self-esteem, trauma, interpersonal issues and relationships, and have even shown to support the therapeutic rapport between client and counsellor. Some studies indicate that video games can be effective in addressing the symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. Additionally, emerging research supports the use of video games in elderly care. Some video games have been created specifically for the use with certain populations in therapy, while commercial video games – the ones largely played by the public such as Halo, Animal Crossing, Legends of Zelda, and Super Mario – can and have been adapted for use in psychotherapy. Playing video games in a therapeutic setting can allow clients to improve emotional regulation by teaching healthy ways to cope with experiencing failure, success, frustration, and overcoming obstacles. In some settings, clients may be encouraged to work collaboratively with a team or partner while practicing effective and empathetic communication and problem solving.
Overall, people engage when they are interested in the activity at hand. Incorporating your passions such as Dungeons and Dragons or video games into therapy is an effective and fun way to engage in self-reflection and personal growth. In a safe and encouraging environment meant to allow for calculated risk taking and problem solving, it’s bound to be a critical success…unless you roll a 1!
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