Description
Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons have evolved into powerful therapeutic tools for identity, communication, and connection. This interactive session shows how collaborative storytelling and character play can foster emotional expression and authentic social engagement.
You’ll learn:
- How TTRPGs build regulation, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Ways to create affirming spaces for unmasking and identity exploration
- Methods for translating in-game learning into real-world growth
- Simple structure and safety tools for therapists new to gaming
Faculty
Psychotherapy Associates of Chicago
Susan Haarman, PhD, LCPC, is a practicing therapist in Chicago, Illinois. She is an expert facilitator and has been working with young adults for over a decade. Her professional development sessions are active, participatory, and engaging. She also has a PhD in educational philosophy and teaches at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education. In addition to her career as a therapist, she’s been working in higher education for over 15 years to help students persist and thrive.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Susan Haarman has an employment relationship with Loyola University. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Susan Haarman is a member of the International Association of Research in Service-Learning and Community Engagement.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)
Access never expires for this product.
Objectives
- Differentiate key elements of tabletop role-playing games that support emotional regulation, communication, and social connection in autistic clients.
- Integrate narrative, safety, and accessibility frameworks to create affirming and therapeutic role-playing experiences.
- Evaluate methods for translating in-game insights into real-world skill development and self-expression.
Outline
Foundations of Therapeutic Role-Playing
- Core elements of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) in clinical settings
- Alignment between collaborative storytelling and neuro-affirming practice
- Benefits for autistic clients: regulation, connection, and perspective development
- Myths and misconceptions about gaming in therapy
- Limitations of the research and potential risks
Structure, Safety, and Accessibility
- Session setup and environment considerations
- Character creation and world-building as tools for choice and identity
- Safety systems and consent mechanics for emotional protection
- Inclusive adaptations for communication, sensory, and cognitive differences
Therapeutic Frameworks and In-Game Applications
- Narrative arcs reflecting real-world challenges and growth
- Role differentiation, teamwork, and emotional expression through story
- DBT, CBT, and social-learning principles integrated with gameplay
- Examples of group and individual play formats
Translation to Real-World Change
- Reflection and debriefing models for generalizing skills
- Collaboration with families, teachers, or care teams
- Identity and social confidence beyond the gaming table
Target Audience
- Counsellors
- Educators
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
