Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games

The Game to Grow Method

Elizabeth D. Kilmer, Adam D. Davis, Jared N. Kilmer, Adam R. Johns

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2023
• eBook ISBN: 9781000860221
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games provides a comprehensive approach to implementing therapeutically applied role-playing game (TA-RPG) groups for mental health practitioners.

When facilitated by a trained professional, TA-RPGs are a powerful tool for insight, growth, and change for individuals and communities. The Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games is a transdiagnostic, transtheoretical, group intervention developed over a decade of practice using Dungeons & Dragons and other popular tabletop role-playing game systems, as well as leveraging therapeutic factors from acceptance and commitment therapy, marriage and family therapy, drama therapy, and interpersonal process groups. TA-RPGs are conceptualized as a gaming system layered on top of established intervention techniques. They can accommodate a multitude of game systems and align with theoretical mechanisms for change found across therapeutic orientations.

This work serves as a comprehensive training manual for TA-RPGs, providing a valuable resource for mental health professionals interested in incorporating TA-RPGs into their practice.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• 1 An Introduction to Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 2 An Introduction to Tabletop Role-Playing Games
• 3 Common Aspects of Tabletop Role-Playing Games That Support Growth
• 4 A Transtheoretical Approach to Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 5 Foundations of the Game to Grow Method of Theoretically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 6 Choosing the Right Tabletop Role-Playing Game System for Your Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Game Group
• 7 Population Considerations in Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 8 Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning in Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 9 Group Development and Therapeutic Factors in Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 10 Session Design in the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 11 Facilitation Strategies in the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 12 SPARK: Characteristics of a Great Therapeutic Game Master
• 13 Starting a Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Game Group
• 14 Spreading the Word: Sharing the Magic of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
• 15 The Curse of the Viney Woods: An Example Module
• Index