Table-top role-playing games as a therapeutic intervention with adults to increase social connectedness

ABSTRACT

Research shows that social connectedness is decreasing and loneliness increasing in the United States, subsequently resulting in a health crisis due to the anxiety and depression these attributes can cause. There is evidence that clinicians have difficulty treating individuals experiencing social anxiety and there is need for intervention strategies that lower treatment barriers. There has been scant research recognizing the use of table-top role-playing games to incorporate when treating social anxiety. The current manuscript describes a year-long group using Dungeons and Dragons in a therapeutic setting and explores perceptions from participants who experienced this group. Core concepts of the model and lessons learned from the developers are described for clinicians who hope to incorporate such a model. Participants described increased confidence in social situations, particularly with boundaries or making mistakes. Secondly, the skills practiced in the game were transferred into real-world experiences. Implications for future research and limitations were described.

KEYWORDS:

• social anxiety
• loneliness
• role playing games
• dungeons and dragons
• table-top games

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).