Skill-Building, Imagination, and Play
Critical Healing: Geek Therapy & Therapeutic TTRPG Groups
Welcome to a world where therapy and skills-building meet imagination and play! Step into our realm and learn what geek therapy can do for you.
What is Geek Therapy?
Geek Therapy is a unique approach to mental health, wellness, and counseling that utilizes the passions and interests many individuals have in geek culture, such as video games, tabletop games, comics and manga, movies and TV shows, anime, books, and cosplay, etc.
Among the innovative techniques within this realm are Therapeutic Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) groups, where the collaborative storytelling and immersive adventures of games become powerful tools for personal growth and healing. These therapeutic sessions, whether individual or within a group setting, harness the joy and creativity of geek culture to foster emotional resilience, enhance social skills, and build a supportive community.
Benefits of Geek Therapy:
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Engagement and Motivation
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Social and Communication Skills Development
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Creativity and Imagination
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Stress Relief
​This form of therapeutic approach and intervention lends itself well to group therapy, as aspects of geek culture inherently create a sense of community and belonging that can be reinforced in group therapy. With this in mind, New Hope is now offering therapeutic TTRPG groups as a new service option to meet the needs of our clients, whether they are new to us or have been with us for some time.
What are Therapeutic TTRPG Groups, and How Do They Work?
Therapeutic TTRPG groups utilize TTRPGs, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Starfinder, etc., as a medium for therapy and intervention to facilitate therapeutic growth and help meet treatment goals.
TTRPG involves role-playing, collaborative storytelling, and immersive adventures (campaigns) in a fantasy world. The players engage in exploration, interaction, conflict, problem-solving situations, solving puzzles, and practicing tolerance and resilience as they move through the narrative of the world. They are guided by a Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM), who directs the narrative and movements through the fantasy world and guides them towards the end of the campaign.
These groups are led by a certified Therapeutic Game Master trained in
applying TTRPG in a therapeutic and mental health setting.
Here at New Hope, our Therapeutic GM is Desiree Ducharme, LCPC
a fully licensed therapist with 15 years of experience as a player in TTRPGs
and 2 years of experience as a GM.
She will narrate and direct the players through the world she establishes for their adventures, assist with player character creation, act as a guide during play sessions, and ensure that individuals have a good experience. She will also assist them with establishing mental health goals to reach during the campaign and debrief at the end of each session to allow for processing and discussing their experience, thoughts, feelings, or insights gained.
Benefits of Therapeutic TTRPG Groups:
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Communication Skills
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Social Skills and Peer Connection
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Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
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Conflict Resolution and Emotional Expression
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Frustration and Distress Tolerance
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Empathy and Perspective-Taking
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Belonging
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Who Benefits from Therapeutic TTRPG Groups?
Everyone can! There is no age requirement or limit when playing TTRPG. The GM adapts the campaign to fit the group's needs and be accessible to all.
Join us for an adventure that not only entertains but also heals.
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Session Details: 1.5 -2 hour Weekly meetings (virtual for now, optional in-person in the future) for 15 weeks at a time; 4-5 players per group.
Session Costs: self-pay only; $60 a session for 15 weeks, paid weekly, OR an upfront fee of $780 for 15 weeks.
Who Can Join: Maryland residents; open to all ages and experience levels; groups are set based on certain demographics and needs of the players.
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Currently accepting referrals and scheduling intakes for interested players, with the first group beginning in late summer 2024.
For any additional informationemail us