Dungeons and Dragons Therapy Groups
Attention, adventurers! Please check out our online D&D games over at Young Dragonslayers. While my local therapy groups are currently on pause, these online games are available to kids and teens everywhere who are looking for peer support and social-emotional growth.
A Place for Middle Schoolers to Meet New Friends and Make Some Magic
This isn’t the school year anybody was looking forward to. For many middle schoolers, this was supposed to be their year. They’d hoped to finally find “their people” and a social group where they can belong. All the big milestones are put on hold during online school. First lockers, first dances, and first school plays have to wait.
This pandemic is demoralizing for kids. If you didn't have the social group you wanted before quarantine started, it's even harder. How can you meet new people when you’re trying to talk over a bunch of other kids in an all-class Zoom call?
D&D Group Therapy Helps Kids To…
Practice social skills in a fun, low-stress environment.
Get to know peers better without having to go through awkward small talk.
Discover a creative outlet that isn’t a computer or video game.
Get support from other kids who understand what they’re going through.
Interact in a less intimidating small group online setting.
What is Dungeons & Dragons? Is This the Game They Play in Stranger Things?
Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D for short, is a tabletop roleplaying game. It's enjoying a “moment” right now, thanks in part to the popularity of Netflix’s hit show, Stranger Things.
When kids play D&D, they take on the persona of a hero character in a fantasy world. Players have to work together as a team to solve puzzles, collect treasure, or defeat bad guys.
D&D is different than a board game because there is no set path to take. Characters don’t just progress along spaces on a board. What makes D&D and other roleplaying games unique is that the players improvise to create a story together. Their choices affect what happens next. It’s sort of like a choose-your-own adventure novel that’s happening in real time.
“Want to summon a herd of unicorns to defeat an evil wizard? Give it a try. Want to play a glamorous elf with a dark secret who can speak to woodland creatures? That is totally possible.”
How Does Dungeons and Dragons Work Online?
Even before the pandemic, many D&D enthusiasts have enjoyed playing online. Several free online platforms that have been custom made for the game. Dice and other game materials are fun, but optional, when playing online. This means that for our sessions, you don't need anything besides a computer with a camera and internet access.
We use a secure Zoom room for our online D&D sessions to protect everyone’s privacy. A website called Roll20 allows us to see the maps, characters, and magical creatures we’ll deal with on our adventure. Both websites are pretty user-friendly. Most kids can access the games by themselves without help. Our online D&D sessions are private, meaning that random people cannot access our game. There is adult supervision at all times. Each session has two facilitators to make sure the game stays safe and fun for everybody.
Why Does D&D Make Great Group Therapy for Kids and Teens?
This fun, imaginative game is a natural fit for kids’ and teens’ therapy groups. Why is that? For one, it’s not a competitive game. You can’t really win or lose, and there’s no such thing as a “right” or “wrong” choice. D&D group therapy members work together rather than against each other. This can be freeing to kids who always want to do the right thing, or who are sensitive to losing.
Because D&D relies on teamwork, it’s an awesome way to make friends. The game has a lot of structure, so players have support when interacting with each other in therapy. Jumping into an adventure together helps players get to know each other quickly, and cuts out the need for awkward small talk.
One of my favorite things about D&D is that it encourages creative problem-solving. The rules of D&D allow you to do and be pretty much anything you can imagine. Want to summon a herd of unicorns to defeat an evil wizard? Give it a try. Want to play a glamorous elf with a dark secret who can speak to woodland creatures? That is totally possible.
How Dungeons and Dragons Helps Kids Build Social Skills
D&D is a great fit for kids’ group therapy because you can’t help but practice social skills as you play. It's more interesting than reading a worksheet or roleplaying with a therapist. D&D helps kids develop social skills with the people that matter most—their peers. Because it’s fun and game-based, there isn’t a lot of pressure to get things exactly right.
When a child plays D&D, she’s literally putting herself in someone else’s shoes. This helps to build empathy, which is critical for developing strong social skills. It also gives kids a chance to try out new ways of interacting with other people. Playing a character gives kids freedom to do and say things that would be too scary in real life.
A shy child may have trouble introducing herself to strangers. But, if she’s playing a swashbuckling heroine, she might discover it's not so hard after all. With a little practice, it becomes easier and easier to talk to strangers outside of the game, too! The social skills kids discover through game play can be applied to their day-to-day lives.
What Are the Benefits of D&D Therapy for Kids?
Are you wondering if your child would be a good fit for D&D therapy? Our groups are a great option for kids who are feeling isolated, depressed, or who would like to brush up on their social skills. Here’s a short list of skills that kids can take away from a D&D therapy group:
Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
Assertive communication skills
Flexible and creative thinking
Negotiating and group problem-solving skills
Practice with turn-taking and sharing
Improved impulse control
Better understanding of nonverbal communication, such as facial expression, voice tone, and body language
If you think your child could benefit from D&D therapy, take a look at our current group offerings below. You can also check out our FAQ near the bottom of this page for more information about what to expect.
Now Playing: Current D&D Therapy Groups for Kids & Teens
D&D Girls’ Friendship Group (ages 11-14)
We have gotten so much interest from girls new to D&D that we are now offering girls-only groups! If your daughter wants to build positive friendships with other girls who love geek culture, this group is for you. I love seeing our groups of girls discovering a hobby that used to be “just for boys”. D&D is opportunity for girls to cheer each other on and work as a team with others who share the same interests.
D&D Social Group for Middle Schoolers of All Genders (ages 11-14)
Not looking for an all-girl environment? No problem! Middle schoolers of all genders are welcome in this group, which starts in January of 2021. Players will embark on an adventure together to make friends and practice social skills. Along the way, they'll learn a new hobby they can continue to enjoy after the group is over. This group is an inclusive, welcoming, and LGBTQ+ affirming space. Our adventurers will meet a diverse cast of characters in their travels. All are welcome!
Advanced D&D for Seasoned Players
If your child has already completed one of the introductory groups above and would like to keep playing, this is the group for you. Starting in 2021, we’ll be offering an ongoing series of “one-off” games for experienced players. This is a place for kids to reconnect with other group members or try out a new character. These sessions are a little longer, so players can take a deeper dive into character building and storytelling. Because each story is told over the course of one afternoon. Players can drop in whenever their schedule allows.
Meet Your Dungeons and Dragons Therapy Group Leaders
Katie Lear, Children’s Therapist
I’m a licensed counselor, play therapist, and drama therapist who loves helping tweens work through anxiety, trauma, and life stresses. If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be playing D&D on a weekly basis, I wouldn’t have believed you!
When I moved from New York City to small town North Carolina, D&D helped me make friends in my new home. Like a lot of people, I’ve been staying home more since the pandemic began. Online D&D has been a lifesaver for keeping in touch with friends in a meaningful way. I’m excited to share this fun, creative way to socialize at a distance with middle school kids!
Zachery Byrd, Actor & Game Master
I am a NYC-based actor known for my work in Hustlers, Pledge, Blindspot, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Mr. Robot. I am also a certified nerd, serving as the Dungeon Master for the online game "Party Foul" and cherishing my status as the former state champion in Magic: the Gathering for North Carolina.
I received an Outstanding Teaching award from UGA and work as a tutor for students of all ages in Manhattan. I believe the collaborative storytelling and imaginative challenges within roleplaying games provide wonderful social tools for people of all ages.
Ready to Get Started? Check Out Our D&D Therapy FAQ
Q: Does my child need any previous experience playing Dungeons and Dragons?
A: No! Our intro groups are designed to be friendly to beginners.
Q: What’s the age range for these groups?
A: Middle schoolers (ages 11-14) are the best fit for our groups.
Q: How long are the groups?
A: Our Girls’ Friendship and All Genders groups run for 6 weeks. Each session is 90 minutes long. Our advanced groups are 2 hours long and meet occasionally.
Q: How much does the group cost?
A: Each 90-minute session is $75, and families reserve their spot for the 6-session series with a 50% deposit. Our advanced sessions are priced based on length.
Q: Who can join a D&D group?
A: We can meet with children from North Carolina, New York, and Florida.
Curious About Our Upcoming Adventures?
Drop me a line to get started in our next round of D&D groups, or hear what we have in the works for future sessions.
For more general information on Dungeons and Dragons in therapy, you can also check out my blog posts on the subject:
Dungeons and Dragons as Therapy? How This Popular Game Helps Mental Health
Would Your Child Be a Good Fit for Dungeons & Dragons Group Therapy?
Online Social Groups for Kids Can Help Beat the Pandemic Blues
Other Services for Kids and Teens in the Charlotte Area
In addition to our therapeutic games for Charlotte-area kids, we have launched a new project called Young Dragonslayers. These online games connect kids all over the country with like-minded peers who share similar geeky interests. These games aren’t facilitated by a therapist, and focus more on friendship building, SEL skills practice, and fun.
Looking for a children’s counselor? When I’m not running D&D therapy groups, I provide individual therapy for kids and preteens online and in person at my Davidson, NC office. Learn more about therapy with me below:
Child Counseling | Play Therapy | CBT for Anxiety | TF-CBT for Trauma | Online Therapy
