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
Engagement and Motivation
Social and Communication Skills Development
Creativity and Imagination
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, a fully licensed therapist with 15+ years of experience as a player in TTRPGs and 4+ years of experience as a GM.
Desiree Ducharme
LCPC,LPC, LCMHC
Desiree is a neurodivergent therapist who specializes in working primarily with adolescents and adults, who are also often neurodivergent and/or LGBTQ+, and works from a compassionate and positive perspective to provide care and treatment. Oh, and she's a nerdy, book-loving cat lady.
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
Communication Skills
Social Skills and Peer Connection
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Conflict Resolution and Emotional Expression
Frustration and Distress Tolerance
Empathy and Perspective-Taking
Belonging
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. We are currently accepting referrals and scheduling consultations for interested players. Join us for an adventure that not only entertains but also heals.
New Hope's Therapeutic TTRPG Group is currently open to residents of DC, MD and VA of all ages and experience levels. Each group is composed of 4-5 players, based on demographics and clinical needs of the players. Sessions run from 1.5 to 2 hours each week (virtual or in-person, depending on the needs of the group) for 15 weeks at a time.
Cost of sessions — Self-pay only
$75 a session for 15 weeks (paid weekly) OR
an upfront fee of $975 for 15 weeks
