Mindfulness in Daily Life: Cultivating Mindful Engagement to Improve Wellbeing
3 - (SYM 19) Rolling for Growth: Integrating Therapeutic Role-playing Games into Group Therapy Practices
Friday, November 21, 2025
5:41 PM - 6:00 PM CST
Location: Celestin D&E, Level 3
Keywords: Mindfulness, Exercise, Treatment Development Recommended Readings: Schneider, J., Malinowski, P., Watson, P. M., & Lattimore, P. (2019). The role of mindfulness in physical activity: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 20(3), 448-463., Arenas, D. L., Viduani, A., & Araujo, R. B. (2022). Therapeutic use of role-playing game (RPG) in mental health: A scoping review. Simulation & Gaming, 53(3), 285-311., Spijkerman, M. P. J., Pots, W. T. M., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2016). Effectiveness of online mindfulness-based interventions in improving mental health: A review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 45, 102-114., Proietti, S. S., Chiavarini, M., Iorio, F., Buratta, L., Pocetta, G., Carestia, R., Gobbetti, C., Lupi, C., Consenza, A., Sorci, G., Mazzechi, C., Biscarini, A., & de Waure, C. (2024). The role of a mindful movement-based program (Movimento Biologico) in health promotion: results of a pre-post intervention study. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1372660.,
BattleRobin Counseling PLLC Minneapolis, MN, United States
Abstract Body Individuals seeking mental health support often encounter barriers related to low engagement, diminished interpersonal connections, and limited belief in their ability to effect meaningful change. Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games (TA-RPGs), notably utilizing the game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), provide an innovative modality for addressing these challenges in a dynamic, experiential group therapy setting. TA-RPGs harness the immersive storytelling and collaborative problem-solving aspects of tabletop role-playing games to foster emotional resilience, interpersonal effectiveness, empathy, and psychological flexibility. This presentation will introduce attendees to the foundational principles and therapeutic mechanisms of TA-RPGs, with an emphasis on their practical application in outpatient settings. As a certified therapeutic Game Master with nearly a decade of experience facilitating TA-RPG groups, the presenter will describe the structure and clinical integration strategies of D&D group therapy, including session design, in-game therapeutic interventions, and approaches to post-session processing. An overview of current research supporting TA-RPG efficacy will be provided, highlighting benefits such as increased engagement, improved frustration tolerance, strengthened interpersonal skills, and enhanced perspective-taking abilities. Clinicians will leave equipped with actionable insights on how to integrate TA-RPG methods into their own clinical practice, along with practical considerations for group formation, therapeutic pacing, narrative adaptation, and ethical guidelines. Future directions for clinical practice, training opportunities, and research implications will also be discussed, positioning TA-RPGs as a valuable addition to contemporary therapeutic offerings.
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