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Play of all kinds has mental health benefits-it’s why play therapy has been used to help kids since the days of Freud, back when psychology was a new and emerging field. What Are the Mental Health Benefits of D&D? Thanks to pop culture, D&D is cool again, and being played by more young people than ever. Finally, podcasts like The Adventure Zone and Critical Role are bringing younger, more diverse people into a game that might have formerly been associated with older guys playing in a basement. Although it isn’t D&D specific, TV shows like Game of Thrones have also made fantasy stories cool, and helped to bring previously “nerdy” interests into the mainstream. Although the show is set in the 80s, the teen characters’ obsession with D&D has piqued the interest of 2020’s kids. Why is D&D Having a Moment Right Now?Īlthough D&D has always been popular in geek culture, it’s enjoying a moment right now due to the popularity of Netflix’s hit show, Stranger Things. This can lead to surprising, funny, and even touching moments during game play that could never have been planed in advance. It’s not competitive, and there are no winners or losers: everyone works together toward a common goal. To add an element of chance to the game, players then have to roll a die to see how well their plan works. Then, it’s up to the players to decide how their character would act in a given situation. The game is facilitated by a lead player, called the Dungeon Master, who describes situations for the players and asks them how they’d like to proceed. What makes D&D and other roleplaying games unique is that the players improvise to create a story together, and their choices affect what happens next. Unlike most other games, there is no set path to take, and characters don’t just progress along spaces on a board. Players in D&D take on the role of a character in a fantasy world, and they collaborate with other players to pursue a goal, collect treasure, or defeat bad guys. It was invented by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in 1974, so it’s been around for a while and has built up a large following of devoted players. What Is Dungeons and Dragons?ĭungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D, is the most popular tabletop roleplaying game on the planet. In this post I’ll unpack how D&D is used in group therapy, and why it can be a benefit for mental health. Dungeons and Dragons and other roleplaying games are increasingly popular tools in group therapy can help players improve their emotional and social well-being. Maybe it’s not surprising, then, that Dungeons and Dragons is experiencing a revival during the pandemic.Īlthough it may seem surprising at first, it makes sense that people are turning to D&D during stressful times. Many people are craving an escape from real-life stress and looking for ways to connect with friends that feel more personal than texting. "You need a diversity of tools, skills and experiences to succeed.During quarantine, many of us have been looking for activities to fill our stay-at-home time that feel more rewarding and productive than endless Netflix streaming. It's impossible, and much less fun, to do everything by yourself," he said. Teamwork is criticalĭr Olsen said it was vital for players to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates. "So that's really relevant to us in the workplace," Dr Olsen said. He said while there was not yet extensive research, studies so far showed the game helped children improve their communication, self-awareness and critical thinking skills, and adults' team-building abilities developed by playing it. "I was thinking, surely some of these skills are transferable to the workplace, and sure enough there have been people who have written about this," Dr Olsen said. The game centres on one player becoming a dungeon master who "sets the stage" while the other teammates work together to move through challenges set by the master. Jesse Olsen says to play the game well means understanding someone else's perspective.
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