How Role-Playing Games Give Your Kid a Mental Health Boost

“Play of all kinds, of course, has a lot of benefits, says Katie Lear, a child therapist in Davidson, North Carolina, who specializes in play therapy and the therapeutic use of RPGs. ‘Play helps us assimilate information we’ve learned, test new ways of behaving before using them in real life, hone our social skills, and boost our creative problem-solving abilities.’

Plus, games like D&D give players unlimited creative freedom. ‘RPGs give children a chance to feel strong and all-powerful in a world that often leaves them feeling powerless,’ says Lear, especially during the pandemic restrictions. ‘They can practice being leaders, safely vent aggression, or speak up for themselves assertively while in character. Because the game is ‘pretend’ it can feel less threatening to try out new skills.’”

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“Katie Lear…is a licensed clinical mental health counselor specializing in childhood anxiety and OCD who launched her own virtual D&D therapy program, Young Dragonslayers, when the pandemic began. Lear says that a lot of young people who need some support don’t necessarily require intense, or expensive, one-on-one counseling. What they need is a space to learn that what they are going through is normal.

Unlike real life, where actions have serious consequences, Lear calls D&D ‘a playground to try out new ways to interact with people,’ where the stakes aren’t so high that kids can’t recover from a mistake. Even after kids returned to in-person learning, Lear’s D&D program has remained popular, as many kids still suffer from a deficit in SEL skills.”

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“Lear launched her own virtual D&D therapy program when the pandemic began, and now runs eight different groups with kids ages 11 to 15 from all over the country. She says the game provides a safe space for kids who struggle with social interactions, who can dive straight into an adventure with fellow players without awkward small talk. And since players take on pretend characters, they can try out new ways to interact with peers and say and do things that might be too scary in their normal lives.

‘There is evidence that the skills they practice in role-playing game settings do generalize to outside life,’ Lear says. ‘Getting practice in the game can become habitual outside of it.’ She says kids often channel their character when dealing with a difficult situation, and that many kids have started their own clubs at school, using the language of D&D to connect with peers and make friends.”

Interview with Katie Lear, Counselor, Therapist, and Founder of Young Dragonslayers!

“There are a lot of reasons why kids (and their parents) might be looking for online ways to socialize. Many of our players are looking for “their people.” Sometimes that’s because of life circumstances, like homeschooling or a recent move. Other times they’re just looking for other kids with similarly niche interests who are ready to geek out over anime or Greek mythology.

We also get lots of kids who are simply dying to play D&D: they’ve practically memorized the entire Player’s Handbook but are still waiting for their time to shine. D&D is a big time commitment and not everybody can convince their friends to do it! I love that we can take these super devoted, committed kids and get them together to play a campaign through to the end…that doesn’t always happen in “real life” adult games so it’s really satisfying to see stories reach a solid conclusion.”

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“Zachery Byrd DMs these games, because he’s a veteran geek and performer. Zack holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Georgia and has appeared in films and TV shows including Hustlers, Blindspot, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He’s also a professional game master.

‘…I harnessed the power of my imaginative, communicative, and problem-solving skills just by having fun and being willing to jump in. I always promised that I would extend the same offer to young folks that was offered to me, because despite what the ‘older kids’ thought, it was the PERFECT time for me to start playing D&D.’ Zack hasn’t stopped since.”

Featured Project: Young Dragonslayers

”Despite the growing popularity of Stranger Things and actual play podcasts, it can still be tough to find programming that caters to kids, especially if you’re outside of a big city. I often hear parents lament that their child has developed a passion for D&D, but can’t find anyone to play with.

Maybe their child worked hard to start a D&D club at school, only to have nobody consistently show up. Or, they’ve begged their friends and siblings to play with them, but now they’re stuck being the DM forever. I’ve even heard of multiple kids resorting to creating their own solo RPGs so that they have a way to play! As creative as that is, it’s always nice to have a community of friends who ‘get it.’”