Overview: Implementing Therapeutic Role-playing Games

Transformative Game Design 2

Overview: Implementing Therapeutic Role-playing Games

Unit 3 Overview

In Unit 3, we will discuss considerations when implementing leisure role-playing games for therapeutic purposes. We will explore accounts from therapists about their implementation practices. We will consider any differences we might notice between recommendations for leisure and therapeutic implementation.

This week, we will cover:

Accounts of therapeutic implementation

Note: Some of the materials below may not be available outside of this course and the Uppsala Library for free. We are providing them as part of your education within this course. Do not distribute PDFs.

Required materials:

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Angie Bandhoesingh, Simon Brind, Elektra Diakolambrianou, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Felipe García-Soriano, Alessandro Giovannucci, Josephine Rydberg, and Josefin Westborg. “Chapter 4: Theory and Practice in Facilitating Transformative Role-playing Games.” In Implementing Transformative Role-playing Games, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, Simon Brind, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, 191-248. Transformative Play Research 2. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Uppsala University Press.

Recommended materials:

Videos:

Therapeutic Facilitation

Davis, Adam, et al. 2018. “PAX Unplugged Panel | Roll for Healing: Therapeutic Game Master Round Table.” Game to Grow. YouTube, September 7.
Davis, Adam, et al. 2019. “Therapeutic Game Master Round Table | PAX South Panel 2019.” Game to Grow. YouTube, September 7.
Davis, Adam, et al. 2018. “Roll for Healing – Therapeutic Game Master Round Table [PAX West 2018].” Game to Grow. YouTube, September 7.
Davis, Adam, et al. 2019. “PAX West 2019 | Roll for Healing: Therapeutic Game Master Round Table.” Game to Grow. YouTube, September 12.
Kilmer, Elizabeth D., et al. 2020. “Roll for Healing: Therapeutic Game Master Round Table (PAX Online 2020).” PAX Australia. YouTube, Jan. 28.

Readings:

Deroling:

Arts Wellbeing Collective. “A Pocket Guide for Actors to Post-Show De-Role.” TheatreArtLife., October 21.
Ayad, Violette. 2021. “How to De-Role: 8 Techniques for Getting Out of Character.” StageMilk, February 8.
Gualeni, Stefano, Daniel Vella, and Johnathan Harrington. 2017. “De-Roling from Experiences and Identities in Virtual Worlds.” Journal of Virtual Worlds Research 10, no. 2 (August).
Ihidero, Victor Osae. 2021. “Parting with the Part: Actors’ Approach at De-roling in A.B.U Studio Theatre.” International Journal of Current Research 24 (June): 89-103.
Lassken, Savannagh. 2016. “Persona Non Grata: A Theoretical Exploration of De-Roling in Drama Therapy.” Master’s Thesis, Concordia University.

Effects Studies:

Abbott, Matthew S., Kimberly A. Stauss, and Allen F. Burnett. 2021. “Table-top Role-playing Games as a Therapeutic Intervention with Adults to Increase Social Connectedness.” Social Work with Groups 45, no. 1 (16-21).
Daniau, Stéphane. 2016. “The Transformative Potential of Role-playing Games: From Play Skills to Human Skills.” Simulation & Gaming 47, no. 4: 423–444.
Fein, Elizabeth. 2016. “Making Meaningful Worlds: Role-playing Subcultures and the Autism Spectrum.” Culture, Medicine, Psychiatry 39, no. 2: 299-321.
Gutierrez, Raul. 2016. “Therapy & Dragons: A look into the Possible Applications of the Possible Applications of Table Top Role Playing Games in Therapy with Adolescents.” Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations 527: 1-39.
Henrich, S., and R. Worthington. 2021. “Let Your Clients Fight Dragons: A Rapid Evidence Assessment Regarding the Therapeutic Utility of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’.” Journal of Creativity in Mental Health: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1987367
Katō, Kōhei. “Employing Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs) in Social Communication Support Measures for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Japan: A Hands-On Report on the Use of Leisure Activities.” Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies 0: 23-28.
Pitt, Caroline, Katharine Chen, Jennifer Rubin, Dominic Gibson, and Sam Bindman. 2023. “How Youth Can Build Social and Emotional Skills with Tabletop Role-playing Games: Research Findings and Actionable Insights.” White paper, Foundry10.
Rosselet, Julien G., and Sarah D. Stauffer. 2013. “Using Group Role-playing Games with Gifted Children and Adolescents: A Psychosocial Intervention Model.” International Journal of Play Therapy 22, no. 4 (December 1).
Varrette, Matthew, Jack Berkenstock, Adams Greenwood-Ericksen, Anthony Ortega, Faith Michaels, Veronica Pietrobon, and Marc Schodorf. 2022. “Exploring the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Role-playing Games as an Intervention for Adults with Social Anxiety.” Social Work with Groups: 1-17.