What is an RPG? Is that like... Dungeons and Dragons?
RPG's (Role Play Games), also called TTRPG's (Table Top Role Play Games) are a type of game played by a group of people either around a table or online, in which the players create and control fictional characters to tell a story, solve puzzles, and overcome obstacles. Players describe their character's actions through spoken word and will sometimes use game pieces to represent their character's movements on a map. The game is led by the Game Master (GM), who narrates the story, plays the NPC's (non-play characters), and presents challenges to the players. Here's a quick video that goes over most of the basics. D&D is probably the most popular RPG, but far from the only one in existence. We utilize a game called Critical Core, which was designed to be therapeutic and has many similarities to D&D. It is important to note that this particular RPG emphasizes cooperative play rather than competitive play.
Does my child need to be experienced at playing RPG's in order to participate?
Nope! New players are welcome! We will spend our first session (Session Zero) going over rules, game play basics, and character building.
My child loves RPG's! Can they bring their own character sheet, dice, equipment, etc?
What will my child get out of this group?
RPG groups, in general, benefit players in a few specific ways:
A. Enhanced Social Skills: They will engage in cooperative play, which enables participants to practice turn taking, appropriate expression of ideas, assertiveness, and collaborating with peers. Students will develop strong interpersonal skills, leading to improved relationships with peers and teachers. This, in turn, will contribute to a more positive and inclusive school environment, and enhance readiness to learn.
B. Increased Resilience: Engaging in therapeutic role-play will empower students to face challenges, build resilience, and cope with stress in a constructive manner. RPG’s naturally prompt kids to creatively solve problems, which is excellent practice for real life dilemmas. Kids often leave games feeling strong, confident, and having a sense of control, in stark contrast to a world where they may sometimes feel powerless.
C. Emotional Regulation: The program will focus on emotional awareness and regulation, providing students with tools to manage their feelings of excitement, anger, and frustration effectively.
D. Sense of Belonging: The group will foster a sense of belonging among participants, creating a supportive community where students can freely express themselves. Since the game is cooperative, there is no “winner or loser” and they must work together to achieve goals.
E. Identity Development: Kids engaging in these groups can safely “try on” various characteristics and social approaches through their characters. Childhood and adolescence are naturally an ongoing process of self-discovery, and this group offers kids a safe space to learn about what kind of person they want to be (or not be) in the world.
That's great that your child has some RPG experience! We will be using pre-established character sheets, but they will be able to choose from the wide variety of options available and customize many of the details. The character sheets are mostly just for stats (how strong, charismatic, dexterous a character is). We use these sheets mainly to save time and make things a little less complex for the GM when navigating battles. Kids will choose many important aspects of their characters such as name, backstory, personality, physical appearance, and which type of weapon or spells they use. For example, the character sheet might say that your character is an Elven Wizard, but you get to choose if he is shy or outgoing, serious or funny, tall or short, etc. You also get to choose spells from a pre-determined list.
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As far as equipment goes, I supply all mini's, maps, and dice, but kids are welcome to bring their own dice or mini if they would like!
How much do sessions cost?
Cost per session is $45. We ask that you pay in full by check or credit card for the 10 week series prior to the start of the first group. If you require a slightly altered payment schedule, please email me.
Can I pay with my health insurance?
Unfortunately, I cannot accept insurance at this time. You may wish to submit a claim with your insurance company to be reimbursed for Out of Network services. I am happy to provide you with the appropriate documentation necessary to do this. There is no guarantee that your insurance company will accept this request.
My child doesn't have a mental health diagnosis. Can they still play?
Absolutely! All children are still learning and growing and can benefit from the guided social interactions they'll have during group.
Do you offer any scholarships or sliding scale?
Currently, I do not have the capacity to offer sliding scale spots; however, it is my hope to be able to offer more equitable fees soon. Please reach out if you'd like to be on a waitlist for a future spot.
How are sessions structured?
I'm worried about violence. I heard D&D is a violent game.
There can be elements of violence in RPG games, yes. However, our module takes into account the young ages of the participants. Players will be faced with NPC villains and monsters. They choose how to approach each challenge and sometimes the choice will be to fight. Players might have characters that wield a sword or use a bow. We do not do guns at all, as it would not make sense in the narrative. We set a firm rule that players do not attack each other. If you have more specific questions about this topic, please email me.
How do I know if this is a good fit for my child?
If you're unsure about whether or not your child would like this group, my suggestion is to search up some videos online describing RPG's and watch them with your child. If they express some interest and have more questions, I'm happy to help provide answers.
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My other main consideration is safety. If your child struggles to remain physically regulated during times of stress, this group may not be appropriate. If your child is prone to running away or physical aggression toward others, this group is not an appropriate fit.
Our very first session is called "Session Zero." It's important to note that there is no actual gameplay in this first meeting. We will spend time getting to know each other, learning the rules of the game, and building characters. I have a flow chart that makes character creation super easy for kids that are new to RPG's. We will also spend time setting behavioral expectations and establishing group norms. We will create a "No" list which will detail all of the themes and ideas that players absolutely do NOT want to encounter during play or things that will trigger them to feel very upset or scared. Players write down their "no's" privately and turn them in to me to keep things anonymous.
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After that, the following nine 90 minute sessions will be structured as follows:
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Check-in (10 mins): Kids will answer two questions out loud with the group. Typically, one question is about themselves and the other is about their character- (What is your favorite food? What is your character's favorite food?) They always have the option to pass, but if they can answer both questions, they are rewarded with a free "do-over" chance to use during the game.
Game Play (65 mins): We use our Critical Core module and play!
Check Out (15 mins): Kids are asked to:
-Highlight favorite parts of the game, and acknowledge cool things that our teammates did during gameplay.
-Name some things that were challenging or hard.
-Express hopes and make predictions about next time.
The final game's Checkout will be slightly longer and will involve more reflective questions.
Phone
802-448-2203