Current & Upcoming Campaigns:
Roll For Insight: Dungeons & Dragons | Summer 2026
- For more information, check out the flyer & submit a request to join!
Tabletop Role-Playing Game Groups
With Kaela Palmer, LMFT, Certified Game Master
Hello hello! Thank you for checking out my current tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) therapy groups. I (Kaela) am so excited to run these groups that combine my two favorite things- TTRPGS and therapy!
Running Therapeutic TTRPG groups is something I am super passionate about, but understand there may be curiosity about how all this works. To start, why would TTRPGs even be used in a therapeutic capacity? TTRPGs (Table Top Role Playing Games) are all about collaborative storytelling where players work together to create and explore their environment while also addressing a wide variety of challenges. Dungeons and Dragons is the most well known TTRPG, but there are SO many more to explore! My current favorites include Tales from the Loop, and Masks: A New Generation.
So what do TTRPGs have to do with therapy? Great question! TTRPGs are proving to be a useful tool for therapy groups. They foster connection with others, encourage problem solving, collaboration, emotional regulation, and self expression of the players. They also allow the therapist/GM (me!) to build therapeutic encounters into the game to help players face challenges specifically built for them to practice a wanted skill or process an idea/theme that may be cause challenging in life. If you'd like to read more about TTRPGs and therapy you can check out this article from the American Psychological Association!
For those of you new to TTRPGs or interested in learning more about what these groups look like, I’ve answered a few FAQs down below. Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you have additional questions or if you are interested in joining a group but don't see one that fits your schedule.
I hope to see you on a future adventure!
TTRPG Group Therapy FAQs
What is a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG)?
TTRPGs are all about collaborative storytelling where players work together to create and explore their environment while also addressing a overcoming a wide variety of challenges. Dungeons and Dragons is the most well known TTRPG, but there are SO many more to explore! My current favorites include Tales from the Loop, and Masks: A New Generation.
What do TTRPGs have to do with therapy?
TTRPGs are proving to be a useful tool for therapy groups! They foster connection with others, encourage problem solving, collaboration, emotional regulation, and self expression of the players. They also allow the therapist/GM (me!) to build therapeutic encounters into the game to help players face challenges specifically built for them to practice a wanted skill. You can read more about the use of therapeutic TTRPGs here!
How long does a TTRPG group last?
The length of a campaign can vary greatly depending on the needs of the group, but I plan for the entire campaign to be finished in 8 sessions.
How frequent do group meet? How long are group sessions?
Groups will meet once a week for 2 hours.
What does a typical session look like?
In a normal gameplay session the group will start by reviewing past sessions and goals, followed by about 1.5 hours of gameplay, with a 20-30 minute debrief after each session. In the very first session, also called “session 0” the entire 2 hours will be spent reviewing boundaries for gameplay, discussing character creation, and reviewing goals for the group.
How does registering for a group work?
Current clients can discuss interest directly with me (Kaela) and we can decide if the group would be a good fit. New clients will complete a 30 minute screening call with me to ensure they will be a good fit before joining.
How does online therapy work?
We use the HIPAA compliant version of Google Meet to conduct sessions, which ensures that the connection is encrypted and safe. Your therapist will send a secure link to the session a few minutes beforehand. Google Meet is free for clients to use, and can be accessed via your favorite browser on most computers. There is a free Google Meet app that can be downloaded on most tablets and phones as well. The therapist will always ensure that the area they are located in is soundproof. You, however, are welcome to be anywhere you’d like! Read more about how online therapy works here.
Do I need to attend every session?
In a perfect world, yes. However, I totally understand that schedules change and sometimes we have to miss a session! If you need to miss a session, gameplay will continue on as planned and the group will catch you up in the next one. If multiple people are out at the same time, the remaining players can decide to continue as planned, or engage in a “flashback” session where important themes and experiences from their characters’ pasts are explored.
How much does it cost, and can I use insurance to pay for sessions?
Sessions can be billed directly to insurance for those with Aetna, Anthem BCBS, or Tricare. Out of pocket fee is $70 per session.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you are unable to make it to session please let me know 24 hours prior. Late cancellations or no-shows will be charged $70 and cannot be billed to insurance.