[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”28px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Group therapy can be more engaging than you ever imagined!\u00a0Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs)\u00a0are a form of roleplay where players get to design their own characters, and participate in an unfolding story by describing their characters\u2019 actions and rolling dice to determine the outcome of those actions. TTRPGs provide a safe space for players to embrace their creativity, develop social skills, and learn more about themselves.<\/p>\n
The benefits of role-playing games can be life-changing\u2014especially for neurodivergent, highly sensitive, and twice exceptional clients. Autistic players in particular can benefit from having a space to explore who they are, and how they want to engage with the world around them.<\/p>\n
One TTRPG we\u2019ve been loving here at TheraThrive is\u00a0City of Mist\u2014a game about an enchanted city where characters are part human, part myth. Players get to select a fictional character to base themselves on, and inherit the powers, values, and hardships of that character. As they begin unraveling the city\u2019s mysteries, they must decide who they are and what they stand for.<\/p>\n
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Many autistic people are highly sensitive, and can struggle with emotional regulation more than allistic (non-autistic) individuals.\u00a0Emotional regulation\u00a0is the ability to navigate intense emotions without becoming overpowered or resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Factors that can help with emotional regulation include positive self-talk, flexibility, and the ability to reach out for support.<\/p>\n
In TTRPGs, players undergo a number of situations which challenge them to cope with frustration, perfectionism, and disappointment.\u00a0Despite players\u2019 best efforts, their characters sometimes experience setbacks and loss. In\u00a0City of Mist, characters are torn between the\u00a0ordinary\u00a0and\u00a0mythical\u00a0parts of their personas\u2014between their\u00a0real-life\u00a0identities, and the legends unfolding beneath the surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The challenges they face teach them to adapt to changing conditions, and encourage them to rise to their destinies. Many players take on issues which mirror ones they are facing outside of the game, and practice navigating their emotions from a comfortable distance.\u00a0Within the safety of the game, players get a chance to see how setbacks make their characters stronger, and learn to accept success and failure as equally important parts of life.<\/p>\n
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In everyday life, each of us have a number of roles we step into at different times.\u00a0For adolescents, some of these roles might be\u00a0autistic, gifted, outcast,\u00a0student,\u00a0friend,\u00a0artist, or\u00a0geek. As we grow up, we get to decide which of these roles we want to hold onto, and which we want to let go of.<\/p>\n
Autistic individuals are often pressured to fit into societal roles that don\u2019t fit them.\u00a0They are surrounded by unspoken social rules and expectations, and can sometimes experience an overwhelming pressure to fit in.<\/p>\n
TTRPGs create space for players to try on different roles, which might feel scary, ambitious, unrealistic, or even frowned upon in real life.\u00a0An RPG character can be any gender, have any job, dress in any way, and have unlimited interests and motivations. In\u00a0City of Mist, each character has specific strengths and weaknesses, core identity traits, and a defining event that shaped the course of their life. The world of the game becomes a nonjudgemental place for players to experiment with these attributes, free from the constraints of a society which seeks to put us all in boxes.<\/p>\n
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In a society dominated by neurotypical social expectations, it can be difficult for autistic individuals to cultivate meaningful friendships and relationships.\u00a0Many autistic people struggle with social skills, or have a difficult time meeting like-minded peers\u2014despite having so much to offer.<\/p>\n
In TTRPGs, players learn to connect with each other outside of the constrictive norms of many real-life social settings.\u00a0As part of a larger group, they have the chance to navigate both fantastical and mundane situations as a team. Each player is able to see the unique contributions they bring to the table, and receives appreciation and positive feedback from peers.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0City of Mist, players bond over their adventures, and confide in one another about the hardships they experience. At the start of each round, they answer questions about their characters\u2019 motivations, and\u2014over time\u2014develop a larger emotional vocabulary.\u00a0They form attachments to other players, navigate complex social dynamics, and personally evolve as their characters grow and develop within the world of the game.\u00a0These skills can be brought back into daily life, where social stakes are higher and bonding experiences of this kind are harder to come by.<\/p>\n
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Interested in grabbing a pair of dice and joining us? Click\u00a0here<\/a> to learn more about our RPG group offerings and other groups, and click here<\/a> to schedule an intake with us here!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A big part of autism is the cultivation of\u00a0special interests\u2014interests which come with higher focus, greater dedication, and more intensity than those of neurotypicals.\u00a0For example, it is not uncommon for folks on the spectrum to watch a beloved film or TV series until it is memorized, engage in extremely in-depth research on specific topics, or commit an impressive amount of special interest-related facts to memory.<\/p>\n Because allistic individuals tend to engage with interests at a more shallow level, it can be hard for autistic folks to find an outlet for their enthusiasm.\u00a0TTRPGs provide folks on the spectrum with an opportunity to explore special interests in an engaging and immersive way.<\/p>\n Because\u00a0City of Mist\u00a0characters are based on figures from fiction, myth, and legend, players are able to embody fictional characters from their favorite TV series, video games, books, comics, and even albums.\u00a0Players have a chance to not only share about their interests with supportive peers, but to actually step into the worlds that so fascinate them, and get to know themselves through the framework of their special interests.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What are tabletop role-playing games? Group therapy can be more engaging than you ever imagined!\u00a0Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs)\u00a0are a form of roleplay where players get to design their own characters, and participate in an unfolding story by describing their characters\u2019 actions and rolling dice to determine the outcome of those actions. TTRPGs provide a safe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1377833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27,29,30,26],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98068"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98068"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1378047,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98068\/revisions\/1378047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1377833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therathrive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}TTRPGs can help players explore their creativity and special interests<\/h2>\n