Over the six weeks, there will be six Dungeons & Dragons sessions. In these D&D game sessions the participant will be a member of a group of adventurers. Because our programming is an integrated model, the other participants in the group are a mix of therapy stream participants and others just signed up for the adventure. This is the core difference between our programming and others. Your child will be having real fun, with other peers who are also having fun. The roleplaying is the game, not a direction from a clinician who is sitting across the table from your child. The therapeutic goals for your child are worked into the story being directed by the Dungeon Master (like a game coach / director) who reports back their observations of how the “practicing” of therapeutic opportunities is going to the therapist. The therapist uses these observations to strategize and develop support for the child and their families on how to potentially integrate the learning into everyday life. Translating fictional achievements in the world of D&D into real life applications unique to each child and their needs.
 

It’s amazing what children can learn when they’re genuinely having fun. When children feel engaged, comfortable, and excited to participate, they become far more open to new ideas, challenges, and growth. We already recognize this in academics and other areas of learning. Growing in social skills and executive functioning are no different.

At Goblets & Goblins, we believe meaningful progress happens when fun is real, not forced. The outcomes we see time and time again reflect that. A child who is laughing, collaborating, and immersed in the experience is often far more ready to build confidence, flexibility, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities in a natural and lasting way.

At Heart & Mind Hub, we believe in empowering hearts to heal minds; changing the perception of what therapy is. Using the child's interest, therapeutic opportunities are integrated to that interest. In this case Dungeons & Dragons. This supports the unique mind of the child with growing skills like acceptance, advocacy for self, executive functioning and the skills to navigate peer interactions.

Other clinical approaches require roleplay, but the environment isn’t immersive in the same way. These approaches essentially ask your child to visualize an imaginary scenario with only a few details and somehow truly open their mind. Often these therapeutic approaches take breaks in the immersion of D&D to apply clinical reasoning to their learning within each session. This can, in our experience, interrupt the learning.  Dungeons & Dragons has a child become deeply immersed in the story, as their chosen character, with peers who are all playing as their own characters. This type of roleplaying is “real” in the child’s mind and it can, with clinical support, extend into the life outside of session. The character is real, has goals, is part of a group, and will develop in skills as the game progresses. Their character, that they are playing as, can do anything they want, and doesn’t have any of the limitations they may feel they have in real life.  Your child’s character is given opportunities to speak up, plan for the quest, negotiate with the shopkeeper for an essential item. In reflection, sometimes with clinician support, the child realizes that it was actually them (not their character) doing these things the whole time! This is where real progress is made!

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We have seen incredible progress in skills development, confidence, and attitude in so many of the children who have participated in our program. Our process seems shockingly simple, in some ways, and yet so unique in others. We believe that our results truly come from a fun first approach to therapy. The goals are real, the fun is genuine, and the progress made is truly remarkable.