Level up your mental health through D&D group therapy! Build confidence, and practice boundaries and communication skills by Sarah Ziske, LPC-Associate (supervised by Dr. Jessica Endres).
At Luxx Therapy, we combine the power of group therapy with the creativity of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) to help you grow in a way that feels more like an adventure than traditional therapy. In our guided sessions, you’ll explore challenges, try new behaviors, and practice real world skills, all through the lens of a custom character designed to reflect aspects of yourself. A licensed therapist and certified Therapeutic Game Master will guide the group through a safe, structured experience where in-game challenges translate into meaningful progress in everyday life.
Currently, our Therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons groups are open to adults (18+) with some familiarity with the game. We also accept inquiries for a waitlist, and once enough interest is received, additional age groups will be scheduled.
Roll for initiative to begin the quest- where your character’s adventure meets your personal development.
The Therapeutic Game master seamlessly blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles to make sessions not only fun but also a unique, growth-focused therapy environment.
Key ACT principles you’ll experience in sessions:
Acceptance: In the game, you will face unexpected challenges and setbacks with your character, a perfect opportunity to notice your reactions - frustration, excitement, or nervousness- without judging them. This practice helps you acknowledge your thoughts and feelings as they are, and stay engaged in the adventure.
Values: As you play, you’ll have chances to make choices for your character that reflect what matters most to you, like collaboration, courage, or creativity. This helps you practice aligning actions with your values, even when it feels challenging.
Responding to yourself: Throughout gameplay, you’ll naturally practice being present, noticing your thoughts, and stepping back from unhelpful patterns. This helps you experiment with new ways of responding, both in-game and in real life.
Through guided gameplay, you’ll discover new ways to respond to challenges, gain tools for everyday situations, and build self confidence as you roll the dice.
Our certified Therapeutic Game Master has been playing tabletop role-playing games since 2017 and brings that passion into a therapeutic setting: creating sessions that are fun, engaging, and meaningful.
Our values guide everything we do at Luxx Therapy, including the group. We CARE:
Compassion: We understand that trying new strategies in-game or experimenting with social skills can feel intimidating. You’ll be met with empathy, encouragement, and support in every session.
Accountability: We are transparent about our approach and expertise, so you can trust that the group is facilitated ethically, professionally, and with your growth in mind.
Relationships: We create a safe, welcoming space where you can connect with your group, explore challenges through your character, and practice real-world skills in a collaborative setting.
Expertise: Our Therapeutic Game Master and licensed therapist brings both clinical and gameplay experience to apply structured gameplay and guided reflection to help you translate in-game experiences into meaningful personal growth
Therapeutic tabletop role-playing uses games like Dungeons & Dragons as a tool for growth and skill-building. Role-playing itself is a therapeutic intervention: practicing new skills, experimenting with behaviors, and exploring different parts of yourself. Working in a group also helps you develop communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills. Many challenges in the game encourage creative thinking, flexibility, perspective taking, which can translate into real-life emotional and social regulation. Each adventure is tailored to group goals, with sessions focusing on themes like self-confidence, communication, boundary-setting, and handling confrontation, all while keeping the experience engaging and fun.
Currently, our Therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons groups are open to adults (18+) with some familiarity with the game, but don’t worry if you’re new to D&D. We’ll guide you step by step and make sure you’re comfortable before diving in.
Nope! We’ll create your character together during the first session. Each character is designed with a therapeutic purpose in mind, reflecting aspects of yourself you’d like to explore or strengthen. For example, if you want to work on social skills, you might choose a bard with high charisma to practice communication and confidence through your character in the game.
