It's official, d&d is a form of therapy. I've known this for years, it's my only source of true relief from everything stressful in my life, but ironically the more stressed i am the harder it is to do.
TTRPGs can be therapeutic, but calling D&D a form of therapy outright is dangerous, IMO. You're hanging a LOT of responsibility on the people you play with if you come into a game with this presumption.
There is a difference between something being therapeutic and something being therapy. Don't stop playing D&D, OP, but especially make sure that you have a therapist or at least other outlets if therapy isn't possible. Otherwise you can inadvertently push emotional labor onto others unconsensually.
OK, so, this is entirely off-topic but just hearing someone mention dyscalculia is mind-blowing to me. I've heard WAY too many people, even professionals, claim that it doesn't exist or that it's just dyslexia that the person is just not realizing they do it with words too. Just... hearing someone say it as its own thing honestly makes me happy.
I love hearing about how hyperfixations can help us learn and grow! Also 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻to removing psychobabble from interpersonal communication, what great insight.
Oh snap! I just looked at her book a month or so ago. I've been strongly considering making the purchase. I also like your wording for "I don't have the spell slots for that right now." I might use that with my D&D friends instead of being a yes man all the time.
@@Jallorn The traditional term is "Spoons," based on something called "Spoon Theory." My wife and I started using "Spell Slots" instead of "Spoons" some time ago because, well, when you meet your significant other at a table top RPG that's how things play out... ;)
@@TheConfessor Oh, yes, I'm familiar with spoons, didn't catch the context you were referring to in the video. I'm struggling a lot with my focus these days.
Honestly, spell slot is a better analogy than spoons, because sometime you have three level 1 spell slots remaining and one level 2, but you're stuck because you need to do a level 3 task and now you regret being a wizard and not a sorcerer who can convert spell slots into sorcery points
I've been in two sessions of normal D&D at my local library, and I already feel the therapeutic potential. Even building my character, I was subconsciously kind of basing him off of me, and in combat having failed dice rolls and kind of shrugging it off with a "so it goes," makes me wonder why I can't do that with myself. I'm not sure if I would be down for a group therapy D&D group, but I would love to talk with a therapist about my experiences in D&D after the sessions, if that makes sense.
This is so up my alley omg. I have ASD, ADHD, and a panic disorder, and I just finally started getting into DND. It's been helping me out after years of self-isolation and has made it easier to be myself around others. I'm definitely picking Dr.Connell's book up ASAP and sharing it with my ND nerd friends :)
As a DM, I tend to try to stray away from being therapy, because I got my own shit, and I’m less than qualified to help anyone else through their own stuff.
yeah it's definitely something to seek out from professionals, not treating your DM like a therapist or your players like clients Thank you for watching!
Love this. DMing is therapeutic for me, allowing me and my table to explore situations & challenges in a low stakes environment. It's those small steps within that safe space that prepares us for real world challenges. Love the editing and your opening. Those skills alone will take you far. Keep at it friend.
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but she also teaches in an online school called Geek Therapeutics. I took the course "How to be a Therapeutic Game Master" which is aimed at both Game Masters and Therapists of differing stripe, and it was pretty interesting!
I've been curious about this since you posted your request for questions. Very well done and interesting. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the book.
As someone who has done a whole lot of therapy and a whole lot of D&D, this definitely plays into it. Also, I have found that role-playing, particularly in TTRPGs, allows exploration of self in a way that we don't get in our day-to-day lives. There's a lot to be said for the value of that as an AuDHD person -- I learned how to be a person based on how my characters behaved and I've used that tool a lot. Pretending to be my character when dealing with something has also been helpful because my characters are often so much more confident, gentler, smarter, etc. than I am, and channeling that has been transformative in my daily life.
> Pretending to be my character when dealing with something Oooooh yeah. I have an Uncle Iroh cleric that helps me navigate conflict and stay compassionate and merciful when I have really tense conversations. Aspirational character building lol
Ahhhh the fantasy of getting a group of actual people to sit down for a couple hours to play something none of us have played together before. 😮💨 Great video, just wish the people in my life would be more open minded about trying something like a one-shot. Really not looking to "go out and make new friends" and personally not getting much out of my ADHD therapy these days. Just kinda in a funk. Thanks for making the vids you're making and promoting these healthy, well-informed, prosocial perspectives. 👍 I'd support you financially if I could. Still trying to get myself sorted at this point tho so yeah... 😮💨 Happy holidays BTW hope you have (had) some good ones!
Watching and sharing the videos is a great form of support, thank you very much! I hope that between Baldur's Gate 3, the D&D movie, and every other element of the pop culture wave of D&D, your friends get curious enough to partake.
This was great! Really insightful. I may have to see about getting my hands (or ears, depending) on her book! Also, I'm totally using "spell slots" in lieu of "spoons", it's too perfect.
Amazing, thank you for the insights! As a DM with ADHD this hits so many notes. I'm also a qualified psychotherapist, which I volunteer with in my spare time, interestingly I use DnD as an element of my own self care, I wonder how it would change the game for me if I were to use it in practice too.
On the whole you won't be good at GMing your first time doing it: I've literally GMd 3 times, and I only JUST NOW figured out how to make good stat blocks... XD
@@TheADHDM I mean... I wish I'd figured it out sooner though. XD It's difficult. Especially when you're rushed. I tried to do this whole like, borrow from existing stat blocks thing, that didn't work, and I did try doing some from the ground up before, but I always forgot details, so this time when I got details right I just copy pasted them elsewhere and adjusted them as needed. Basically: something in my brain unlocked and I was given way too much power. XD
Replying to myself because I thought of something interesting to say. I've found, after learning a hole bunch of life skills like conflict management, leadership, debriefing, and communication that its all D&D and D&D is all of it. When people have problems with another player what they really need to be doing is learning general conflict management and then applying it to D&D. D&D isn't a special beast. Its just a microcosm of any workplace, community, or social group. Well, it might not even be a microcosm if your D&D group is your social group.
> it might not even be a microcosm The jobs where I've played D&D with my coworkers have been way easier to navigate, socially. I wish it was a common practice
I use a TTRPG that I've created and refined over the years to teach English, Spanish, and writing (and of course just for fun, too) but I've been having trouble finding students/players lately. Any suggestions?
I rely heavily on my friends for a rotating core D&D group, but I have had some luck playing in other games, and running whatever not-D&D thing I want to run when the DM needs a break
It's official, d&d is a form of therapy. I've known this for years, it's my only source of true relief from everything stressful in my life, but ironically the more stressed i am the harder it is to do.
> the more stressed i am the harder it is to do
ain't that just the way!! Thank you for watching
TTRPGs can be therapeutic, but calling D&D a form of therapy outright is dangerous, IMO. You're hanging a LOT of responsibility on the people you play with if you come into a game with this presumption.
There is a difference between something being therapeutic and something being therapy.
Don't stop playing D&D, OP, but especially make sure that you have a therapist or at least other outlets if therapy isn't possible. Otherwise you can inadvertently push emotional labor onto others unconsensually.
@@Kholan95 actually if OP is expressly engaging in TTRPGs for the purpose of therapy, they should probably stop playing until they can get it sorted.
OK, so, this is entirely off-topic but just hearing someone mention dyscalculia is mind-blowing to me. I've heard WAY too many people, even professionals, claim that it doesn't exist or that it's just dyslexia that the person is just not realizing they do it with words too. Just... hearing someone say it as its own thing honestly makes me happy.
> even professionals, claim it doesn't exist
That's so frustrating! I'm glad you felt seen when Dr. Connell mentioned it. Thank you for watching
I love hearing about how hyperfixations can help us learn and grow! Also 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻to removing psychobabble from interpersonal communication, what great insight.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Oh snap! I just looked at her book a month or so ago. I've been strongly considering making the purchase. I also like your wording for "I don't have the spell slots for that right now." I might use that with my D&D friends instead of being a yes man all the time.
The audiobook is awesome if that kind of thing suits your needs
Thank you for watching!
My wife and I have been saying "Spell Slots" for years and to hear both of you use that term is so reassuring.
That's so great! Thank you for watching 😃
Wait... is that not a term?
@@Jallorn The traditional term is "Spoons," based on something called "Spoon Theory." My wife and I started using "Spell Slots" instead of "Spoons" some time ago because, well, when you meet your significant other at a table top RPG that's how things play out... ;)
@@TheConfessor Oh, yes, I'm familiar with spoons, didn't catch the context you were referring to in the video. I'm struggling a lot with my focus these days.
Honestly, spell slot is a better analogy than spoons, because sometime you have three level 1 spell slots remaining and one level 2, but you're stuck because you need to do a level 3 task and now you regret being a wizard and not a sorcerer who can convert spell slots into sorcery points
I've been in two sessions of normal D&D at my local library, and I already feel the therapeutic potential. Even building my character, I was subconsciously kind of basing him off of me, and in combat having failed dice rolls and kind of shrugging it off with a "so it goes," makes me wonder why I can't do that with myself. I'm not sure if I would be down for a group therapy D&D group, but I would love to talk with a therapist about my experiences in D&D after the sessions, if that makes sense.
That totally makes sense! Breaking down rehearsed emotions and interactions afterwards with a therapist sounds like an amazing resource
This is so up my alley omg. I have ASD, ADHD, and a panic disorder, and I just finally started getting into DND. It's been helping me out after years of self-isolation and has made it easier to be myself around others. I'm definitely picking Dr.Connell's book up ASAP and sharing it with my ND nerd friends :)
Nice! Glad you're grabbing that book, it points to other research too, very fun rabbit hole
❤ Once again, you have rolled a natural 20! Great video!
😊 thank you
As a DM, I tend to try to stray away from being therapy, because I got my own shit, and I’m less than qualified to help anyone else through their own stuff.
Also, rules help for structuring social interactions, high functioning autist/ADHD here.
yeah it's definitely something to seek out from professionals, not treating your DM like a therapist or your players like clients
Thank you for watching!
Love this. DMing is therapeutic for me, allowing me and my table to explore situations & challenges in a low stakes environment. It's those small steps within that safe space that prepares us for real world challenges.
Love the editing and your opening. Those skills alone will take you far. Keep at it friend.
I appreciate it! Thank you for the kind words
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but she also teaches in an online school called Geek Therapeutics. I took the course "How to be a Therapeutic Game Master" which is aimed at both Game Masters and Therapists of differing stripe, and it was pretty interesting!
Aaaah, that's so cool!
Thank you for watching
I've been curious about this since you posted your request for questions. Very well done and interesting. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the book.
Uncle Iroh pfp is really appropriate for a D&D therapy video lmao
Thank you for watching!
I'm a Youth Care Worker, and I run DnD Social Skills Groups for teens, and it has been wildly successful!
That makes me feel better about the world at large, that's so cool
This video is a real life stress relief potion.
The conversation was that way too!
This is a phenomenal video! Very informative and entertaining. Great work!
Hey thanks! I just watched your BG 3 video earlier today, the stars align
As someone who has done a whole lot of therapy and a whole lot of D&D, this definitely plays into it. Also, I have found that role-playing, particularly in TTRPGs, allows exploration of self in a way that we don't get in our day-to-day lives. There's a lot to be said for the value of that as an AuDHD person -- I learned how to be a person based on how my characters behaved and I've used that tool a lot. Pretending to be my character when dealing with something has also been helpful because my characters are often so much more confident, gentler, smarter, etc. than I am, and channeling that has been transformative in my daily life.
> Pretending to be my character when dealing with something
Oooooh yeah. I have an Uncle Iroh cleric that helps me navigate conflict and stay compassionate and merciful when I have really tense conversations. Aspirational character building lol
@@TheADHDM Exactly! It helps so much when I channel someone I want to be.
This is astoundingly well edited! 😮
Well done!
I appreciate it. Thank you for watching
Your channel is truly a treasure
That's very kind, thank you!
Ahhhh the fantasy of getting a group of actual people to sit down for a couple hours to play something none of us have played together before. 😮💨 Great video, just wish the people in my life would be more open minded about trying something like a one-shot. Really not looking to "go out and make new friends" and personally not getting much out of my ADHD therapy these days. Just kinda in a funk.
Thanks for making the vids you're making and promoting these healthy, well-informed, prosocial perspectives. 👍
I'd support you financially if I could. Still trying to get myself sorted at this point tho so yeah... 😮💨
Happy holidays BTW hope you have (had) some good ones!
Watching and sharing the videos is a great form of support, thank you very much! I hope that between Baldur's Gate 3, the D&D movie, and every other element of the pop culture wave of D&D, your friends get curious enough to partake.
This was great! Really insightful. I may have to see about getting my hands (or ears, depending) on her book!
Also, I'm totally using "spell slots" in lieu of "spoons", it's too perfect.
Thank you for watching! I'm glad you're wanting to check out the book, it's been really useful to have words for the more nebulous benefits of TTRPG
Amazing, thank you for the insights! As a DM with ADHD this hits so many notes. I'm also a qualified psychotherapist, which I volunteer with in my spare time, interestingly I use DnD as an element of my own self care, I wonder how it would change the game for me if I were to use it in practice too.
That's awesome! Dr. Connell's book is definitely the way to go then lmao, thank you for watching
Thanks for everything you do for the community@@TheADHDM I utilise so many things from your videos
On the whole you won't be good at GMing your first time doing it: I've literally GMd 3 times, and I only JUST NOW figured out how to make good stat blocks...
XD
That's pretty awesome for just three games!!! Thank you for watching!
@@TheADHDM I mean... I wish I'd figured it out sooner though.
XD
It's difficult.
Especially when you're rushed.
I tried to do this whole like, borrow from existing stat blocks thing, that didn't work, and I did try doing some from the ground up before, but I always forgot details, so this time when I got details right I just copy pasted them elsewhere and adjusted them as needed.
Basically: something in my brain unlocked and I was given way too much power.
XD
This was really interesting!
I appreciate it! Thank you for watching
Thanks for the video. Super interesting information
Replying to myself because I thought of something interesting to say. I've found, after learning a hole bunch of life skills like conflict management, leadership, debriefing, and communication that its all D&D and D&D is all of it. When people have problems with another player what they really need to be doing is learning general conflict management and then applying it to D&D. D&D isn't a special beast. Its just a microcosm of any workplace, community, or social group. Well, it might not even be a microcosm if your D&D group is your social group.
> it might not even be a microcosm
The jobs where I've played D&D with my coworkers have been way easier to navigate, socially. I wish it was a common practice
I use a TTRPG that I've created and refined over the years to teach English, Spanish, and writing (and of course just for fun, too) but I've been having trouble finding students/players lately. Any suggestions?
I rely heavily on my friends for a rotating core D&D group, but I have had some luck playing in other games, and running whatever not-D&D thing I want to run when the DM needs a break
First..... And FINALLY ITS HERE!!!!
Legendary first comment status, you are like lightning!