How Dungeons & Dragons Supports Mental Health: Benefits of Therapeutic Roleplaying

Dungeons & Dragons therapy is gaining recognition for its mental health benefits, helping clients improve social skills, resiliency, emotional expression, and more. By stepping into a character’s shoes, players get the chance to practice skills, face challenges, and connect with others in ways that can carry over into real life. Therapists around the world are now using these games to help clients grow, heal, and thrive.

There are several evidence-based skills, tools, and modalities that can be implemented by a clinician to make playing D&D therapeutic. You can read more about that here.

Why is D&D (and other TTRPGs) Used Therapeutically?

Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) give people a safe, structured way to explore challenges through story. Instead of just talking about feelings or problems directly, players can act them out through their characters. This allows people to practice new skills, take risks, and process emotions in a creative, less intimidating way. For therapists, the game becomes a flexible tool because they can shape the story to highlight teamwork, problem-solving, or emotional expression, depending on the group’s needs.

What Makes Therapeutic Roleplaying Games Unique?

Unlike a regular game night, therapeutic roleplaying is guided by a trained mental health professional. The therapist acts as the Dungeon Master (which is like a referee or facilitator of the game), setting up adventures that are fun but also purposeful. Safety tools, clear agreements, and check-ins ensure the group is a supportive space. The goal isn’t just to play (although the concept of play being therapeutic is a burgeoning topic of research), it’s to use the play experience as a way to grow, whether that’s building confidence, practicing social skills, or exploring identity. This intentional, structured approach is what makes it different from friends casually playing D&D.

Who Can Benefit from Therapeutic D&D?

Therapeutic D&D can be a great fit for many people. Children and teens often benefit from the social practice and creativity the game provides. Adults may find it helps with stress, self-expression, and reconnecting with others. People with anxiety, depression, trauma, or social isolation can benefit from the collaboration process and getting to know new people with similarities. Additionally, the roleplaying aspects offer a way to build on coping skills such resiliency, emotional awareness, and communication. Because each group is tailored by the clinician leading it, the experience is flexible and can support a wide range of goals. Any group you're interested in joining should always be facilitated by a qualified clinician.

Conclusion

Therapeutic roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons work because they combine imagination, structure, and guidance in a way that makes growth possible and fun. Whether the goal is to build social confidence, process emotions, or simply find connection, the table becomes a place where healing stories can unfold. If you’re curious about joining a group or want to learn how to run one as a clinician, explore our resources to take the next step.

For Clients: Looking for a safe, supportive space to connect, grow, and have fun through D&D? Therapeutic roleplaying groups may be a good fit for you. Learn more about how they work. And stay tuned for our Group Finder feature coming soon!

For Clinicians: Ready to bring the power of roleplaying into your practice? Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date, receive the free checklist, and help build our growing community! Also consider joining the Clinicians’ Guild to ask question, meet, and chat with other clinicians who are running therapeutic D&D groups.