The Science of Play in Therapeutic Roleplaying for Adults

Adults often assume play is something we outgrow, yet research shows that play remains essential for emotional well-being throughout life. The National Institute for Play (NIFP) has been at the forefront of this research for decades. Their work finds that play is linked with reduced stress, greater resilience, stronger social connection, and improved cognitive flexibility. Therapeutic roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons create a structured space for adults to access these benefits intentionally. In a clinical setting, guided roleplaying becomes a practical tool for facilitating play.

Why Play Supports Adult Mental Health

A growing body of research shows that adults who retain a sense of playfulness tend to experience stronger psychological health across the board. Work from Dr. Stuart Brown and the NIFP highlights that adults who lack play often become more rigid, stressed, and disconnected from their emotions, while adults who engage in play report lower stress, greater well-being, healthier coping patterns, and reduced loneliness.

Fun, in a therapeutic sense, goes far beyond simple entertainment. It reflects a psychological and neurological state that supports learning, emotional flexibility, and resilience. Research suggests that positive social engagement can influence the neurobiology of bonding and trust, and that positive emotions enhance attention, creativity, and long-term emotional resources.

Therapeutic roleplaying leverages these same mechanisms. When sessions are genuinely enjoyable, clients tend to feel safer, open up more easily, and experiment with new behaviors without the fear of being judged. Fun becomes a pathway to authentic engagement and meaningful therapeutic change.

Why Dungeons & Dragons Is Effective for Therapeutic Play

Dungeons & Dragons combines structure, collaboration, storytelling, and imagination. The rules create safety and predictability. The story invites creativity and experimentation. These are the conditions that support what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls flow, a mental state associated with emotional regulation, focus, and well-being. In a therapeutic group, the facilitator uses the game’s structure with intention. The fictional frame provides emotional distance, which makes it easier to explore difficult feelings. Clients can practice communication, boundaries, assertiveness, or vulnerability through their characters in ways that feel safe and manageable.

Conclusion

Therapeutic roleplaying games offer adults a rare combination of creativity, connection, and emotional openness.

For Clinicians: Ready to bring therapeutic D&D into your practice? Explore our clinician resources to get expert guidance and useful materials to confidently start your own therapeutic roleplaying groups.

For Clients: Curious if a therapeutic D&D group is right for you? Learn more about them here and stay tuned for when we launch our directory of clinician's who offer online groups.

References

(1) Oxytocin increases trust in humans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15931222/

(2) The role of oxytocin in social bonding, stress regulation and mental health: an update on the moderating effects of context and interindividual differences https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23856187/

(3) Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218