For this week’s blog entry, I wanted to briefly introduce one of the projects we are currently working on. Gaming, specifically role-playing games, allow players to enter and explore worlds that are full of adventure and wonder. But in truth, these worlds often mirror our own more than we know. Specifically, the inter- and intrapersonal struggles are ones we experience in our daily lives just in less romanticized way. But in a game, these conflicts or crises are seen as a challenge, a puzzle to dissect and are “safer” to approach than those solely housed in reality. This brings us to the power of games and to the opportunity they present.
Following this thought, I began to develop a game using a mix of mechanics from my favorite table top and role playing games. This game will be created in order to help guide play towards topics that clients in my practice often struggle with as well as towards developing resiliency and problem solving/coping skills to address these common issues. For example, a “dungeon” created to navigate the major tasks of grief and to support the client in identifying supports and skills which will help them work through and understand their experience. The game is also being designed to help players better understand themselves as a whole in regards to their perceived strengths and weaknesses and supports. The game will be played in small groups to also support the user to understand themselves in the context of others, to learn how to ask for help, and to learn from one another’s experiences. In the end, the purpose was to create a game which can be played in groups and then processed in either group or individual therapy. And now, the hope is to develop a game which can be used in treatment, in self-exploration, and in casual gaming.
The game is still in the early development stage and the hope is to have it on Kickstarter by spring of 2015. If you are interested in contributing or have any feedback for us regarding the game or its development, please contact us through the contact page. We will post more in the new year about game dungeon topics and fostering resiliency of gamers.
Following this thought, I began to develop a game using a mix of mechanics from my favorite table top and role playing games. This game will be created in order to help guide play towards topics that clients in my practice often struggle with as well as towards developing resiliency and problem solving/coping skills to address these common issues. For example, a “dungeon” created to navigate the major tasks of grief and to support the client in identifying supports and skills which will help them work through and understand their experience. The game is also being designed to help players better understand themselves as a whole in regards to their perceived strengths and weaknesses and supports. The game will be played in small groups to also support the user to understand themselves in the context of others, to learn how to ask for help, and to learn from one another’s experiences. In the end, the purpose was to create a game which can be played in groups and then processed in either group or individual therapy. And now, the hope is to develop a game which can be used in treatment, in self-exploration, and in casual gaming.
The game is still in the early development stage and the hope is to have it on Kickstarter by spring of 2015. If you are interested in contributing or have any feedback for us regarding the game or its development, please contact us through the contact page. We will post more in the new year about game dungeon topics and fostering resiliency of gamers.
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