Is your child a creative thinker who struggles with the “unwritten rules” of social interaction? We are excited to present our Therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons group for children and young people. This innovative group uses the collaborative storytelling and role‑play of the popular tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons as a structured, clinician‑led therapeutic intervention.
Far more than a game, therapeutic D&D provides a safe and engaging way for young people to explore emotions, practise social skills, build confidence, and develop problem‑solving abilities-while having fun!
What is Therapeutic D&D?
Therapeutic D&D adapts the core elements of the game: storytelling, teamwork, character creation, and decision‑making within a clear therapeutic framework. Sessions are planned and facilitated by Dr Paula Jean Manners, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and Dr Clare Yassin, Clinical Psychologist, with therapeutic goals woven intentionally into the narrative and group interactions.
Participants create characters, work together on shared quests and navigate challenges that mirror real‑world social and emotional experiences. The fantasy setting allows young people to experiment with new ways of thinking, behaving, and relating to others in a low‑pressure, supportive environment.
Who is this group for?
Therapeutic D&D can be particularly helpful for children and adolescents who:
- Experience social anxiety or find peer relationships challenging
- Struggle with emotional regulation or self‑confidence
- Are neurodivergent (including autistic young people or those with ADHD)
- Find traditional talk‑based therapy difficult or unengaging
- Enjoy imaginative play, gaming or fantasy worlds
Suitability for the group is always considered carefully, and an initial assessment is completed to ensure the group is the right fit for each young person.
Therapeutic benefits
Through guided play and reflection, participants may develop:
- Social and communication skills – turn‑taking, listening, collaboration and perspective‑taking
- Emotional awareness and regulation – recognising feelings, managing frustration and coping with uncertainty
- Confidence and self‑esteem – taking on challenges, making choices and seeing the impact of their actions
- Problem‑solving and flexibility – planning, adapting to change and thinking creatively
- A sense of belonging – forming connections in a shared, supportive group
Importantly, progress happens naturally through the story and group process, rather than feeling like formal therapy.
How the group works
- Small, carefully matched groups (we do not have more than 5 in a group)
- Weekly sessions held in our calm, welcoming Marylebone townhouse practice
- Led by a qualified Clinical Psychologists acting as both therapist and ‘Dungeon Master’
- Clear structure, boundaries and therapeutic intention
- Regular review of goals and progress reports
Parents and carers are supported with feedback and guidance, while respecting your children’s confidentiality.
Why Dungeons & Dragons?
D&D offers a unique blend of structure and imagination. For many young people, it feels safer to explore difficult topics through a character rather than talking directly about themselves. This distance can reduce anxiety, increase engagement and allow meaningful therapeutic work to happen in an organic and empowering way.
Interested in joining?
If you would like to find out whether the Therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons group might be right for your child or young person, please get in touch. We are happy to answer questions and discuss suitability in more detail. We are gathering participants for our next group, due to the delicate nature of this task we do not have a set start date. If you are interested please contact us.
Adventure, growth, and connection—one quest at a time.