ENCOUNTER D&D

PODCAST INTERVIEW

For a more detailed description of Encounter D&D and its therapeutic impact, check out the engaging, humorous, and insightful interview psychotherapists/therapeutic gaming facilitators Kevin and Katherine Klevjer were privileged to participate in on the podcast “The Way In: Psychotherapy Demystified,” hosted by their colleague and friend, Tyson Conner. You can find this interview episode entitled, “Therapeutic Dungeons and Dragons” by clicking the stunning podcast image below (art by Dan Lane), or by searching @thewayinpod on all the usual podcast apps.

NOW ACCEPTING INQUIRIES FOR THE SPRING 2025 COHORT! Email kevin@encounterpsychotherapy.com for inquiries about joining a cohort or joining the Encounter D&D waitlist. Email Kevin for questions about the currently developing Therapeutic Gaming Facilitator Training underway as well.

WHAT IS ENCOUNTER D&D?

Encounter D&D uses the classic Role Playing Game (RPG), Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), as a way to provide a low-entry point, therapeutic gaming experience through imaginative play. A group of 3-6 players will be guided through creating a character and setting off on a fantastical adventure full of monsters and intrigue. These heroes will work as a team to slay evil creatures, delve into dungeons, solve puzzles, avoid traps, and find treasure! Sometimes there will be battle encounters, at other times, the story may slow down for fireside chats or engaging other Non-Player Characters (NPCs) in the nearby village. The adventure can take many forms.

Kevin, and sometimes Katherine, serve as facilitators of the game. Player Characters (PCs - this could be you!) will join the Dungeon Master (DM) - also Kevin - in crafting a story together through role playing and dice rolling. The DM will narrate all scenes, role play all NPCs/monster characters, and will act as the rule referee for all encounters. PCs can choose to do anything, from swinging an axe at a goblin, to trying to persuade the goblin to quit his monstrous ways and to go live his life as a contemplative hermit instead. The roll of a D20 die, in addition to the DM’s discretion, will determine how successful the PC is at either task.

HOW DOES THIS GAMING EXPERIENCE BECOME THERAPEUTIC?

Both possible facilitators, Kevin and Katherine, are trained therapists with years of experience in therapeutic work.
D&D allows for perspective taking, problem solving, cognitive flexibility, creativity, appropriate risk taking, and improvisation.
Engaging in D&D as a therapeutic gaming experience allows for a culture of feedback: PCs offering feedback to each other (in character or not) and facilitators offering observations and feedback, as well, to the different ways players impact each other.
As players are triggered by events or by each other, there is a unique opportunity to explore these triggers together, with the facilitation of trained individuals.
With the ongoing impact of increased isolation and social anxiety, in the wake of the pandemic, a gaming experience like this allows for a chance to meet new people in a safe environment.
In June of 2021, Kevin earned a Therapeutic Game Master certification from Geek Therapeutics (certification image below), which was a 9-week certification course training dungeon masters/game masters to integrate therapeutic benefit into multiple types of tabletop role playing games.

WHAT DOES AN ENCOUNTER D&D SESSION LOOK LIKE?

Day: Tuesdays for 12 weeks (not including an additional character creation session
Time: 6:30pm-9pm
Location: 4th-floor private conference room in our office building, located at 3250 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA, 98134.
Software: Players will be given access to create a character sheet on DNDBeyond.com to track their characters’ health, abilities, equipment, etc.
Structure: Sessions will be a blend of play time and therapeutic reflection. Some weeks may be more play heavy, while other weeks may involve more group reflection. Typically there is a check in and reflection time at the start, a significant portion of actual game time, and possibly further reflection at the end of the gaming session.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Our standard fee is $65 per 2.5-hour session, including one character creation session per player. Limited financial assistance may be available should players need a discount.

DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE FOR ENCOUNTER D&D?

Unfortunately, although this is a therapeutic gaming experience, it is not considered therapy, but is adjacent to therapy. As such, we are not able to accept insurance for these sessions.

KEVIN’S THERAPEUTIC GAME MASTER CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION:

Therapeutic Game Master Certificate- 12 CEUs.jpg

D&D COPYRIGHT INFO

Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, and all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.

©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK