Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Role-playing Games

The process of accepting what has happened and recognizing that it is possible to work towards your goals even in the aftermath of events in your past is a distinct part of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT). Now how does that connect with a role-playing game…I’m glad you asked. The aspects of ACT therapy are often visualized through a Hexaflex image and this image is very similar to the image of a D20 dice. 

Looking at the aspects of ACT that are important for helping to develop psychological flexibility alongside the elements present within Table Top Role Playing Games(TTRPG) allows for recognizing the therapeutic value present within these games. There are six elements in the Hexaflex image of ACT which will be discussed here and how those can be met within TTRPG. 

Mindfulness and Values in TTRPGs

Starting at the top, mindfulness, within ACT is about being present in the moment.

This is a necessary aspect for psychological flexibility because it allows for full presence in the here and now rather than focusing on what has happened in the past or what could happen in the future. Engaging in playing a game with a group of friends, whether role playing game or board game, there is a need to be present in the moment. This is very important within the role-playing game genre as it is necessary to be “all in” and focused so you are able to identify what you will do in support of completing the mission. 

The second area of ACT is values which is the recognition of knowing what you want from life and what is important to you in moving towards your goals.

In TTRPG this is identified through the rules and balance in the game, the framework of what is allowed and the guardrails that allow for the exploration but also maintain a safe space for exploring to achieve the goals for the character as well as the party.

The third area of ACT is committed action, or the setting of goals that are achievable as well as the actions that will help you achieve those goals.

In TTRPG this is presented through story. The story encompasses the setting as well as the framework created by the Game Master but it also includes the backstory and creation of the character the player will play. 

The fourth area of ACT is self as context.

This is the recognition that you are the events of your life and not an idea about your life. In the TTRPG world this is the character. This character is how the player will engage within the world and this will be their connection directly into the world of the game. The character is how the player will be in the world, the character IS who the player is acting as within the game but is NOT the player.

The fifth area of ACT is defusion.

Defusion is the ability to recognize thoughts are thoughts. Your thoughts do not control you or rule what you will do. In TTRPG this is is the recognition that the character is who is in the game. The player can recognize that what happens to their character are not happening to them but rather to their character. In this realm there is also the ability for players to try things as their character and see how those actions affect others within the game. There is safety of engaging in the game as a character because the decisions in the game do not constitute consequences within the real world.

The sixth and final aspect of ACT is acceptance.

This is the ultimate understanding that you are not what has happened to you and the events of your past happened but do not define who you are. The act of living includes experiences that are not enjoyable and positive lessons and positive experiences are a part of life. Life can hurt sometimes. In TTRPG this is demonstrated through the dice. The roll of the dice is what it is and there is a need to accept that you are not able to control how the dice rolls. The roll of the dice has the ability for absolute success of a natural 20 or absolute failure of a natural 1….but the dice roll can also be any roll between and rolling the dice is the player accepting the fate of the dice for their character. 

Therapeutic Growth Through TTRPGs

There are so many opportunities within the world of TTRPG to experience therapeutic growth and that allow for exploring aspects of life within the safety of a game where, when failure happens, there is the ability to learn from it without life altering consequences and where, when success happens, there is the ability to learn and celebrate the win with others who are actively engaged in this game with you.

If you or your adolescents are interested in exploring how role-playing games could improve your mental health then please follow our social media pages for the announcement of upcoming groups for social skills development using role-playing games.

If you are ready to become a client of The Mental Wellness Center, Inc. please take your first steps here: