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Start time: 10:00am PST / 11:00am MTN / 1:00pm EST / 2:00pm ATL

Dungeons, Dragons, and Group Counselling: How Therapeutic D&D Groups Slayed Anxiety and Loneliness at Two Post-Secondary Institutions

In this session, counsellors from two post-secondary institutions in British Columbia will explore how they have used therapeutically-applied tabletop roleplaying games (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons) with post-secondary students in a group counselling setting. This will include a review of relevant literature; an overview of the design and facilitation of the two programs; a review of the programs’ significant outcomes on anxiety, loneliness, and more; and a brief experiential demonstration in which attendees will have a chance to experience or observe a therapeutic D&D scenario in real time.

Michael Cheng is a Registered Clinical Counsellor at Langara College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He runs the Dungeons and Dragons and Relationship Skills groups at Langara College and supports a diverse range of clients struggling with challenges like anxiety, depression, ptsd, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, international student challenges, low motivation and confidence, poor relationship and communication skills, and much more. Michael employs a trauma-informed, emotion-focused, and attachment-based therapeutic style with his clients, and utilizes Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP), Emotion focused therapy, Solution focused therapy, and Cognitive behavioral therapy in his practice. Michael is also a passionate public speaker presenting on topics like loneliness, stress management, the body and mental health, and men and mental health. In his spare time, Michael enjoys hunting and fishing, powerlifting, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, carpentry, and spending meaningful time with his friends and family.