Welcome Adventurers! You’ve likely found your way here from an email or in-person referral. Thanks so much for taking the time to learn more. This webpage contains an introduction to what I’m working on, and how you and your kids can get involved at this early stage.

TTRPGs and Kids

Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) have been around since the late 1970s and rose to widespread popularity in the 1980s. At their core, they are collaborative storytelling experiences where players use imagination, creative problem-solving, and teamwork to navigate shared adventures. Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is the most widely known TTRPG, though there are many variations available today.

Over time, TTRPGs have been recognized not just as games, but as supportive tools for personal growth – helping players develop communication skills, confidence, creative thinking, and social awareness in a fun, low-pressure environment where they can safely explore choices and learn from them.

I’ve been a lifelong lover of games and creative expression of all kinds. After running several DnD games for my 9-year-old and his friends, I was struck by the potential TTRPGs have for younger players; Watching the kids roleplay, listen to each other, reflect on their choices, collaborate, and creatively overcome challenges—all while exploring ancient ruins, battling monsters, and having a blast—was very inspiring. Just as significant were the moments where I could help them practice communication skills, emotional awareness, and conflict resolution both in-game and at the table with their friends.

A Therapeutic Lens

Because I know my kids well, it felt natural to begin introducing subtle narrative elements that supported their real-life skill development. After watching them respond positively during these moments, I began to wonder: Is this something others are doing intentionally? The answer is clearly yes.

While still an emerging area within the field of mental health, the use of TTRPGs in a therapeutic context is growing. It is generally considered a branch of play therapy, and there are now training programs designed to teach both licensed therapists and casual players how to use TTRPGs with a therapeutic lens.

In practice, a Therapeutic Game Master (or TGM) will use the game world, TTRPG mechanics, and narrative elements to support a player’s desired therapeutic goals. These goals could be as simple as boosting self-confidence and exploring issues around social anxiety, or as complex as processing traumatic experiences and addressing symptoms of PTSD. The creative nature of TTRPG’s allows TGM’s to support nearly any therapeutic goal, as as long as they have the training and professional expertise to do so.

Goal Setting

I am currently enrolled in a therapeutically informed TTRPG training program, and expect to complete it in July 2026. To be clear: I am not a licensed therapist, and I am not offering therapy. What I aim to create is a casual TTRPG play experience that supports social and emotional development by incorporating relevant themes for each child.

As part of this process, I would schedule a brief call with parents or caregivers to better understand each child. This would include:

• Areas of growth or life skills they are working on
• Any relevant goals being supported elsewhere (e.g., school or therapy)
• Strengths, challenges, interests and relevant personality traits

These insights help shape the stories we tell, and will inform the major themes we explore over multiple gaming sessions. In addition, each gaming session naturally encourages players to practice patience, turn taking and fairness, communication with peers, teamwork and sharing, basic math and reading skills, acceptance of loss or failure, creative thinking and problem solving, self-reflection, and active listening.

Contraindications or Concerns

I am a parent of two highly energetic kids, and have some experience running games for kids on the neurodivergent spectrum. I can say from experience there is a lot of room at the table for a wide range of personalities, and everyone gets the opportunity to shine. Kids naturally learn from each other—one child’s strengths can support another’s growth, creating a collaborative and encouraging environment. That said, there are some mental health and/or behavioral challenges that may be contraindicated or would prevent gaming sessions from running smoothly for all players. Our initial meeting will help determine if the child is a good fit for these groups. 

Current Opportunity (Spring/Summer 2026)

The idea of bringing this kind of adventure experience to kids in the Charlottesville community is very exciting. To support the creation of these groups, I’m looking for a small group of kids (ages 7–12) to participate in a short pilot program that would include:

• A brief goal-setting call with parents/caregivers
• 3 weekly gaming sessions (90 mins each)
• A final follow-up call to discuss any relevant insights or feedback 

This initial group will be limited to 4 participants, and there will be no fee. Gaming sessions will likely be held in a private therapy office located in Charlottesville.

The dates of these consecutive 3-week sessions have not yet been finalized – I am willing to work around summer scheduling concerns and vacations, so please let me know of your interest and we can all work together to make it happen!

If you’re interested or would like to learn more, I’d love to connect and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to email me at sidequestcville@gmail.com, or call at 773-807-5564. You can also submit your email address for general updates and group openings below.

Thanks so much, and I look forward to sharing these adventures with you and your family.

~Ryan Lee, TGM (in training)