Can Dungeons and Dragons Replace Therapy? How Roleplaying Games Support Mental Health

Dale Critchley speaks with Alyssia Merrick, a PhD candidate researching the powerful effects of Dungeons & Dragons on mental health. Discover the surprising benefits that TTRPGs offer to players of all experience levels, from reduced anxiety to enhanced self-esteem and community building. Alyssia shares insights into her research, exploring how D&D can serve as a tool for self-discovery and resilience—without requiring a therapist’s couch. Whether you're a skeptical newcomer or a seasoned veteran, this episode uncovers new ways to engage with D&D for personal growth.

Alyssia Merrick (BPsych Hons) is a PhD candidate located at James Cook University, Townsville. Their research primarily focuses on the impacts of play on adults, with a particular focus on the employment of tabletop gaming as an intervention for wellbeing.

00:00 – Fantasy Characters as Therapy?00:11 – Tabletop Games with Purpose: Introducing Andovir’s Gods01:14 – Why We Created a New Class: Meet the Ardent03:10 – Interview Introduction: Alyssia Merrick05:00 – Beyond Entertainment: How TTRPGs Support Mental Health08:13 – Research Findings: Mental Health Improvement After 8 Weeks10:57 – Character Creation as Self-Exploration11:29 – Surprising Results: New vs Veteran Player.13:46 – TTRPGs in the Bigger Picture of Wellness17:08 – Psychological Theories at Play: Flow and Self-Determination19:26 – Could D&D Improve Your Next Office Meeting?21:05 – Trauma, Personified: Combatting Personal Demons Through Play21:58 – Alyssia’s Three Wishes for TTRPGs25:48 – For New Players: Drop the Guard, Dive In28:24 – For Veterans: Foster Mental Health through Play30:17 – Ongoing Projects: Bringing Game Therapy to a Global Scale33:40 – Where to Connect with Alyssia35:06 – Thanks and Farewell

Links

• Investigating Tabletop Gaming for Wellness Promotion: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082697954259 
• Alyssia’s Published Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alyssia-Merrick-2 
• Free: Gods of Andovir: https://wyrmworkspublishing.com/lair/andovir/the-gods-of-andovir/ 
• Ardent Character Class: https://wyrmworkspublishing.com/lair/andovir/ardent/ 
• Wyrmworks Publishing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wyrmworkspublishing 

Manually captioned. Transcript available at our website.

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