The Nexus Station is excited to take you on the ultimate quest: Self-exploration, the first therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons game in Davis.

Why Experiential Group Therapy?

Ages 8-12 is a particularly difficult developmental period for kids. This period is marked by the importance of successful peer and social interaction. Navigating this time period and difficulties that arise can be painful as individuals feel the weight and stresses viscerally but are not yet able to effectively communicate one’s internal world. Therapeutically this presents a particularly challenging task, a period where kids are struggling but not yet able to manage a traditional 50 mn talk therapy session. No longer able to utilize a play therapy model as most kids this age do not wish to be treated as children, how do we provide a therapeutic intervention that meets this group where they are developmentally? Enter experiential group work; an exciting, engaging and therapeutically novel way of helping kids successfully navigate this period with a psychologically and neurologically appropriate intervention.

Dungeons & Dragons has been hugely popular with people of all ages for decades. This game speaks to the intrinsically human need to tell stories, role play, engage our creativity and to do so in a place where we are accepted as part of a group. D&D provides a unique opportunity and tool for personal growth, self-exploration, social skills, and much more. In an original Dungeons & Dragons campaign spanning 7 weeks (7 sessions), Therapist and facilitator will integrate the game with therapeutic interventions and mindfulness techniques to:

-Help develop social skills

-Practice emotional communication and improve emotional fluency

-Learn emotional regulation coping skills

-Hone creativity and imagination

The group will meet Tuesdays 5-6:30 from September 10th to October 22nd, in addition to an initial one-on-one session with players to build characters and create familiarity with facilitators.

Group Includes:

- 7 therapeutic group sessions, each 90mns in length

-1 50 mn initial one-on-one session with each player individually to develop each individuals’ character and become familiar with our group therapist and facilitator.

-A set of dice

-Character sheet

-Customized miniature

-Plenty of snacks

Players will leave the group:

-Better equipped to resolve conflict in a healthy and communicative way

-Identify and communicate one’s internal state of being and needs

-Utilize scientifically proven strategies to aid in emotional regulation

-Better understand how to navigate social situations and groups

-Improve confidence