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What Video Games Taught Me About Therapy

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries, 

This weekend I was assisting in a training with a co-worker who I admire tremendously. I've known her for a few years, and her work fascinates me. She is a certified Geek Therapist and a Therapeutic Game Master... and in all honesty, I (someone who favors more traditional therapy) had no clue what that meant. 

She explained that you can use strategies from your favorite video game to develop real-life coping mechanisms, analyze character archetypes from a beloved fantasy series to better understand your own identity, or apply world-building principles from tabletop gaming to envision and create a more fulfilling personal future. By linking therapeutic concepts to things that you already love, we create powerful and lasting connections for change. I was fascinated. So, I thought I’d do some more research and share my findings with you.

Welcome to the heart of Geek Therapy.

At its core, Geek Therapy is a strengths-based approach that meets people where they already feel engaged and understood- through games, fandoms, and storytelling. For many young people (and honestly, many adults too), games aren’t just entertainment. They’re spaces where we practice problem-solving, teamwork, persistence, and creativity. Geek Therapy takes those experiences seriously and uses them thoughtfully within therapeutic work.

One of the most interesting pieces I learned about is how gaming characteristics can mirror real-life skills. Think about the way you play games: Are you a careful planner who studies maps and stats before making a move? Or are you an improviser who adapts on the fly? Maybe you’re the supportive teammate who buffs others, heals allies, or makes sure no one gets left behind. These patterns can offer insight into how you approach challenges, relationships, and stress outside of a game.

Then there are character archetypes. Many fantasy and sci-fi stories feature familiar roles: the leader, the strategist, the protector, the healer, the rogue, the creator. Noticing which characters you connect with (and which ones you avoid) can open up meaningful conversations about identity, values, and boundaries. This isn’t about labeling yourself or being boxed in. It’s about recognizing themes and asking curious questions like: What do I admire here? What feels uncomfortable? What feels like me?

Tabletop and role-playing games add another powerful layer through world-building. In these games, players imagine futures, set goals, make choices, and live with the consequences, all in a safe, collaborative space. Therapeutically, this can translate into practicing decision-making, exploring “what if” scenarios, and building hope. If you can design a world where your character grows, fails, learns, and tries again, you can start to imagine those possibilities for yourself too.

What stood out most to me is that Geek Therapy isn’t about turning therapy into a game or minimizing real struggles. It’s about using familiar language and meaningful metaphors to talk about hard things in ways that feel accessible and empowering. A trained Geek Therapist or Therapeutic Game Master still works within ethical guidelines, evidence-based practice, and clear professional boundaries. The games and stories are tools, not replacements, for the therapeutic relationship.

And that brings me to the bigger takeaway.

In the therapy world, what works for one person won’t work for another, but there is a modality out there for everyone. It might be talk therapy, art, movement, mindfulness, Geek Therapy, or something entirely different. What matters most is finding the right provider and approach for you. Ask questions. Be curious. Pay attention to what helps you feel seen, safe, and supported.

Because the person who knows that best... is you.

Until next time- be kind to your mind.

—The Therapist Diaries

 

For professional inquiries please visit Voyager Therapy

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