This group is a great fit for teen girls who are isolated, experience social anxiety, or have had trouble making/keeping friends. Group participants will develop confidence, increased self-esteem, assertive communication skills, problem solving as part of a group, and develop a better understanding of non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions, tone of voice).

This group is not appropriate for girls who engage in self-harming behaviors, have active suicidal ideation, have been recently hospitalized, or are being discharged from an IOP or inpatient program.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D or DnD for short), is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG). Each group member creates a character in a fantasy world and the group works together to solve puzzles, complete missions, and defeat villains. The storyline of the game is like a collaborative choose-your-own adventure and changes based on the group’s decisions. Throughout the course of the game, group members learn how to work as part of a team, build positive peer relationships, practice creative problem solving, and develop assertive communication skills. Group participants do not need any prior experience with tabletop role-playing games. We will use the 2024 5e ruleset.

When a teen plays a tabletop role-playing game, they put themselves in their character’s shoes and have the opportunity to try out new ways of interacting and communicating in a lower-pressure environment. Playing a character allows teens to do and say things that may feel too intimidating in real life (IE: express thoughts/feelings, stand up for themselves, ask for help, etc…). For instance, a quiet teen might have trouble sharing her thoughts or opinions in real life, but if she’s playing as a hero, she’ll learn how to use her voice throughout the course of the game. The skills that teens discover through playing tabletop role-playing games can be applied to their everyday lives.

I have completed the Therapeutic Game Master certification training from Geek Therapeutics and have learned how to integrate third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy into tabletop role-playing games.

Group sessions will be held on a secure Zoom video call to protect confidentiality. Games are private and will only include group members and myself. In order to play D&D, we’ll use a few free online tools. Players will make their characters using a website called D&D Beyond and the game will be played on a website called Roll20. Roll20 shows the map, characters, and creatures encountered in the adventure. All your teen needs is a computer with a webcam/microphone and stable internet access!

Although health insurers routinely cover intake assessments, not all plans cover group psychotherapy (CPT code 90853) in an outpatient mental health setting (non-facility). Although I check health insurance benefits as a courtesy, sometimes the information I can pull up on the insurance company’s website is incorrect. Please call your insurance company to ensure that group psychotherapy is a covered service.

I am in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, and UnitedHealthcare/Optum Behavioral Health.