This presentation introduces participants to the theory, structure, and practical application of therapeutically applied tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) in clinical and supportive settings. Drawing on evidence-based practices and current research in game-based interventions, the presentation explores how role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons can be intentionally adapted to support session goals such as exploring strengths and coping mechanisms, enhancing connection to the person who died, increasing emotional regulation and addressing loss in a safe, contained, and imaginative environment.

Participants will gain introductory knowledge in both the mechanics of tabletop role-playing games and the core principles of therapeutic facilitation. Through a brief overview of TTRPGS, case examples, and hands-on activities, attendees will learn basic principles of TTRPGs in individual and group sessions. Participants will leave with interventions that they can use in their supportive sessions.

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: 1.5 continuing education credits pending
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals, school professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or a working knowledge
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

Cost: Free for NACG Members; $60 for Guests without CEs, $75 for Guests with CEs

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After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Assess opportunities within session to utilize TTRPGs to support therapeutic themes such as connection to the person who died, identity exploration, and resilience-building.
• Recognize the potential benefits and limitations of using TTRPGs with grieving clients, including considerations for age, neurodiversity, and group dynamics.
• Identify at least one intervention that can be used in supportive individual or group sessions.

Speaker Bio:

Ashlee Cabral, MA, LMFT, is a private practice therapist who has specialized in traumatic grief and loss with all ages. Her experience includes over a decade of private practice therapy, hospice grief services coordination, higher education instruction and clinical supervision. She is a certified therapeutic game master with experience using TTRPGs and video games in therapeutic practice. She has previously presented at the NACG on using video games with grieving kids.

Christina Thomas, MS, LCSW, is the Child and Families Grief Coordinator at a regional nonprofit hospice. She holds dual master’s degrees in child development and social work, and has spent the past decade working with families navigating grief and loss. Christina developed the Adventures Through Grief program, combining evidence-based grief support with creative role-playing interventions.

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information:

Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by their licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend “live” (in real-time) to earn CEs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE process, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7221. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0689. Social Workers completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0238. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

National Alliance for Children’s Grief, #1819, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers.  State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. National Alliance for Children’s Grief maintains responsibility for this course.  ACE provider approval period: 07/20/2023 – 07/20/2026. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 continuing education credits.

Refund/cancellation policy: If you need to cancel your registration, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688. Please note that no refunds will be given.

To request accessibility accommodations: The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688 to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Attendance policy: To earn CEs for this event, you must attend the entirety of the event as demonstrated by your autogenerated login and logout time on the Zoom Webinar report and complete an online event evaluation within seven (7) days of the event. Please make sure you are signed into Zoom using the name that matches your professional license and not the name of your place of employment, as there is no way to verify your attendance after the fact if your name does not appear on the Zoom Webinar report. CE certificates will be sent out within 30 days of the educational event. The link for your certificate will come from “certificates@simplecert.net” as the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. Please be sure to add this email to your “safe sender list”. The NACG is unable to process certificates after 90 days from the date of the event. 

CE Certificate retrieval request: The NACG maintains continuing education records for at least six years from the date of completion of the educational event which include: the name and curriculum vitae of the presenter, a record of attendance, an outline of the course, date, and location of the course, and the number of hours for completion of the course. If you attended a CE educational event and need a copy of your CE certificate, please complete this form to obtain a copy: https://nacg.wufoo.com/forms/qfsln7r1twqpty/. Please note if the education event was more than 90 days ago, and a required evaluation was not completed, a certificate cannot be provided per the policy.

Grievance policy:  To view the NACG’s Continuing Education Grievance Policy, you can find it HERE. Please complete THIS form to share a grievance with the NACG regarding a continuing education event.