The Forever GMs Podcast – Mental Health Benefits (S1 E8)

Posted By: Liv Larbi September 14, 2026

Join Doc & Liv with guests Dr. Megan and Grant as they discuss the mental health benefits of tabletop roleplaying games. Techniques and research regarding play therapy has been around for quite some time and is becoming increasingly popular in many practices across the country. But have you ever heard of therapeutic TTRPGs?

Episode Topics

  • Mental health benefits of TTRPGs for children and adults
  • Identity exploration, authenticity, and building community through gaming
  • Using safety tools as communication devices for navigating intense or challenging play
  • Player self-care before, during, and after emotionally intense sessions
  • Setting healthy boundaries as a GM when players are experiencing difficult emotions
  • Using roleplay to practice communication, conflict resolution, coping, and other real-world skill

Game Spotlight

This week, we discussed Stewpot, a GMless cozy fantasy TTRPG about retired adventurers opening a tavern together after their adventuring days are over. The game explores what happens after the epic quest, with themes of transition and change, burnout and recovery, community support, grief, and discovering who you are when the adventure ends.

Peer Review

This week, we explore what the growing body of research says about using TTRPGs as tools for psychological intervention, mental health support, and skill development—and where more research is still needed.

  • A Scoping Review of TTRPGs as Psychological Intervention: The Potential Benefits and Future Directions by Yuliawati L, Wardhani PAP, & Ng JH (2024) examines TTRPG research published between 2013 and 2023. The review identifies potential benefits including problem-solving, creativity, executive functioning, empathy, social skills, reduced loneliness and isolation, and reduced stress and anxiety, while highlighting the need for stronger and more consistent research methods as this field continues to develop.

Find Us and Our Guests

Dr. Megan Connell is a clinical psychologist and the author of Tabletop Roleplaying Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master. Her work explores how tabletop role-playing games can be used therapeutically to support reflection, connection, skill-building, and personal growth.

Grant Sparks is a licensed professional counselor and certified geek therapist who incorporates gaming and roleplay into his clinical work.

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