Wellness Summary:

We are currently living in the zeitgeist of gaming, and this phenomenon has spread well beyond a meteoric rise in traditional electronic video games to more social, communal and imaginative real-life role-playing games as well. As game playing becomes a more common part of modern life for a broad range of individuals of all ages and interest, a program focused on the healing benefits of gaming for peers can provide a more digestible entry point into social stimulation and support. Through gamifying the social/emotional/developmental interactions one experiences through the accessible and entertaining elements of games we commonly see participants progress over an incredibly expedited timeline as growth is incentivized in an inherently fun and non-medical approach. Participants are welcomed to be themselves, or alternately be anyone they want, building games on the ideas of collaborative storytelling and role-playing rather than inflexible rules, which causes people to find it incredibly rewarding to be vocal about their ideas and emotions. This form of game group is well suited to help transitioning age individuals, people with mental distress, justice impacted individuals, individuals experiencing social anxiety and numerous other circumstances, overcoming personal difficulty in a welcoming and safe environment of infinite possibilities while building team dynamic and creative problem solving skills in the process.

Program Goals:

The goal of this project is to offer another avenue to health and wellbeing which is not as sterile and stigmatized as traditional medical approaches to many difficulties people face. Through a social, networked approach with a complete focus in recreational activities we are able to engage and help people who might otherwise not seek such opportunities for cooperative, social, and creative engagement. The healing elements of games are hard coded in the magic that is recreational entertainment, helping people unlock themselves and be the people they would like to be in an environment which passively promotes relaxation and reinvigoration through enjoyable and non-demanding fun.