Innovative Group Therapies

Immersive Role Play Gaming Therapy

Immersive role play gaming therapy (IRPGT) is a cutting edge, evidence-based treatment offered at Hugh S. Smith, Ph.D. & Associates, P.C. Clients immerse themselves in a fantasy world, roleplaying as a character that they have created on their own, or with the help of the facilitator.

 

Clients will attend a weekly group session where they join their peers in adventurous quests filled with real life decision-making that impact the group and the game. This roleplay provides a safe and supportive setting where each client can experience consequences to one’s actions without the high stress level of real-life implications. This allows clients to safely explore their own social and emotional experiences as well as the experiences of those who their decisions impact, without causing high levels of stress.

This therapy has been shown to increase generalization of these learned skill outside of the therapeutic setting.  This type of group therapy is an enjoyable and motivating way to increase the client’s executive functioning skills, social skills, and interpersonal skills as they are working collaboratively toward a shared goal.

No experience with immersive role play gaming is required for these groups, beginners are welcome!

Social Movement Groups

Social movement groups

Social/movement groups provide the opportunity to explore individual body movement in the context of a social group environment. This group encourages members to showcase their own narratives and emotions, with movement providing benefit from the therapeutic effects of physical release and social interaction.

In the social/movement groups, children will have the opportunity to explore individual body movement in the context of a social group environment. Based on the theory that mind, body, and spirit are connected, movement therapy fosters expression and emotional processing, while the group environment promotes social interaction, improved social skills, peer communication and connectedness. Using scenario-enactment, emotional recognition, and non-directive physical expression, this group will encourage its members to showcase their own narratives and emotions with movement and members will benefit from the therapeutic effects of physical release and social interaction. 

Other Group Therapies

HSSA offers innovative and dynamic group therapies for all ages.  Stay tuned for notices on this website and flyers for new group availability with forthcoming groups to include social skills, coping, and gaining support and solutions for social, environmental and mental health issues, while fostering wellness and finding the hero within!

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