Therapeutically Applying Tabletop Role-Playing Games in Behavior Analysis
Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs), such as Dungeons & Dragons®, are rapidly rising in popularity both as a leisure activity and as a therapeutic tool. Harnessing TTRPGs in therapy and education provides more immersive and tightly environmentally-controlled roleplay of skills within a framework already dense with reinforcement and multiple exemplars. In the literature, over 50 different classes of skills have been taught using TTRPGs! However, although trainings for utilizing TTRPGs professionally as clinicians and educators abound, and approximately 50% of therapeutic uses in the literature use behavioral modalities, no comprehensive trainings specifically for behavior analysts have yet been available. This training was created to fill that gap!
Participate in 14.5 of BACB® CEU hours (including 2.5 ethics CEUs) learning about the current state of the literature surrounding TTRPGs–from an extensive review of over 100 articles!–and how to apply it within a behavior analytic scope of practice and YOUR individual scope of competence. Through live online workshops, we’ll explore and practice considerations for client identification, treatment planning, intervention, and documentation, providing everything you need to confidently and ethically use TTRPGs with your clients.
This training is for you if you are a clinician or educator with a behavior analytic orientation who…
- Wants to apply your, or your client’s, love of TTRPGs to promote behavior change
- Is already using TTRPGs at work and wants further grounding in behavior analytic principles
- Is not yet familiar with TTRPGs but is curious about how incorporating games can increase client engagement and relational frame density while teaching social skills, communication, emotional regulation, executive functioning, academics, replacements to maladaptive behavior, and more.
About the Presenter
Danielle Yang, BCBA, GTC has worked and supervised in several settings popular to behavior analysts before co-founding Fantasy Frameworks Therapy. These include inpatient and outpatient home and community behavior consultation; home, community, and clinic autism services; clinical therapy for psychological well being; and an EAB research lab. She has used TTRPGs therapeutically across 3 of those settings (“I’ll let you guess, it wasn’t with the pigeons”). She is Geek Therapy Certified and frequents trainings and consultations with the wider world of professionals using TTRPGs therapeutically outside of behavior analysis. She is passionate about bringing the therapeutic potential of TTRPGs more accessibly to behavior analysts. While not training professionals or serving clients, Danielle likes to hike, sing, cosplay, and play board games with friends and family.
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to…
- Tact evidence-based risks and benefits for incorporating TTRPG into behavior-change programs and conduct ethical risk-benefit assessments
- Check their biases and ensure their use of TTRPG stimuli in behavior analytic services systematically and efficiently function to promote externally valid client outcomes
- Describe the behavioral principles and interventions underlying the mid-level application of a TTRPG in behavior analytic services, and create behavior-change programs from within their personal competence
- Adjust interventions that utilize TTRPG stimuli based on functional analyses of assessment results and ongoing data
- Tact and avoid concerns related to efficiency, generalization, and legal compliance that could arise from improper use of TTRPG stimuli
Additionally, participants who capitalize on suggested homework opportunities will leave the course with a full plan prepared for using a TTRPG with one or more of their current clients
Course Outline
Homework: 1-2 hours of practical application exercises for outside of the course meetings are provided each week. These are not required for CEs or course completion, but are highly recommended for immediate generalization of course content to your practice
Section 1: Introduction 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU (.5 in ethics)
- TTRPG Application in Behavior Analytic Scope of Practice
- Literature Review of Applied TTRPG
- Considerations for YOUR Scope of Competence
Section 2: Risk-Benefit Analysis 1hr 30min 1.5 CEU (1 in ethics)
- Benefits of and Reasons to Use TTRPGs
- Conceptual Underpinnings for Behavior Change Through Narrative Roleplay
- Risks of and Reasons to Avoid or Adjust Use of TTRPGs
Section 3: Season Preparation 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU (.5 in ethics)
- Pre-Intervention Preparation
- Antecedent Strategies
- Trauma Informed Assessment & Ongoing Assent
Section 4: Session Structure 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU
- Session Structure Using TTRPGs
- Generalization and Maintenance Strategies
- Considerations for Data Collection
Section 5: Behavior Plan Part 1 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU
- Teaching Strategies
Section 6: Behavior Plan Part 2 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU
- Consequence Strategies
- Behavior Plan Write-Up
Section 7: Ongoing Intervention 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU
- Trial-Based Training Through TTRPG Encounters
- Data-Based Decision Making
Section 8: Deictic Frames of Reference 1hr 15min 1.5 CEU
- TTRPG Deictic Framing Perspectives
Section 9: Trial-Based Encounter Workshop 1hr 30min 1.5 CEU
- Live practice and feedback implementing a training trial
Section 10: Other Considerations and Resources 1hr 15min 1 CEU (.5 in ethics)
- Legal Considerations
- Documentation
- Resources for Further Training
Presenter Danielle Yang is the co-founder of Fantasy Frameworks Therapy.
She, nor her company, have any affiliation with other companies, products, or services that may be featured during the event
Applying TTRPGs in Behavior Analysis was
originally published for online purchase May 19th, 2025