In-Game Character Building for Personal Growth

There is wellness in the act of re-imaginging yourself in a game as an opportunity to more deeply grow and understand yourself! Whether your interests are in video games, table top role-player games (TTRPGs) or computer games, having space to redefine yourself can be a deeply rewarding and illuminating experience. In my experience of TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart and Stormlight Archives I have found great joy and self-expression in making an in-game character that expands on who I am as a person. In that process, here are a few benefits I found in making characters that have benefited my mental health:

• More deeply understanding myself. When I have created characters that have reminded me of myself, whether they look like me or not, I have found great reward being able to roleplay parts of myself in gaming situations that have helped me learn what I like about myself and where I could use fine-tuning. As well, when I make characters that I perceive are completely opposite of who I am, I can garner sympathy and empathy because I realize the character I created is much more like me than I realized!

  
  

• Improving my mood. In the midst of creating a character for a TTRPG (or in seasons when I played video games and computer games), I found a great sense of relief and satisfaction in designing an avatar that represents me in a game. That sense of appreciation is found in being able to imagine myself in any way possible. To some extent the things I admire in my character build are more attainable than I first imagined. In fact, when I make that character who has super human strength, I may not have such in my real life, but I can begin to embody or work towards such in the online community. As a result, this creative process helps me to feel good about myself - thus improving my self-esteem and self-worth.

  
  

• Fostering empathy and difference recognition. There are a variety of games that navigate challenging topics and themes. In the midst of character creation, sometimes choosing specific personas can cause your in-game character to experience challenge and adversity. As a result, this can produce opportunities to understand the experiences of others as a means to foster compassion, respect and validation.

If TTRPGs are not in your wheelhouse to explore in-game character creation, try one of the following computer or video games while bearing in mind that each game may explore different or difficult themes/topics:

• Baulder’s Gate 3

• Skyrim

• Sims 4

• Monster Hunter: World/Rise

• Fallout Series

• World of Warcraft

As well, consider going to your local book/gaming store. Places like Sidequest Books and Games and Pandemonium Books and Games can be good options to explore character creation that are different from the TTRPGs mentioned earlier!

Want to explore in-game character building through a therapeutic lens? We offer two in person Dungeons and Dragons Therapy Groups led by dungeon master and licensed mental health clinician Lou Lim. Check out our website for more details and a link to sign up. The Thursday afternoon group starts September 24. Both groups are booking up fast!

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Lou Lim, LMHC, REAT is a licensed mental health counselor and registered expressive arts therapist (REAT) with a master's degree in Expressive Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. He is a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association and on the committee for REAT credentialing. He has 13 years of experience in counseling and expressive therapy working with children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, and retirees.

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