D&D-based Peer support groups
Welcome, exhausted travelers!
Are you feeling burnt out by the Spoonie life?
Are you struggling to budget your limited energy?
Are you looking for low-energy ways to recharge more effectively?
Do you ever wish you had friends who better understood how hard your day-to-day life is?
If any of these apply, you may be a good fit for one of my upcoming virtual D&D-based peer support groups! Within this circle, you can escape reality for a bit, harvest some dopamine, find community with folks who really understand your struggles, and build a rewarding hobby to enjoy for years to come. Those interested can even learn how to run their own games as a DM (Dungeon Master)!
Target Audience
My target audience includes folks experiencing one or both of the following:
a chronic illness or condition that drains or limits your energy (e.g. hEDS/POTS, migraine, fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, long COVID, chronic pain, chronic depression/anxiety, insomnia, burnout, etc.)
Neurodivergence that drains or limits your energy (e.g. diagnosed OR suspected ADHD or Autism, sensory processing differences, HSPs, etc.)
The focus of the groups will be on peer support, building energy-management and coping skills, finding sustainable self-care/recharging strategies, and resource-sharing. As a structured activity with clear rules and safety tools, D&D can also be a great context for some folks (e.g. some Autistics, folks with social anxiety, and deep introverts) to get to know others in a gradual, low-stakes, natural-feeling way. It’s basically the opposite of speed dating… Should we call it “slow friending,” maybe?
[Note: unlike in most therapy groups, participants in this support group will be free to offer friendship to other participants, though there will be some ground rules.]
Structure
These groups combine a lightly-psychoeducational D&D game (for 1-2 hours) with a more traditional support group format (for 30-60 minutes) for a total of 2-3 hours, depending on the needs of each group. Groups will be relatively small (aiming for 4-7 players per session) and I’m offering at least one reduced fee slot per group.
Each D&D campaign will be customized to fit the needs and goals of each group, including timing, length, and frequency, as well as story elements and challenges designed specifically for each player’s character, and for the group’s needs as a whole. These campaigns are generally rich in roleplay and problem-solving, and may be very low-combat in groups that prefer this. Safety is heavily prioritized, and multiple safety tools will be available.
Folks who wish to play every D&D session may book ahead as far as desired to reserve their spot in the group, and can expect their character’s backstory, traits, and goals to be carefully woven into the story. Players who can’t (or don’t wish to) attend on a regular basis may also choose to join the “drop in” list, to be notified of single-session openings as they arise, sometimes at a discount! (Please note: drop-in players’ characters may be less thoroughly integrated into the larger story, as these openings may be both last-minute and temporary.)
Character design
If designing your first PC (player character) feels intimidating or overwhelming, don’t worry; we’ll work on character design together during our first meeting as a group! This allows us to interweave characters’ stories, to identify clear goals and motivations, and to build richer characters overall. It also helps us ensure each character has a clear role (or roles) within the group, so each player can contribute to the story in a unique and meaningful way.
That said, I know some folks (myself included) prefer to think through their choices more thoroughly before committing to a particular class, species, or background. After all: you may be playing this PC for some time! So everyone who joins an active group will promptly be given access to my library of D&D manuals via DnDBeyond.com, to peruse their character options in the Player’s Handbook at their leisure.
Those who want more guidance may reach out via email or text, or may request a 1:1 character-design consultation (currently free), wherein I walk you through the whole process, and help you identify the best class, subclass, species, and background for your needs/wants as a player.
If all these options still sound like too much work, you can instead choose a premade character (one I’ve already optimized for the campaign). Or I can design a custom character for you, based on what sounds fun to you, and suited to your desired level of play complexity.
How to apply
Just fill out the form below to apply, or go ahead and schedule your free consultation! You don’t need to know anything about D&D to join, as I’ll be teaching the rules as we go, and adapting the rules-burden to fit each group’s needs.
Before being accepted into the group, you’ll be asked to participate in a free consultation with me (via video, phone, or email; your choice) to ensure you’re a good fit for a current or upcoming group, and to discuss your hopes for the group. Depending upon the number of applicants versus openings, you may be offered a spot in an existing or upcoming group, or you may be placed on a wait list for future group openings.