The Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games

What if your most powerful therapeutic tool came with a d20?

Tabletop role-playing games aren't just for dungeon crawlers — they're one of the most versatile, neurodiversity-affirming tools available to occupational therapists, mental health professionals, and educators today. Inside a game, clients practice real skills: negotiating conflict, reading social cues, managing frustration, building trust, and finding their voice — all within a safe, structured world of imagination.

The Game to Grow Training Series equips you with everything you need to bring this approach into your practice with confidence and clinical integrity. Built on the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games (TA-RPG), this three-level training takes you from foundational theory to masterful facilitation — with a path to becoming a fully Certified Therapeutic Game Master.

Each level builds on the last. Start with the "why" and the research. Deepen into hands-on facilitation skills. Then advance to the nuanced art of therapeutic game mastering — intake, goal alignment, group cohesion, and the moments at the table that truly change lives. Complete all three levels and you're on your way to a credential that sets you apart.

For OTs working with sensory, social, and emotional regulation goals, TA-RPG offers something rare: a modality that meets clients in intrinsic motivation. When a child chooses to enter the game, they're already engaged — and engagement is where growth happens.

Every course includes a digital download of Critical Core, the therapeutic RPG system designed by Game to Grow — so you can bring it straight to your clinic, classroom, or group room.

This training is for occupational therapists, mental health professionals, educators, and community members who believe that play is serious work.

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LEVEL 1 | Begin Your Journey to Master the Art of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
Livestream - On-Demand | $325

This seven-hour training consists of a general survey of the relevant literature and grounding theory of this intervention, an introduction into the specific foundation and theory of the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games (TA-RPG), as well as facilitation tips and session structure guidelines. At the end of this training, you will have the foundational knowledge in the Game to Grow Method and will be able to communicate effectively with parents, clients, and administrators about the benefits and potential risks of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games. 

• Empower Your Practice: Enhance your therapeutic techniques through a combination of theory, strategy, and role-playing experiences.
• Develop Your Knowledge: Learn how to integrate role-playing games into a variety of educational settings, community programs, and therapeutic interventions.
• Step into Your Learning Journey: Lay the foundation of training to deepen your expertise, refine your facilitation skills, and create impactful experiences for your participants.

There will be a one-hour break mid-session. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon completion of the training and a short post-training quiz.

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LEVEL 2 | Level Up Your Knowledge of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
Livestream | $600

This seven-hour training builds on the theory and strategies introduced in the level one training to grow your capacity with the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing games (TA-RPG) through interactive instruction and small group activities. Through your participation in this training, you will gain a strong grounding in The Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games (TA-RPG). You will be able to implement these groups in populations with which you have familiarity and experience. 

• Enhance Your Therapeutic Skills: Learn techniques for using affect to increase immersion and communicate with players.
• Diverse and Inclusive Gameplay: Utilize collaborative story and world-building methods with players to support cohesion and engagement.
• Masterful Game Facilitation: Identify and address common roadblocks such as disengagement, distrust, and intra-group conflict.

There will be a one-hour break mid-session. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon completion of the training and a short post-training quiz.

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LEVEL 3 | Master the Art of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
Livestream | $600

This seven-hour training builds on the theory and strategies introduced in the level one and two training to improve your skills as a therapeutic game master. Deepen your understanding of The Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games (TA-RPG) through interactive instruction and small group work, including game play. 

• Master Therapeutic Game Techniques: Advance your skills in therapeutic game mastering and deepen your understanding of TA-RPG methods through interactive small group work.
• Enhance Player Engagement: Learn to design and implement non-player characters and utilize table management strategies to create immersive gaming experiences.
• Connect with Clients Masterfully: Gain expertise in effective client intakes and stakeholder goal identification to foster group cohesion and support player engagement

There will be a one-hour break mid-session. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon completion of the training and a short post-training quiz.

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BECOME A GAME TO GROW CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC GAME MASTER

What Comes After Level Three? 

To complete your certification in the Game to Grow Method of TA-RPG and become a Certified Game to Grow Therapeutic Game Master, you must complete the following requirements within a period of five years: 

• Successfully complete Level One, Level Two, and Level Three in the Mental Health Professionals Track 
• Submit a narrative self-reflection outlining your strengths and challenges as a therapeutic Game Master 
• Actively provide group-based therapeutic games, which will be reviewed and discussed during the certification consultation 
• Complete a one-on-one, 30-minute consultation session with a group consultation facilitator to reflect on your practice and readiness for certification 

Why Become a Certified Game to Grow Therapeutic Game Master? 

Becoming a Certified Game Master recognizes more than completed coursework—it honors how you show up at the table. Certification allows you to: 

• Claim your role as a skilled facilitator of therapeutic, relationship-centered play 
• Demonstrate your commitment to ethical, intentional, and neurodiversity-affirming game-based practice 
• Join a growing community of professionals using play to support connection, growth, and mental health 
• Be discoverable to others seeking trained Therapeutic Game Masters 
• Share your credentials confidently using a digital certification badge across your professional spaces 

Certification Cost 

• The final certification step requires a $100 certification fee 

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Instructors: 

Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L
Executive Director (she/her)

Virginia is a well-travelled speaker, coach and educator on topics including sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, child development and infant mental health. She has conducted trainings in Kenya, Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the USA and leads workshops at international conferences.  

Virginia is a founder and former Clinical Director of SPOT (Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy) Interdisciplinary Children's Therapy Center in Hong Kong, where she led a large and widely respected inter-disciplinary team.

Virginia obtained her BSc in Occupational Therapy in Oxford England (2002) and her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (2018). Virginia obtained her PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development (with an emphasis on mental health) from Fielding Graduate University in 2021.

Virginia is a DIR/Floortime Training Leader and Expert and clinical consultant for the Interdisciplinary Council for Development and Learning (ICDL). Her extensive pediatric experience includes supporting autistic children and their families, as well as children with Sensory Processing Disorder, infant mental health issues, from adopted families and those who have experienced developmental trauma.  

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Adam D. Davis, MA Ed

Adam co-founded Game to Grow and is a principle architect of the Game to Grow Method of Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games. With a degree in drama therapy from Antioch University Seattle, he has provided training to hundreds of professionals in TA-RPG and spoken to thousands about applied gaming. Adam is published in the field of geek therapy, with his most recent publication being Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games: The Game to Grow Method. In addition to his work with Game to Grow, Adam also developed the CoRe Gaming program for Seattle’s Atlantic Street Center to teach Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills using video games, served as an educator at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and taught fourth-grade literacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know how to play Dungeons & Dragons or other tabletop RPGs to take this training? No prior gaming experience is required. The Game to Grow Method is its own framework — you'll learn everything you need to facilitate therapeutic role-playing games confidently, regardless of your familiarity with tabletop games.

Do the levels need to be completed in order? Yes. Each level builds directly on the one before it. Level 1 must be completed before enrolling in Level 2, and Level 2 before Level 3.

Is this training eligible for continuing education units (CEUs)? Please contact us at education@sensoryhealth.org for the most current information on CEU eligibility for your profession and licensure.

What is included with each course? Every course includes a digital download of Critical Core, the therapeutic RPG system designed by Game to Grow, along with a Certificate of Completion upon passing a short post-training quiz.

Are the trainings live or can I complete them on my own schedule? Level 1 is available livestream/on-demand and can be completed at your own pace. Levels 2 and 3 are delivered via livestream. Check back for updated dates or join the waitlist to be notified when new sessions are scheduled.

Can I purchase all three levels together? Yes — the Bundle Training Series includes all three levels at a discount of $200, bringing the total to $1,325 instead of $1,525 if purchased separately.

What happens after I complete Level 3? Completing all three levels puts you on the path to becoming a Certified Game to Grow Therapeutic Game Master. Certification requires a narrative self-reflection, documented group-based therapeutic game sessions, and a 30-minute one-on-one consultation with a certified facilitator — all completed within five years. A $100 certification fee applies at the final step.

How long do I have to complete the certification after finishing Level 3? You have five years from completing your training to fulfill all certification requirements.

What populations is this approach best suited for? The Game to Grow Method is designed to support a wide range of populations, including neurodivergent individuals, those working on social-emotional skills, and clients in mental health and occupational therapy settings. Levels 2 and 3 focus specifically on implementing groups with populations where you already have clinical familiarity.

I'm not a mental health professional — is this training still appropriate for me? Yes. The training series welcomes educators and community members alongside clinical professionals. Note that the Certified Therapeutic Game Master credential is currently structured for the Mental Health Professionals Track, so reach out if you have questions about which pathway fits your background.

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Cancellation Policy:

Because this program will be recorded and accessible at your convenience, cancellations are not typically accepted. Please contact education@sensoryhealth.org if you have any questions or concerns.

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Do you need any accommodations to participate fully and comfortably?

Please contact us at education@sensoryhealth.org and describe how we can help accommodate your needs.