Tabletop Therapy

06/08/2026

Do you ever allow players to make a check WITHOUT rolling their dice?

I've definitely done this before:
- When the player is making a charisma check (typically persuasion) and does some excellent RP
- When the player is making a sleight of hand check to build a cool trap or gizmo and has a creative and clever plan

Some risks I have found with this approach is that by removing the mechanics of dice, you could be uneven in rewarding your players. For example, maybe your sense of humor or play style is more similar to one person, so you consistently hand wave their checks, but make others roll.

When I do this at the therapy table, it is ALWAYS done in a skill-challenge format where every player gets the opportunity to do something clever without dice, and then again to do something clever with dice. In the therapeutic play setting, clear balance should be felt by all of the players with no chance to perceive preferential treatment or favoritism.

What do you think? How have you tried this?

Dice isn't always right

06/07/2026

Why do you play and what are your favorite games?

As a family, we consistently come back to:
- D&D
- Carcassonne
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Scythe ( Stonemaier Games )
- Everdell

What game do you think is missing from this list? ☺️

Hobbyists explain why they love tabletop games so much during the 2026 UK Game Expo in Birmingham.

06/04/2026

Do you have a busy child in your life?

Here are my top picks for board games to try with kids who have ADHD:

For children with ADHD, the right board game can provide opportunities to practice attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, working memory, flexible thinking, and social skills while having fun, too!

06/02/2026

Are you struggling to fit your hobbies (board games, D&D, reading, hiking, cooking, etc.) into your daily life?

Same.

Play is important! You can always sleep when you're dead... 🙃

05/31/2026

What is the longest D&D campaign you've ever run or played in?

I'm working on finalizing the end-game story beats for a 6 year campaign (Sunless Citadel, Lost Mines of Phandelver, heavily modified Tyranny of Dragons). Tiamat is hanging out for the vibes.

I definitely learned and grew a lot as a DM in this particular story. I made a bunch of plotlines so that the world would feel alive for my players, who very dutifully tracked down 90% of the leads. But the plentiful plotlines have made the final year of the campaign challenging as I work to thread everything together.

Key things I learned:
- You don't have to be perfect or know every answer
- Peak creativity thrives in small moments, not long hours prepping
- Remember who you're playing with and why they matter to you both inside and outside of the game
- Your planned story is not yours alone - be willing to share and change based on what your players do
- Take notes!!!

05/29/2026

Who is the best D&D friend? For me it's obviously Peter - snacks are #1.

Follow up question - what is your top D&D snack?

05/28/2026

Would you be a fat & friendly park squirrel, a flying squirrel, or a rabies squirrel? How about all of the above!

Play as a squirrel struggling to survive in a gritty, daunting, human-filled world. The squirrel species is a perfect addition for dark, dangerous, probably a bit silly, but nonetheless unforgettable adventures.

I made this fun FREE handout with the directions to create a variant squirrel character using D&D (2024) rules to go with my Vermin & Vagabonds 5E D&D supplement. It's easy to use because it just rethemes the existing rules, so you can drop it on the table tonight. :)

Download it for free here:
https://tabletoptherapy.org/downloads/squirrel-vermin-and-vagabonds-5e-supplement/

05/27/2026

Have you played through Ravenloft? What did you think of it?

It's one of the gaps in my personal D&D experience - I've done Death House as a player twice, but never gone much farther in the campaign. I've heard many say it is their favorite official campaign of 5E.

I think for my typical clientele (kids) it would be too dark for me to DM, although maybe okay with older teens who enjoy that sort of thing. I think it would probably be enjoyed at a table with my friends, though.

Dungeons & Dragons is introducing new and updated subclasses, terrifying species, and dark feats in its upcoming sourcebook.

05/25/2026

What game (RPG or board game) has been most impactful in your life?

How has it changed you?

For me, I think it is D&D - but there are some board games I love that have also built lasting, meaningful friendships.

Researchers at the University of Plymouth recently confirmed what board game fans and role-playing game (RPG) enthusiasts have known for decades: that tabletop games "enhance well-being, foster inclusion, and support learning, with strong evidence that games improve engagement."

05/24/2026

I've had so much fun creating this new adventure supplement - go exploring beneath the floorboards in this animal-themed 5.5E supplement!

Play as rats, foxes, cats, mice, raccoons, and other critters struggling to survive in a gritty, daunting, human-filled world.

Featuring SRD-compatible species reskins, thematic tweaks, new items, and 12 new feats, this new addition is perfect for dark, dangerous, silly, and unforgettable adventures.

Stay tuned for the upcoming one-shot adventures & the campaign!

https://tabletoptherapy.org/downloads/vermin-and-vagabonds-5e-supplement/

My Top 5 Favorite Fun Fine Motor Board Game Picks Fine motor skills – so many games and toys purport to build them, but do they? – As a pediatric occupational therapist, fine motor and fun are my forte! 🙂 Let me help point you in the right direction as you look for the right game for your chi...