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I heard a story about a therapist that used RPGs as a tool to diagnose patients. They held group sessions with several patients and then had a private session with each of them to debrief.
I'm convinced a lot of things can reflect on the way people play and make up their character.
There's a book called Tabletop Role-playing Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master by Dr Megan A. Connel that's a really standout resource about this, she appeared on the official D&D podcast a year or so ago talking about it.
I'd say that this is more a resource for therapists to use TTRPGs than it is for DMs to act as therapists for their players. There's a fine line between accommodating your players' preferences and needs and providing unwanted therapy; if you want to actually put any therapy techniques into your game, ask your players approval first.
I just went looking for this. Here's a link to the podcast for everyone else: https://pca.st/episode/b8388458-0062-47c5-a259-fae295a45305
Every work of artistic expression, from painting, through photography, all the way to fantasy improv, is a little window into who you are
the imaginary you is being put in various situations, mysteries, plots, and they have to figure out their way to victory! (and at the same time reveal exactly how you appraoch problem solving, how your logic works, and what assumptions you make)
it's like the random shapes test but you don't even realise you're doing it
though it could get significantly harder to see through the layers of fantasy if you're dealing with experienced roleplayers playing their 50th character
Something clicked reading this comment and I realized how much my tabletop roleplay matches the way I approach conflict in real life. I always go for high charisma and try to talk down enemies and resolve through dialogue. I'll usually go for persuasion before deception and intimidation. Likewise I'm super averse to lying and getting in heated arguments in my real life encounters.
Hmm.