So this month I would like to talk about LRP, or for those of you who are not yet invested Live Action Roleplay. This is a hobby that I started way back in my distant past when I was training to be a teacher (I’ve been a LRPer longer than a therapist!). Sometimes described as Dungeons and Dragons but acted out in a field or castle rather than with dice. The idea is that you create a character, sometimes similar to yourself, sometimes drastically different and follow their path, make choices they would make rather than those you would make and have the chance to explore the world around you in another way. My group is Curious Pastimes, others include Empire, do please follow the links and have a look if you are interested.

So why am I talking about this on a therapy blog? Well there is a growing number of therapists and researchers that are looking into how this type of emersion can be used as therapy, how beneficial people can find looking at other aspects of their character and trying out a behaviour where it is mostly risk free, there are a number of therapist who already subscribe to the theory of play therapy being really productive for inner child work and relaxation. This is a possible method of engaging in this behaviour. I personally think it can work to some extent on anger issues as well and become a great form of stress relief. It is a way to socialise in a community that already has something in common and is very diverse and accepting (it tends to be hard to be sexist and racist when you are talking to a genderless ogre/troll/owlbear/werewolf). Not to mention it’s a great workout.

For example my character started out as a healer (some of you may know I like to help people), but she developed into a leader, a diplomat, a lawyer, a wife, and a rather adept shield maiden, she speaks up for herself and others, she uses violence (yes accepted and safe within the system), she is also perfectly capable of falling in love, grieving and laughing as this character, then I have to return to reality. But it gives me the opportunity to experience these things, to take risks, to try behaviours that in real life may have more risk attached than just the call of Time Out on a Sunday night. It is also a wonderful way to relax and play like I used to as a child, free from responsibility and worry about the world around me.

Please do look into either table top roleplay or live roleplay if this feels like something that may benefit you.

Photo by Steve Mitchell  This is Myself and one of my best and life long friends who’s character here is Aursa.

If you’d like video, telephone or face to face counselling in the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Staffordshire area please do contact Wright Minds at laura@wrightminds.co.uk or on 07598810304