We make the story together: Collaborative role-play groups

We make the story together: Collaborative role-play groups

Author: Charts & Leisure April 22, 2026 Duration: 42:21

Can a game of Dungeons & Dragons become a powerful tool for therapy?

In this episode of Unravelling, Mary and Kurt explore how tabletop role-playing games are being used in group psychotherapy to help people experiment with new ways of relating, build emotional awareness, and imagine different futures for themselves.

They’re joined by Dr. Vinny Dehili, a licensed psychologist and group therapy specialist, and E. Merten, a clinical social worker and educator. Together, they introduce Collaborative Role-Playing Integrative Therapy (CRIT), an approach that blends the structure of D&D with the goals of process-oriented group therapy.

Through character creation, shared storytelling, and even in-game “failure,” this conversation reveals how fantasy worlds can open up very real possibilities for growth, flexibility, and self-compassion.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. In upcoming episodes, Kurt and Mary, joined by Unravelling producers Andrew and Hans, will step into the game themselves, guided by Vinny and E.

Correction: While previously accurate, Vinny is no longer serving in the co-chair roles mentioned in the episode (DEI Taskforce and Racial & Ethnic Diversity SIG)

Links:

Change the Narrative Therapy - Vinny Dehili
Advance Psychotherapy Practice - E. Merten
Vinny and E's Substack


There’s a thread that connects our inner lives to the culture we live in, and Unravelling pulls on it to see what emerges. This isn’t a lecture series, but a conversation guided by therapist Kurt White and journalist Mary Wilson, who bring their distinct perspectives to every discussion. They explore how mental health is woven into everything from our daily fitness routines and societal pressures to the art we consume and the relationships we keep. In each episode, you’ll hear from experts who study the mind alongside individuals sharing their personal, lived experiences, creating a dialogue that feels both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. The aim is to move beyond simple definitions, examining how anxiety, resilience, joy, and struggle shape our collective reality. Produced by Charts & Leisure, this podcast provides a space for nuance, challenging the idea that our psychological worlds exist in a vacuum. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the tension between their private thoughts and the public world, offering not easy answers but a more textured understanding. By listening, you become part of a broader exploration into how compassion, for ourselves and our society, can actually be built from a place of genuine curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 53

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