Power Word Queer: Using Tabletop Role-Playing Games as Expressive Art Therapy for the Queer Community: A Literature Review

Author

• Aliza King, Lesley UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-4-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

E Kellogg, PhD

Abstract

At a time when homophobia and transphobia are on the rise, and hard-won rights are being taken away, the Queer community needs heroes, magic, and hope. Tabletop role-playing games have become increasingly popular, particularly in the Queer community (Diamond, 2022). This literature review examines the existing research regarding TTRPGs as a psychological intervention, with particular focus on their value as an expressive art therapy intervention for Queer clients, using a socio-ecological model of Queer mental health (Mink et al., 2014) and drawing from core expressive arts theories. The results suggest that TTRPGs show promise as an effective tool for growth and healing, and merit more expansive study and concrete methodological development.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

King, Aliza, "Power Word Queer: Using Tabletop Role-Playing Games as Expressive Art Therapy for the Queer Community: A Literature Review" (2025). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 906.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/906