Caregiver Gaming Group

Therapy Through Play: A Virtual Counseling Gamer Group for Caregivers and Helping Professionals

When: Mondays, 6:00–7:30 PM (Mountain Time)
Where: Caregiver Gaming Discord Server
Cost: $25 per session (private pay only)
Format: Drop-in, no weekly commitment required
Facilitated by: Andrew Koch, MA, LPC
Ages: Adults 18+ only

What to Expect

Caregiver Gaming Group is a unique, interactive therapy group where caregivers and helping professionals meet online to decompress, reconnect, and heal—through cooperative video games and shared digital experiences.

This is not a casual game night, nor is it a traditional therapy group. It’s a hybrid space where we use unstructured gameplay and reflective conversation to explore the emotional terrain of caregiving, grief, burnout, and identity.

Whether you’re exploring a galaxy in No Man’s Sky, storming a bunker in Foxhole, or just hanging out while crafting in Fallout 76, your presence is welcome and therapeutic.

How It Works

  • We meet virtually on Discord in a secure, private server called Caregiver Gaming. You’ll receive the link after your first intake session or once you complete your registration.
  • Each session opens with check-ins—personal, emotional, and practical.
  • You can either play your own game while being part of the conversation, or join one of our community sessions.
  • Gameplay is chosen collaboratively, based on interest and accessibility. Games like Castle Crashers, Halo, Foxhole, and Fallout 76 are common group favorites.
  • We reflect on the experience in the last 20–30 minutes, connecting what happened in the game to what’s happening in real life—stress, resilience, communication, and boundaries.

What Makes This Therapeutic?

  • Play is expressive and emotional. It reveals patterns, beliefs, and internal states.
  • Shared gameplay creates a non-threatening platform to explore themes like teamwork, control, conflict, and failure.
  • Using metaphor and collaborative tasks, we learn about ourselves in real time.
  • The group is facilitated by a licensed therapist with experience in both trauma and digital spaces.

Important Details

  • This is a therapy group, not a social hangout. It is structured and clinically informed.
  • You must bring your own gaming device and software. We do not provide consoles, subscriptions, or copies of games.
  • You must be familiar with Discord or willing to learn. Tech support is limited, though we offer basic setup help.
  • You may participate silently or off-mic. We welcome neurodivergent, introverted, and fatigued attendees. Showing up counts. We will still make space for you to share.
  • This is a drop-in group. You do not need to commit weekly—but continuity helps deepen the experience.

Confidentiality in Digital Play

This group occurs in virtual public spaces, including online games and Discord voice channels. Because we are using third-party platforms and participating in public multiplayer environments, there are unique limitations to confidentiality.

Here’s what to be aware of:

  • We use a private voice channel on Discord for group communication, but game servers may expose you to the public.
  • Your in-game username or gamertag may be visible to others not in the group.
  • Interactions with non-group players during games like Foxhole or Fallout 76 are unavoidable.
  • You’re encouraged to use discretion in what you share while in public multiplayer lobbies.
  • As a licensed provider, I maintain all ethical and legal standards for confidentiality on my end. However, full privacy cannot be guaranteed in digital play spaces.

We will review these risks during your intake session. You always have the choice to observe, play solo, or simply be part of the voice conversation.

Who Is This For?

This group is ideal for:

  • Family caregivers needing a way to connect that isn’t emotionally draining
  • Helping professionals who enjoy games but feel isolated
  • Neurodivergent or younger adults who process better through activity
  • Those who want therapy to feel like an experience, not a chore

You do not need to be “good” at games. You just need to show up with openness and curiosity.

Games We Play (and Why)

  • Foxhole – Explore cooperation, communication, and conflict in large-scale community warfare.
  • Halo Series – Strategy, pacing, teamwork, and emotional regulation.
  • Castle Crashers – Fast-paced humor and teamwork in a light setting.
  • Fallout 76 – Exploration, identity-building, grief themes.
  • No Man’s Sky – Wonder, solitude, rebuilding after collapse.
  • Let me know if you’d like links for other games or platforms.
  • Or your own game of choice—Minecraft, Stardew Valley, or a solo game you want to quietly play while connected

Getting Started

This group is LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed, and rooted in values of respect, humility, and non-judgment. You don’t have to be a caregiver “in crisis” or have any therapy experience to attend. All emotional states and stories are welcome.

However, to ensure the group is a safe and appropriate fit for each participant, all new members are required to complete a brief intake screening before attending their first session. This helps us understand your goals, assess whether the group structure aligns with your therapeutic needs, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

The intake screening includes:

  • A confidential conversation to discuss your caregiving experiences, gaming background, and current emotional needs.
  • A review of the group format, including how we balance gameplay with therapeutic dialogue.
  • An overview of the unique confidentiality considerations involved with therapy in public online gaming spaces.
  • An opportunity to identify any accommodations or supports that might help you feel comfortable and included.

This is not an evaluation or test—it’s a supportive conversation designed to set you up for success in the group and to ensure that this space meets your needs.

After completing the intake and if we mutually agree the group is a good fit, you’ll receive access to the Caregiver Gaming Discord server and instructions for participating.

To schedule your intake screening, email Andrew at andrew@contemplativecaregiver.com with your name, preferred contact information, and general availability.

Your participation is valued, and this screening helps maintain a safe, affirming, and effective environment for everyone.

Therapy Can Look Like This

Sitting at your desk. Wearing a headset. Exploring a ruined digital city while talking about real grief. Rebuilding something in a game while learning how to rebuild yourself. This is therapy—quiet, real, connected, and alive.