Dungeons & Dragons: Communication and Social Skills Group

A stylized illustration of a camping scene at night with two blue tents, a campfire, and four children sitting around it. The sky features a crescent moon, stars, and clouds, with trees in the background and plants around the area.

Ages 13–17

Play, connect, and build skills through D&D.

D&D gives teens a creative way to connect with peers and practice social skills while playing a game together. This small, therapist-led group uses tabletop role-playing and collaborative storytelling to build communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and perspective-taking. I’ve completed training through Game to Grow, an organization that specializes in using games therapeutically.

No D&D experience needed, and you don’t have to think of yourself as a “gamer.” We’ll learn together.

Who This Group Is For

Ages 13–14
This group may be a good fit for a younger teen who:

  • Finds it hard to make or keep friends

  • Feels like they don’t quite fit in with peers

  • Gets frustrated when things don’t go as planned

  • Connects more easily through an activity than through just talking

  • Loves games, stories, or imaginative play

Ages 15–17
This group may be a good fit for an older teen who:

  • Finds it hard to make or keep friends

  • Feels disconnected or unsure where they fit

  • Struggles to speak up, set boundaries, or handle conflict

  • Gets frustrated when plans or expectations change

  • Connects more easily through a shared activity than through just talking

What a Session Looks Like

A pink 20-sided die (d20) used in tabletop role-playing games, with the number 20 facing forward.

Play
The group continues a shared adventure, making decisions, solving problems, and working together toward their goals.

Flat purple icon of a person with a number 2 beside it, representing a second profile or entry.

Practice
The game naturally creates moments to practice real skills like listening, speaking up, compromising, and handling setbacks.

Two overlapping speech bubbles, one dark purple and one pink, with a simple, minimalistic style.

Reflect

We set aside time to talk about what happened in the game:

  • What went well?

  • What was hard?

  • How did our choices affect others?

  • Where could we use this outside the game?

This is where skills from the game start connecting to real life.

What to Expect

Being good at D&D isn’t the point. The game gives everyone a shared experience where they can try things out, connect with others, and have fun along the way.

Before joining, families have a brief consultation to make sure the group is a good fit. We’ll meet on Zoom and play using Owlbear Rodeo, a free online game board, so there’s nothing to download and no accounts needed.

Group Details

Ages: 13–14 or 15–17 (separate groups)
Format: Virtual
Group size: Up to 4 teens
Length: 8 weeks, 90-minute sessions
Cost: $45 per session ($360 total)

Coming Summer 2027
Have questions or want to know if this group would be a good fit?

contact taylor's garden