FAQ

Have a question for us?

See some answers below and if you still have a question, do not hesitate to contact us.

D&D Therapy

Why are the gameplay sessions fortnightly?

It is set to be fortnightly so you can alternate between gameplay and individual counselling sessions weekly, giving players time to reflect on things between sessions encouraging therapeutic growth. This can also make it more affordable for everyone involved.

The gameplay sessions (group therapy) are fortnightly and will have a set date and time, while your 30-minute individual counselling sessions are flexible depending on availability.

It is encouraged to use and book these individual sessions before your next gameplay session to encourage ongoing reflection and development, however you are also welcome to use them whenever suits you best or combine two for an hour counselling, or use one to make your next two 45 minutes each etc. This way once they are paid for you can use them however you wish and each campaign has a total of 5 hours of individual counselling. You are also welcome to purchase more if needed (see general counselling prices).

Please note that the individual counselling is part of this service and cannot be excluded from the gameplay as it is vital to the therapeutic aspects and is not refundable if not used. They will last until 2 weeks after a campaign finishes before expiring. If you would like to play D&D without the therapeutic element from a licensed counsellor there are other services that just focus exclusively on gameplay.

Can I play more often/less often than fortnightly?

Yes gameplay sessions can be more often if you are someone that loves to play D&D and wish to join a group that does this. However, it can make waiting to find a group longer. This may also be an option for parents that want it to operate alongside the school terms (10 weeks instead of 20 weeks to complete a campaign). Keeping in mind there are still the individual counselling sessions you will have as well to use.

For less often than fortnightly it is not recommended as campaigns can take an extremely long time to get through, which can make it difficult to remember what has occurred, keep engagement and can impact the therapeutic development.

Why are the groups 4-6 people?

Dungeons & Dragons is best suited for a group of 4 or 5 players. This helps to encourage social interactions, teamwork and a collaborative experience. 6 is the maximum amount allowed to ensure that all players will get the best therapeutic experience, and in case of any absences the gameplay sessions can proceed without issue.

If you would like to play with a group of less than 4 people, prices will increase per fewer people, and the difficulty of the campaigns will be reduced accordingly which may restrict some of the campaign adventures/themes available.

Can I play with family or friends?

Yes you are welcome to play with family and friends and this can be a good bonding experience. Remembering that you will all have your own individual counselling sessions to explore anything you would like to discuss confidentially.

‍Please note that unless there are at least 4 people, others may be added to the group to make the required number of players. ‍

What can I expect in a session/campaign?

Each campaign is customised around the goals of the group and players. I have planned themed campaigns that your group will select one during the Session 0 when creating your characters, which will then be customised fully around your group before the first session. Even if two different groups select the same theme, it will never be the exact same world having different locations and characters. In addition, Dungeons & Dragons has limitless possibilities so no two groups would ever have the exact same experience making it fully customised to you and your group.

Each of the ten sessions is basically a sub quest of the campaign/story leading to the conclusion of the main quest in session 10. Therefore, to get the full therapeutic experience you will need to complete the campaign.

Once a campaign is completed you are welcome to join another campaign, creating a different character to explore a different aspect of yourself.
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Example of the themes;

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The Dragon’s Tyranny – Fight to free the land from an evil dragon!
A Feywild Celebration – Assist the bizarre creatures with their dilemma!
The Lost Treasure – Explore the dangerous desert ruins to uncover its riches!
A Seafaring Exploration – Battle pirates and journey to unexplored territory!
Warring Nations – Help bring peace to two warring kingdoms, or take a side!
A Murder Mystery – Be detectives and find the clues to discover the culprit!
And more!

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Why is the minimum age 10?

Dungeons & Dragons requires basic numeracy and literacy and gameplay can also go for long periods of time requiring attention. While it can be a shorter length with simpler roleplaying to get the best therapeutic experience it is recommended for anyone above the age of 10, that can explore themselves on a deeper level through their characters while having fun.

Is the TV, Table, Miniatures etc necessary for Dungeons and Dragons?

No, none of this is necessary in order to play Dungeons & Dragons, however I would like to offer the best experience possible for my clients and these things can massively enhance gameplay and the overall experience!

The TV mounted on the wall is used to show world maps, show images of characters I am roleplaying, environmental backgrounds and even to display puzzles. I also have a portable TV that I use to display battle maps when needed that is placed in the middle of table.

The table, ambient colour changing lighting, all the miniatures and more will help you to immerse yourself in the gameplay to help create a high-end Dungeons & Dragons therapeutic experience for you!

Who made your gaming table?

My custom-made gaming table was created by The Weathered Dragon. Check out their website and Instagram if you would like to see more amazing content from them!

‍https://www.theweathereddragon.com/

Play Therapy

How often are the sessions?

Play therapy sessions are scheduled as needed, booking as you go depending on availability. It is recommended to do weekly or fortnightly sessions, and overtime as you feel more comfortable lessening the frequency as you begin to feel more connected.

Although anytime you need to you are always welcome to rebook frequent sessions if you need them.

Is this for adults as well?

Yes, play is important for adults too and not just children and teenagers. It helps to entertain us and connect with our inner self.

Often as we grow older we can neglect play more as we take on and juggle more responsibilities and dismiss play as childish, but yet it still remains vital to our health by engaging our creativity and allowing us to take much needed breaks to recharge and reconnect!

What sort of games are included?

Some of the main games included in this are Therapeutic Jenga, Emotions Uno, Symbolic Chess, Positive and Negative Snakes and Ladders and many more board games that have been adapted to include therapeutic activities and learning.

Just want to play those games while talking about things? That is completely ok too!

Have a favourite board game you love playing? Let me know and I will see if I can incorporate it.

What is the minimum age for play therapy?

The minimum age for my private practice is 10 years of age. While play therapy is for all ages and there are so many different types of play that are suited to different age groups. Similarly to my Dungeons & Dragons roleplay therapy, I am only taking clients from the age of 10+ as most of methods require literacy and numeracy skills, with therapeutic goals in mind for those wishing to explore themselves on a deeper level while having fun.

For those looking for play therapy for younger children there is a variety of counselling services out there that focus on early childhood development.

Why is this only offered in person compared to your other services?

Play therapy involves playing various games while talking about things as a way to facilitate creative expression and exploration. While there are virtual games it can be difficult to incorporate therapeutic elements into them compared to in person. Online games often have additional costs required to play for everyone involved, and often lack the sensory engagements that can help us connect. I may explore expanding into online methods for play therapy later on.

General counselling

How often are the sessions?

General counselling sessions are scheduled as needed, booking as you go depending on availability. It is recommended to do weekly or fortnightly sessions, and overtime as you feel more comfortable lessening the frequency as you begin to feel more connected.

Although anytime you need to you are always welcome to rebook frequent sessions if you need them.

What can I expect in a session?

Each session is one-on one and I am a qualified counsellor. We’ll talk about anything you do feel comfortable sharing, such as what you are going through, exploring your emotions and come up with strategies together to help you feel better. Sometimes I like to listen so you can express yourself, and other times I will ask you reflective questions to help you challenge your way of thinking to discover and understand yourself on a deeper level.

This is a journey and you are always allowed to explore things at your own pace.

What is the difference between a counsellor, psychologist and psychiatrist?

Counsellors tend to offer more humanistic and person-centred approaches, while psychologists typically focus more on cognitive-behavioural approaches. The main difference is that psychologists are allowed to diagnose mental health disorders, while counsellors cannot but can still work with individuals with diagnoses.

A psychiatrist is trained as a medical doctor that can diagnose, and can prescribe medication, unlike counsellors and psychologists.

Often people with mental health disorders will have a mental health care team with a counsellor and/or psychologist they speak to for therapy, and a psychiatrist they see when they need medication prescribed or altered, alongside working with a general practitioner (GP) for any other health concerns. This can help people to feel more supported with a collaborative team and can help to lower costs.

How is this different from therapy I’ve done before?

Every therapy is different and often it is about finding the correct counsellor you feel comfortable talking to. My approach is that I like to personalise it so that it is tailored around your specific needs. It’s about helping you find what works best for you, not a one-size fits all solution.

Do you offer relationship, couples or family counselling?

Yes this is available depending on what is required, however often it is recommended to start with individual counselling sessions so that everyone has a safe space to express themselves first and to increase therapeutic productivity for everyone involved. For additional people during general counselling sessions please contact me regarding pricing.

How were the prices determined?

As a sole trader & counselling private practice I have set my prices to ensure all expenses are covered, while trying to ensure clients get the best value possible.

According to the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), counselling/therapy fees are usually between $100-160 per hour not including GST. This is often cheaper than what psychologists charge even with rebates.

For the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplay Therapy at $165 per session (GST included), it includes 3 hours of gameplay (Group Therapy) and a 30-minute individual counselling session. For 3.5 hours worth of counselling fortnightly that is approximately $47.15 per hour.

For Play Therapy and General Counselling Sessions I have aligned my hourly prices so that my services as a counsellor are as affordable as possible.

All the prices include the 10% goods and service tax (GST).

What do my fees go towards?

As mentioned in the above question I am a sole trader. That means I do have personal expenses such as cost of living, rent, bills etc that I need to pay to continue operating my private practice, however most of the income will go towards operational costs and equipment upgrades to ensure the best possible experience for clients.

As someone that values transparency, counsellors have a lot of costs and hours beyond the time they spend directly with clients. This includes administration, supervision, memberships, planning, note taking, ongoing professional development and more.

As a business specialising in Dungeons & Dragons roleplay therapy, a lot of the income will go towards obtaining new miniatures, maps, props, books, equipment etc (both physically and digitally), as well as maintaining any subscriptions such as D&D Beyond. All of this is to offer clients the best experience and to keep things exciting as possible and for things to continually grow and evolve!

If you do have any questions regarding costs/fees, please feel free to ask me.

Can I claim Medicare Rebates?

Unfortunately counsellors are not currently covered by Medicare, even though counsellors can provide some of the same or similar services some Medicare funded services provide such as psychologists, mental health social workers and credentialed mental health nurses.

The good news is that the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and other advocates in the counselling industry are working hard to bring counselling services under the Medicare umbrella and provide better outcomes for all Australians.

If you have private health insurance it is worth checking with your insurer if they offer counselling rebates depending on your policy.

Is this NDIS Friendly?

Yes, it is. I am currently in the process of exploring registering my private practice with NDIS, but it can still count as an unregistered provider delivering services.

If you have either a self-managed plan or plan-managed plan you should still be able to claim this as these categories (or similar) depending on the therapeutic service you engage in at Roleplay Reflections;
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Core – Assistance with Social and Community Participation (category 4)
Capacity building supports – Increased Social and Community Participation (category 9)
Capacity building supports – Improved Relationships (category 11)
Capacity building supports – Improved Daily Living Skills (category 15)

Where is this located locally in Western Australia?

For anyone interested in doing any of my counselling services in person, my private practice is located in Wanneroo, Western Australia. Address provided upon registration.

Can you take clients outside of Australia?

With my Australian Counselling Association (ACA) membership I am currently only licensed to practice to those living in Australia. (ACA Level 2 Membership).

While I do have the option of applying for international registrations to offer my services to those overseas via online methods, I must apologise as it is something I do not plan on doing anytime soon personally. Each country (and state within them) have their own laws and regulations regarding mental health that practitioners must comply with, which can vary greatly.

As counsellors we have a duty of care and ethical responsibility to ensure clients that we take are safe and are obliged to follow legal requirements. Currently I am only comfortable with my knowledge of Australian mental health laws and safety compliances.

Confidentiality

All sessions will be conducted in confidence. What is discussed in sessions with you will be kept confidential however, there are certain exceptions to this. For example:
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Files subpoenaed by a court
Disclosure of information that would place you and/or another person at immediate risk
Mandated notifications
Case discussion with my supervisor/s
Your approval has been obtained to some text
1. Provide a written report to another professional or agency, or
2. Discuss the material with another person

For the Dungeons & Dragons roleplay therapy, since it is mostly a group environment clients will agree to keep all information relating directly to another person as private as possible (will be discussed in the session 0), beyond discussing what their character did in game for example attacking a dragon instead of negotiating. However, clients are encouraged to only share personal information or issues they would like to discuss in the individual counselling sessions to keep it separate from the group environment.

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If there are any concerns regarding confidentiality, please contact me immediately.

Cancellations, Payments & Refunds

If you need to cancel a session you are expected to give 24 hours notice of any cancellation, or adjustment to your pre-scheduled session time, otherwise you will be charged for the session at the full rate. Prior to any counselling services being provided you will consent to these terms and conditions.

Refunds or non-payment for sessions without the 24 hours notice will only be offered in cases of emergencies with evidence being provided if necessary.

If you have purchased the 10 sessions upfront for a Dungeons & Dragons roleplay therapy campaign, and are no longer able to continue the campaign, refunds can be organised for the remaining sessions/value left excluding the free 10^th session.

FAQ

Have a question for us?

D&D Therapy

Why are the gameplay sessions fortnightly?

Can I play more often/less often than fortnightly?

Why are the groups 4-6 people?

Can I play with family or friends?

What can I expect in a session/campaign?

Why is the minimum age 10?

Is the TV, Table, Miniatures etc necessary for Dungeons and Dragons?

Who made your gaming table?

Play Therapy

How often are the sessions?

Is this for adults as well?

What sort of games are included?

What is the minimum age for play therapy?

Why is this only offered in person compared to your other services?

General counselling

How often are the sessions?

What can I expect in a session?

What is the difference between a counsellor, psychologist and psychiatrist?

How is this different from therapy I’ve done before?

Do you offer relationship, couples or family counselling?

Other questions

How were the prices determined?

What do my fees go towards?

Can I claim Medicare Rebates?

Is this NDIS Friendly?

Where is this located locally in Western Australia?

Can you take clients outside of Australia?

Confidentiality

Cancellations, Payments & Refunds