Therapeutically applied Minecraft groups with neurodivergent youth

Area of Science:

• Digital Therapeutics
• Child Psychology
• Game-Based Interventions

Background:

• Therapeutically applied Minecraft groups are designed to enhance social engagement, confidence, and competence in youth.
• The use of Minecraft, a popular digital game, makes this intervention suitable for neurodivergent youth due to its flexible interaction format.
• Minecraft provides a low-stakes environment for building relationships and social confidence through peer interaction, utilizing in-game communication and avatar actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the theoretical underpinnings of therapeutically applied Minecraft groups.
• To detail practical considerations for implementing these therapeutic groups.
• To provide examples and case studies of their application with neurodivergent youth.

Main Methods:

• The article details the justification for using Minecraft in therapy.
• It describes the process of creating support groups, including check-in and check-out procedures.
• Examples of in-game activities tailored for various therapeutic situations are provided.

Main Results:

• Case studies illustrate the successful application of therapeutically applied Minecraft groups in fostering social growth among neurodivergent youth.
• The intervention has been shown to help manage social growth challenges, such as school anxiety.
• Examples include the use of specific Minecraft servers like 'habitat' to facilitate therapeutic goals.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutically applied Minecraft groups facilitate peer connection and social practice within a guided setting.
• Despite the prevalence of game-based learning and social connection tools in media, formal academic research remains limited.
• This article serves as an example of therapeutic Minecraft use and advocates for increased formal research in game-based therapeutic interventions.