The Wand in the Well: A Tabletop Role-Playing Campaign in a Child Protection Context

Abstract

This paper reports a tabletop role-playing campaign developed in a child protection counselling context. The campaign was written by 12-year-old “Oliver” (a pseudonym) in collaboration with his counsellor and then played through with members of his family. The paper provides the background to the study, incorporating the theoretical context, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), narrative play therapy, and the position of the counsellor as both a co-creator and dungeon master. It outlines the collaborative process of creating a TTRPG campaign, and then as the primary intention, presents a faithful retelling of the campaign undertaken. The paper further provides clinical reflection on symbolism evident in TTRPGs and the campaign presented. Finally, it presents therapeutic outcomes to highlight the impact of this intervention and support the role of TTRPGs in a therapeutic context. The campaign investigates themes of displacement from home, siblings working together to overcome obstacles, exploring dungeons, overthrowing evil scientists, retrieving lost possessions, and, ultimately, returning home.