🎮Can this actually work?🎮 In this episode of Therapy House, we sit down with Monet Goldman, LMFT, a trailblazing therapist passionate about a new approach to psychotherapy that inspires healing through the use of video games and virtual reality. Monet details the art of video game therapy, the ups and down of implementing this new approach, and some tips of how it has impacted his clients. Stay tuned and discover how he’s turning play into a path for healing—and why the future of mental health might just be virtual.

You can learn more about Monet Goldman at:

If you're interested in learning more about video game therapy check out the links below:

• Cognitive Restructuring in Schizophrenia: This video features an interview with Dr. Aaron Beck, the founder of CBT, discussing the use of video games and music to engage clients with schizophrenia.

• Video Link

• Using Roblox in Therapy: My 2.0 APT CEU course, "Let's Play Roblox: Using Roblox in Play Therapy," is available on Let's Play Therapy.

• Course Link

• Minecraft in Counseling: Ellie Finch, my friend and colleague in the U.K., recently collaborated with the University of Cambridge to research the use of Minecraft in counseling.

• Cambridge Research Project Link

• Ellie Finch also demonstrates Minecraft Therapy with video samples: Ellie Finch's Website

• Virtual Reality Therapy: I was taught how to use VR in therapy by Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, who sadly passed away in October 2024. I aim to continue her work and help build the field of digital therapeutics. I’m including her book "Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists (Rutledge 2021)."

• Dr. McMahon's Website

• Dr. K, Healthy Gamer GG

• https://www.healthygamer.gg/

• Featured Articles:

• Nintendolife: How Nintendo Switch is Being Used by a New Generation of Therapists

• Wired: Online Gaming Is the New Therapists' Office

• Washington Post: Roblox, Online Gaming, Family, Covid

After some time has passed we circle back up with Cecilia to reflect on our discussion of therapist anxiety and how her perceptions has changed since the conversation. She shares her insight how she now supports other clinicians with their anxiety and her continued work on her relationship with her expectations of the future.

We continue our discussion with Vidur Malik, LMFT, and Cecilia Sanchez-Cruz, LMFT on their experiences of anxiety in the therapy room. In this half, we share our processes to better manage these challenges and support one another with the ones that remain.