What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.

Video games and VR offer a variety ways to help the therapeutic process. The short version of this answer is I often use games to learn more about clients' strengths, challenges, values and beliefs, to build the relationship, evoke a variety of meaningful thoughts and emotions, uncover trauma narratives, and to help my clients develop new skillsets that can be applied to daily life.

Yes and no. Everyone's treatment looks different and will be individualized, tailored to meet the client's needs. Some clients are not interested in games. For others, play is the key to deeper level work. Many clients may start with games and later transition out to traditional methods of therapy. And in general, for those who prefer to utilize games and/or VR, it is highly likely will not play each and every session.

This is a valid question. Playing video games in therapy can be used as an engaging and non-pathologizing approach to implement behavior modification, including reducing time spent on games or screens outside therapy. Also, playing with or observing clients play games allows me access to their inner world in a non threatening way and can reveal to me what needs are being met through video games. This can be very helpful in our work together because once identified, we can explore these needs and figure out a way how we might be able to get them met outside the digital world. 

Most often, I utilize commercial or "off-the-shelf" games that the client is interested in trying out or is already playing at home. Single player, co-op, multiplayer, local, online, FPS, RPGs, racing, puzzle games... etc. When choosing games, I consider age and family culture in that process. I take parents' voices seriously, especially if there are concerns regarding what type if games are "okay" for your family. I am also happy to discuss the way the games will be used and why.