Services
Teen therapyAnxietyOCDDepressionParents and familiesSelf-harm and suicidal ideationStress managementDifficult life transitionsApproaches
Play therapy and art therapyVideo game therapyCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)Exposure and response preventionMindfulness-based therapiesFamily and filial therapyCollaborative problem solvingSafety planning and harm reductionBook on JaneUnderstanding the approach
Games are a language many children and teens already speak.
For many young people, a game feels safer than a conversation. Sitting side by side and playing together takes away the pressure of eye contact and of having to find the right words.
In video game therapy, a shared game becomes the setting for the work. While we play, I notice how your child handles frustration, losing, taking turns and trying again, and we use those moments to practise coping skills, build trust and open conversations about worry, anger, friendships and school. The game is chosen with your child, not for them, and sessions are guided by me and tied to your child’s goals. It is not unstructured gaming time. Video game therapy may suit children and teens who find talking hard, who feel anxious, who have ADHD or autism, or whose interests centre on games and who want those interests taken seriously. I offer it in person in Vancouver, and online for children and youth across B.C., and it is offered as a unique approach to play therapy. For many children or youth who feel nervous or unhappy with the idea of therapy, video game play therapy can provide a safe entry point to therapeutic work.
Using games in therapy is not new. Therapists have long used board games and card games with children, and video games are now part of that tradition, with clinical guides and research reviews published over the past two decades.
Wilkinson, N., Ang, R. P., & Goh, D. H. (2008). Online video game therapy for mental health concerns: A review. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(4), 370–382. link
Stone, J. (2022). Digital play therapy: A clinician’s guide to comfort and competence (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Stone, J. (2021). Game play: Therapeutic use of games with children and adolescents (3rd ed.; C. E. Schaefer, Ed.). Wiley.
Read the researchReviews of randomised trials suggest that therapeutic games can help children and teens with conditions such as ADHD, autism and anxiety. I use games to build connection and engagement, alongside other methods, and match them to your child’s interests.
Zayeni, D., Raynaud, J.-P., & Revet, A. (2020). Therapeutic and preventive use of video games in child and adolescent psychiatry: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. link
Choi, E., Yoon, E.-H., & Park, M.-H. (2022). Game-based digital therapeutics for children and adolescents: Their therapeutic effects on mental health problems, the sustainability of the therapeutic effects and the transfer of cognitive functions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 986687. link
Barnes, S., & Prescott, J. (2018). Empirical evidence for the outcomes of therapeutic video games for adolescents with anxiety disorders: Systematic review. JMIR Serious Games, 6(1), e3. link
Wilkinson, N., Ang, R. P., & Goh, D. H. (2008). Online video game therapy for mental health concerns: A review. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(4), 370–382. link
Stone, J. (2022). Digital play therapy: A clinician’s guide to comfort and competence (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Read the researchHow it works
Every child is different, so the pace and order change. This is the general path.
01
We begin with a parent session to understand your child, your family and what you hope will change. Your child then meets me at their own pace, and we talk about the games they enjoy.
02
Your child helps choose the game. We play together while I stay close, noticing how your child plays, copes and connects with others.
03
When a level feels frustrating or a round is lost, we pause, practise a calming skill or a new way of thinking, and try again. Over time the skills carry from the game into daily life.
04
I update you regularly and share simple ways to support what is happening in therapy, so the changes carry over to school, friendships and family life.
These approaches are part of care for many concerns. Choose one to see how I work with it.
Related approaches
Yes. I offer video game therapy in person in Vancouver, and online for children and youth across British Columbia. A free 15-minute call is the first step.
A session has a purpose. We use a game to build trust, practise coping with frustration and teamwork, and open conversations. It is guided by me and tied to your child’s goals.
Games are chosen to fit your child’s age and interests. Younger children are often supported through play and art as well, and teens may prefer games over toys.
Then we use something else that suits them, such as play, art or activities. No child has to play video games to take part in therapy.
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia and play therapy training. I use video games within counselling, alongside other approaches. You can read more on the training and workshops page.
Trusted resources
Free, evidence-informed information from Kelty Mental Health at BC Children’s Hospital. These links open in a new tab.
Information on this page is provided by Pamela Wallberg, MA, RCC, Registered Clinical Counsellor. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information and is not a substitute for individual care.
Related: Play therapy and art therapy · Teen therapy · Family and filial therapy