Dungeons & Dragons Sessions for 13-19 year olds
The Epsom Counselling Service will be hosting an introductory session of Dungeons and Dragons in December 2025, aimed at teenagers and young adults aged 13-19.
All skill levels are welcome, and no previous experience with the game is required – just bring yourself and your imagination!
What is Dungeons and Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game. Each player takes the role of a fantasy character. Together, the players will outwit enemies, overcome traps, and tell an exciting story!
A Dungeon Master facilitates the game, ensures everything runs smoothly, and gives every player an opportunity to contribute. Our professional Dungeon Master Joe Banner has decades of experience running the game. He is currently running a series of sessions in association with West Sussex libraries for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs or Disabilities).
Read more about Joe’s previous work on his website, joebanner.co.uk.
What’s the Therapeutic Benefit For Young People?
- Helps reduce social anxiety
- Builds friendships and improves confidence
- Enhances problem-solving skills in a low stress environment
- Having fun! An opportunity to be yourself in a safe, bounded social space
Dungeons and Dragons is a great way for young people who are not confident or sports-oriented to work with their peers. It is not competitive, but there is a well-defined goal (to tell a fantastic story together, in the vein of Lord of the Rings.) The game helps to build self-esteem and foster friendships with like-minded people. The game’s mechanics are designed to be simple to learn, but increasingly complex as the game goes on. Each character has a unique set of skills that benefits the group – the wizard can cast spells, the thief can pick locks, the fighter can protect their friends. By working together, players can benefit from each other’s strengths – a useful skill even if there aren’t any orcs or dragons in real life!
Dungeons & Dragons offers powerful therapeutic benefits for young people by promoting emotional expression, empathy, and resilience through imaginative play. Its cooperative storytelling fosters communication, confidence, and problem-solving, while providing a safe space to explore identity and build social connections. Therapists and educators increasingly use it as a structured, creative tool to support emotional growth, teamwork, and self-discovery.
Most importantly, the game is fun! It’s about playing as someone or something different, exploring what that might be like, and having a safe space to explore feelings in a way that might be difficult outside of the room.
What Is Involved?
The session is 2 hours long and costs £20 per entrant. Spaces are limited, but parents, guardians and spectators are welcome.
Interested in taking part? Register your interest using the form below and we’ll send updates directly to your inbox: