Geek Therapy & Neuro-Affirming Care: A Powerful Crossover Provided by Grounded Wellbeing Clinicians

Note from the author: For the purpose of this article it is important to understand that the term geek, although in the past has been met with negative stigmas, is portrayed positively throughout this article. Affirming the positive use of "geek" is not just a matter of semantics; it's a crucial aspect of creating a therapeutic environment that is inclusive, empowering, and effective for individuals who identify with geek culture.

Here at Grounded Well Being, it is important to continue to remain flexible with our approaches. We want to ensure we adapt to the needs of diverse and unique populations. In the evolving landscape of mental health care, innovative approaches are emerging to better serve diverse populations. One such approach, "geek therapy," is gaining traction, particularly when aligned with neuro-affirming care.

Geek therapy leverages the positive elements of "geek" and pop culture (video games, comic books, movies, fantasy literature, etc.) as therapeutic tools. Geek Therapists recognize the powerful connections individuals can form with these cultural elements and utilize them in multiple ways. The goals of geek therapy include facilitating self-exploration and identity development, promoting skills development, and supporting overall mental health well-being by fostering a sense of belonging. Characters and narratives can provide relatable frameworks for understanding oneself; meanwhile, games and role-playing can enhance social skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotional regulation. As individuals engage with beloved fandoms, this reduces feelings of isolation and fosters a sense of belonging by engaging actively with a community in they feel represented.

The alignment between geek therapy and neuro-affirming care is profound. Neuro-affirming care is a paradigm shift in how we understand and approach neurodiversity as mental health professionals. It moves away from a deficit-based model that seeks to "fix" neurological differences and instead celebrates the inherent strengths and unique perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. By recognizing that neurological variations, such as autism and ADHD, are natural and valuable aspects of human diversity, we can focus on creating supportive environments that accommodate individual needs and promote well-being.

For many neurodivergent individuals, special interests (info-dumps) are a source of joy, passion, and connection. Geek therapy validates and utilizes these interests, creating a safe and engaging therapeutic space to process emotions. This approach respects the neurodivergent way of engaging with the world, rather than trying to change it. Both geek therapy and neuro-affirming care focus on empowering individuals and building upon their strengths. By utilizing special interests, geek therapy can help individuals discover and cultivate their unique abilities. This strengths based approach is a core tenant of neuro-affirming care, which also emphasizes acceptance and validation of experiences and interactions.

Geek therapists at Grounded Well Being strive to create a space where individuals can freely express their passions without judgment. This validation can be extremely important for neurodivergent people, and other populations, who may have experienced bullying and/or rejection for their interests. In a counseling setting with our geek therapists, we use role-playing games to practice social skills and explore emotional expression, or analyze characters from favorite stories to understand personal values and common challenges (we even have groups for table-top role playing games reach). We take unique approaches to coping mechanisms and processing emotions such as creating art or writing fanfiction. By embracing geek therapy within a neuro-affirming framework, clinicians can create a more inclusive and effective therapeutic experiences for neurodivergent individuals and those who identify as part of geek culture. Together, we are able to provide higher quality mental health services to geeks while positively supporting a community full of diverse and unique individuals.

Sounds Fun, right?

Interested in exploring Geek Therapy for yourself or someone you know?

Check out our Therapeutic Table Top Role Playing Groups and Camps for Teens & Adults HERE.