I Am My Avatar and My Avatar Is Me : Utilizing Video Games as Therapeutic Tools

Working therapeutically with video gamers has largely consisted of an addiction perspective or an unawareness of utilizing video games as a treatment. This undoubtedly leads any therapist working with video gamers to further guide treatment while lacking in video game knowledge. Without this important information, guiding treatments will likely continue to be misinformed of video game culture, video gamers, and the games they play. This case study illustrates use of Archetypal and Jungian therapies and prescribing video games for a 10-year-old male diagnosed with PTSD. Video games were utilized as a main form of inclusion and immersion playability, honing in on archetypal influences like the hero, villain, and narrative play through the video games: Borderlands and Garry’s Mod. Greg experienced a reported improvement in his symptoms across his environments. Parental involvement, therapist’s knowledge of video game worlds, and using video games’ heroic motifs were critical to Greg’s understanding of himself. If an addiction lens had been utilized, Greg may not have been successful. Clinicians should use the knowledge portrayed in this chapter as therapeutic guidance for future endeavors with video gamers and the games they play.