Presenting at the Therapeutic Geek and Gaming Summit
From April 9-11, 2021, the first-ever Therapeutic Geek and Gaming Summit (TAGGS) was virtually brought to us by Geek Therapy & The Bodhana Group. Over 70 presenting professionals worldwide attended, virtually, to conduct panels, workshops, and presentations centered around Geek culture and fandom and its ability to connect and heal. During a pandemic, where social distancing meant isolation for many, this event gave attendees the experience of connection and camaraderie. It was the professional Comic-Con that we Geeks in the healing and relational professions were craving.
I was fortunate enough to be both a guest and a presenter. As a guest, I bought a combined ticket for live events and recordings. The beauty of this pass is it allows me access to the recordings for an entire year. Whether live or recording, I’ve yet to encounter a panel that hasn’t been useful for my mental health practice. I’ve learned to use video games to discuss the difficult experience of grief and loss and how to create a more inclusive space in my role-playing therapy groups.
As a presenter, I was allowed to present two panels. The first was on “Documenting Geek and Gaming Interventions.” This presentation aimed to teach clinicians who need to document the services they provide how to identify geek and gaming interventions in a clinical format. I have had many clinicians tell me how difficult it is for them to convince guardians or insurance that the treatment they are providing is valid. Therefore I made this presentation to help them find the language for their clinical work.
The second panel, which I was more excited about, was “The Evolution of the Disney Princess.” I convinced my best friend, educator, and fellow Geek professional, Stefanie Bautista, to present with me. One of the strengths of Geek culture is that we learn from the media we engage in. Disney has been a passion of mine for many years. Combing my love for Disney Princesses with my clinical knowledge, using an active lens, Stefanie and I were able to identify the strengths and areas of growth for the franchise.
The experience of presenting at the panel, and the audiences affirming reactions to what we were presenting, ended up opening a door for Stefanie and me. As a result, we will now be taking over the Happiest Pod On Earth podcast channel on the Geek Therapy Network. I’m truly excited to embrace this opportunity to continue to share insights about my favorite fandom with a critical lens.
Though the event is over, media passes to access the recordings of all the panels can still be purchased. Access to the recordings will last until April 2022, when the second TAGGS event will occur.
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