By: Emma Spencer Clinical Psychologist

Video games are often portrayed as a risk factor for children’s mental health, associated with screen overuse, social withdrawal, or behavioural concerns. However, emerging research suggests a more nuanced picture and suggest that when used intentionally and in moderation, video games may offer meaningful psychological benefits, particularly for neurodivergent children and adolescents. The following blog explores the concept of “therapeutic gaming” and how a balanced approach can benefit children and teens.

Therapeutic Gaming: More Than Just Play

Therapeutic gaming refers to the intentional use of video games to support emotional regulation, coping skills, learning, and social connection. Certain games are designed specifically for therapeutic purposes, while others can be therapeutically useful when thoughtfully selected and supported by adults or clinicians.

Research indicates that video games can support mood regulation, reduce stress, and provide a sense of mastery and autonomy, all factors known to buffer against anxiety and low mood (Granic et al., 2014). For some young people, gaming offers a safe and predictable environment where they can experiment, fail, and try again without real-world consequences. Gaming can also provide opportunities for social connection, negotiation and communication in collaborative formats.

Building Social and Problem-Solving Skills

Many modern games encourage collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking. Multiplayer and cooperative games can foster social connection, teamwork, and shared problem-solving, particularly for children who find face-to-face interactions challenging.

In the context of neurodiversity gaming, video games may be especially valuable. Autistic and ADHD children often report that gaming provides a more accessible social space, with clear rules, shared interests, and reduced social ambiguity (Kuo et al., 2018). Games can also support executive functioning skills such as planning, flexibility, and persistence, while allowing players to engage deeply with their strengths and interests.

Moderation and Balance Matter

While gaming can be beneficial, balance remains essential. The mental health impact of gaming appears to depend less on screen time alone and more on how, why, and with whom games are played (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017).

Helpful moderation strategies include:

• Choosing age-appropriate and non-exploitative games
• Ensuring the player has core skills to regulate frustration
• Encouraging breaks and varied daily activities
• Playing alongside children to support connection
• Remaining curious rather than punitive about gaming habits

When gaming is framed as one meaningful part of a child’s life it can become a tool for connection, learning, and emotional wellbeing.

A Balanced Perspective

Video games are neither inherently harmful nor universally helpful and framing them as “tools” can be an appropriate lens to explore their use. Like many tools, their impact depends on context, individual needs, and thoughtful support. When viewed through a neuroaffirming lens, gaming can offer powerful opportunities for engagement, skill-building, and joy particularly for neurodivergent young people navigating a world not always designed for them.

 

References (APA 7)

Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. American Psychologist, 69(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034857

Kuo, M. H., Orsmond, G. I., Cohn, E. S., & Coster, W. J. (2018). Friendship characteristics and activity patterns of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 22(2), 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316662900

Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). A large-scale test of the Goldilocks hypothesis: Quantifying the relations between digital-screen use and mental well-being. Psychological Science, 28(2), 204–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616678438