by Dave Kot, MS

Role-playing games have long supported imagination, cooperation, and problem-solving in group settings. When designed with intention, these games can also support social-emotional learning, communication, and community connection for autistic and neurodivergent players. Emerging research suggests that structured roleplaying games can enhance social functioning and communication in neurodiverse individuals, though the field is still growing and calls for more research (Thompson & Majumder, 2025). Session Zero exists to make those intentions explicit before play begins and before expectations solidify.

Session Zero refers to structured time set aside to establish boundaries, norms, and shared understanding before an ongoing game starts. In therapeutic and educational group work, this step matters because psychological safety and clarity strongly predict participation and skill development. When people understand how a group will operate, they are more likely to participate with confidence and engagement.

In our programs, Session Zero establishes how stories unfold and how people treat one another while telling them. The goal is not to control play or restrict creativity, but to create conditions where players feel safe enough to take social and emotional risks. Those risks are where learning, connection, and growth occur, and when players feel secure in how the space operates, the benefits of play can deepen and carry outside the table.

Safety and consent as a shared responsibility

Emotional safety comes first and remains an ongoing priority rather than a one-time agreement. Players may pause, ask questions, or step away at any time without explanation or penalty. This expectation is named early so that using safety tools, like a colored notecard, feels normal rather than disruptive.

We use simple, concrete supports such as intentional pauses or visual signals to keep communication accessible, even when verbal expression feels difficult. These tools reduce pressure and help everyone participate in ways that feel comfortable and predictable. Safety mechanisms function as part of play rather than as exceptions to it, normalizing care and consent within the story space.
Research consistently suggests that predictable structures reduce anxiety and increase participation, especially for neurodivergent individuals (Visuri, 2024). Clear consent practices protect group cohesion by preventing misunderstandings from escalating, and they help players of all communication styles focus on shared stories rather than social ambiguity.

Respect for all communication styles
Roleplaying does not require fluent or spontaneous speech. Players communicate in many ways, including spoken dialogue, gesture, drawing, written notes, assistive technology, or other methods that work for them. At our table, each form of expression is treated as valid narrative input.

When a group honors diverse communication styles, collaboration deepens. Everyone’s contribution feels honored. Players learn to attend to multiple forms of expression and to respond with patience and curiosity. These habits translate directly into real-world social environments, helping people build confidence and connection beyond the game.

Tone, language, and shared norms

Stories carry emotional weight, which makes tone an ethical consideration rather than a stylistic one. Sessions typically stay within a PG to PG-13 range, allowing for authentic emotion without relying on shock or harm for drama. This boundary supports a wide range of ages and sensitivities while allowing powerful storytelling.

When stronger language appears, it serves expression rather than aggression and stays within boundaries agreed upon by the group. Language choices remain connected to character voice and emotional honesty rather than power or intimidation. Clear norms around tone reduce ambiguity and conflict, allowing players to explore difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed or excluded.

A moment from the table

Please allow me to share an example from real play:

Midway through a session, the party reaches a river town that has recently closed its gates. One character, frustrated by the delay and admittedly already having a difficult day with dice, threatens a guard to force entry. The words land harder than intended, and the table grows quiet. Someone threw down a red index card, and the action halted. People want to talk.

The scene pauses without assigning blame or motive. The facilitator names what was observed and asks the player what the character hoped would happen. The player explained that the character wanted control, not fear, and did not realize how aggressive his threat sounded when spoken aloud.

Intentional play and meaningful consequences

Moments like this illustrate why consequences matter in therapeutic roleplaying. Actions affect relationships, reputations, and access within the story world. In long-standing groups, these labels transfer onto the player as well as their character. These effects mirror real social dynamics without turning play into an academic lesson.

Rather than glorifying harm, the narrative explores accountability, repair, and adaptation. Players experience how small changes in communication can shift outcomes over time. Learning emerges through experience supported by reflection, aligning with broader research on play as a context for social learning (Visuri, 2024).

Why Session Zero matters

Session Zero creates the container that makes all of this possible. It clarifies expectations, names shared values, and invites players into a collaborative process rather than a set of hidden rules. For autistic and neurodivergent participants, that clarity often determines whether engagement feels safe or exhausting.

Role-playing games already teach cooperation and creativity by their nature. With intentional design, they can also support empathy, self-awareness, and communication in accessible ways. Session Zero is where that design begins and where trust takes root.

Reflective question:
What aspect of Session Zero feels most important to you: emotional safety, communication access, or shared norms…and why?

Sources and Further Reading

Thompson, M., & Majumder, V. (2025). Are tabletop role-playing games a useful therapeutic tool for people with neurodiversity? A systematic review. Retrieved from Cambridge University Press

Visuri, I. (2024). Live action role-play as a safe and brave space for social learning. Thinking Skills and Creativity. Retrieved from ScienceDirect

Additional context:

While direct research on structured tabletop RPG facilitation (like TARP) is still emerging, related clinical work on social skills training with role-play and group interaction supports the idea that guided, intentional play can promote engagement and communication development in autistic participants (PubMed).