As an AuDHD therapist, I've set out to find what actually works for late diagnosed neurodivergent adults, and over and over again, play kept showing up as the answer.
Not talking about it, not reading about it, but working it out in a low stakes, fun environment.
Yes, insight is useful, but insight alone doesn't tell you who you actually are underneath all the masking and performing, or give you the chance to integrate.
Play brings integration benefits I've not seen anywhere else, and that's why I'm so thrilled to begin offering…
Side Quest!
A small group, 8-week adventure into who you really are.
Cohort enrollment is open, spots are limited!
You’ve done the reading…
you’ve had the insight, you’ve named the masking. You’ve identified the parts, the patterns, the protectors. You know, intellectually, you aren’t broken. But your inner critic is still loud.
If you’re tired of self-help that lives in your head but never quite reaches your body, this is the offering I built for you.
Side Quest is 8 weeks of structured, beginner-focused psychoeducation-based D&D for late-identified neurodivergent adults.
You’ll build a character, roll dice, and meet a small, intentional group of people who get it. And along the way, you’ll get to practice (out loud! In real time!) being the version of you that’s been waiting underneath the masking.
And all you need is a willingness to play.
In this group, I use my lived experience and clinical training in D&D to guide you through an interactive, beginner’s level experience with others to help you integrate out self-compassion, connection, and regulation in real time.
The best part is, while you don't need D&D experience, you will learn how to play and walk out with a level 3 character you can take with you into any other adventures you may be drawn to later.
Spots are limited for my first round. If you're ready for a totally new way to see yourself, build confidence, and find connection, join the waitlist for Side Quest.
Session Outline:
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Intake. A 1:1 fit call with me before the cohort starts. We figure out together whether this is the right adventure for you, right now.
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Brief overview of D&D, Structure of Play, Learn to read a character sheet, learn wtf a d20 is and how it works. Pick Background, Species, and Class!
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Ability scores and modifiers! Character bonds, and learning to role-play!
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Skills, proficiency, saving throws and first exploration on a map!
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Class features, species traits, background bonuses! and a SHOPPING MONTAGE
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Combat training with Weeble-Wobblies! Learning action economy, initiative, speed and size, movement, and weapon and spell attacks!
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Hit points, hit dice, armor class and an actual combat fighting the f*cking patriarchy!
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Level up to level 2! I’ll walk you through each step to leveling up. Exploration and puzzles in an old abandoned training center for women and NB knights. Will you break the spell the tech bros put on it?
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Level up to level 3! Explore subclasses and fight the final battle against the BBG (Big Bad Guy!)
This group is for you if you:
Have a brutal inner critic you’ve never learned to soften
Are tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix
Have always felt like the odd one out
Have the insight on neurodivergence and need somewhere to build the skill
Are quietly wondering if where you are now is where you’ll always be
It’s also for you if you’ve been curious about D&D for years and never had a low-stakes way in. The play is real, the welcome is real, and you’ll leave knowing how to play.
Who it’s NOT for:
This isn’t a crisis-stabilization group. If you’re currently in acute crisis, individual support is the right next step, and we can talk about that in your intake if you’re not sure.
This isn’t a competitive D&D campaign or a min-maxer’s table. If you’re already an experienced player looking for hardcore mechanics, this won’t be your speed.
Investment
Two clear numbers, full transparency:
$150 intake session: paid after the session is conducted. This is yours regardless of whether or not you move forward into the cohort. It’s how we both find out whether this is the right fit for you, right now.
$65 per 2 hour session: Duration for the program is 8 weeks, beginning the week of June 15th. Paid weekly, locked in from intake.
I'm Crystal. I’m a therapist, AuDHD human, Certified Therapeutic Game Master, and the person who will absolutely make you roll dice for self-compassion. I didn't set out to run therapeutic D&D groups. I set out to find what actually worked for late-identified neurodivergent adults, and play kept showing up as the answer. Everything in Side Quest comes from years of clinical work, lived experience, and genuinely believing your brain is not the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
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None. The curriculum I’m using is a learn-to-play curriculum so it’s better if you have NO experience with it!
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Life happens, especially in ND life. Missing one session is fine, but missing more than that effects group cohesion and your ability to keep up with the growth. All sessions are due for payment after you’ve signed up regardless of whether or not you’re able to make it, in order to make this offering sustainable.
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No. Side Quest is a psychoeducation and skills group experience facilitated by a licensed therapist, but it isn’t a substitute for individual therapy. If you’re not currently in therapy and want to be, your intake is a good place to talk about referrals.
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Zoom and Roll20. All you need is a working camera, mic, and internet connection. No dice or character sheets required, we will handle the tools.
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No. Side Quest depends on people feeling safe to be unmasked. Nothing is recorded, and everyone signs a group confidentiality agreement at intake.
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You’re welcome on the intake call! Side Quest is built for late-diagnosed or suspected ND adults, but I’m not the diagnosis police! If the description of who this is for resonates, that’s enough to book the call.
Ready to roll?
The intake is your first step. Cohort spots open after the intake call.
Side Quest is offered through Get Psyched Therapy & Coaching. Tuition is non-refundable once a cohort begins; if you need to withdraw before Week 1, intake fees are non-refundable but weekly tuition is not yet owed.