Building Blocks of Acceptance: How Minecraft and Video Games Can Be Therapeutic
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) often integrates principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients build meaningful skills and navigate challenges more effectively. A core tenet of both approaches is the importance of incorporating clients' preferences and interests into therapeutic sessions. This not only enhances engagement but also ensures that interventions are tailored to each individual. For many clients, video games like Minecraft offer a familiar and enjoyable medium through which therapeutic goals can be explored. By tapping into a client’s interests, therapists can create a more collaborative and motivating environment, transforming therapy into an experience that is both effective and personally meaningful.
Minecraft: Navigating the Obstacle Course of Thoughts
Minecraft’s flexibility in creating and overcoming challenges makes it an excellent platform for exploring cognitive defusion and values-driven action.
How to Incorporate:
Work with the client to design an obstacle course in Minecraft. Each obstacle can represent a negative thought or unhelpful belief (e.g., "I’m not good enough" could be represented by a pit of lava, or "I always fail" might be symbolized by a towering wall that seems impossible to climb).
As the client navigates the course, discuss strategies for handling these obstacles, such as:
Defusion Techniques: Labeling the thought behind the obstacle (e.g., "That’s the 'I’m not good enough' thought") and recognizing that it’s just a thought, not an absolute truth. They might visualize the thought as a block in the course that can be moved or avoided.
Mindfulness Skills: Encouraging the client to stay present and focus on their next move rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire course. For example, they might practice calming breathing while building a bridge over a pit of lava.
Values-Driven Action: Linking their motivation to complete the course with a value, such as perseverance, bravery, or creativity. For instance, if their value is growth, discuss how tackling even the hardest parts of the course reflects their commitment to becoming stronger and more resilient.
After completing the course, reflect on the experience:
How did they approach each obstacle?
What thoughts or feelings came up, and how did they handle them?
How did staying connected to their values help them overcome challenges?
Short on time? Download some pre-made maps here!
For help on how to download a Minecraft map onto your device, check out this useful guide.
Incorporating Minecraft into ACT-based ABA sessions can be a powerful way to engage clients in meaningful therapeutic work. By linking in-game actions to values or reinforcing them with meaningful motivators, therapists can help clients develop skills that translate into real-world resilience and growth. It’s essential to ensure that these activities remain tied to measurable goals, tracking behavior changes in an objective and systematic way. This approach not only maintains the integrity of evidence-based practice but also ensures that clients experience lasting progress in alignment with their values. When therapy aligns with a client’s interests and is guided by thoughtful planning, it becomes both impactful and enjoyable.
