Part 3: How Session Zero Sets the Stage for Healing Through TTRPGs
- Crystal
- Nov 21
- 1 min read
Introduction
You’ve got the “why” (stress relief) and the “how” (character creation). Now meet the secret sauce:
Session Zero—the pre-game huddle that turns strangers into fireteams. At Roll2Heal, Session Zero isn't a rules lecture; it’s psychological first aid with dice on the side.
The Roll2Heal Session Zero Blueprint (90 minutes)
1. Round-Robin Intros (10 min)
“Name, branch/shift, and one thing you want from the table.” Answers range from “laughs” to “quiet headspace.”
2. Lines & Veins (15 min)
- Lines (hard no’s): spiders, child harm, loud explosions
- Veins (lean in): tactical breaching, medical role-play, dark humor
3. X-Card Demo (5 min)
Touch the card → scene pauses, no questions. Veterans nod; they already know “abort mission.”
4. Character Tie-Ins (20 min)
“Doc” Morales (Part 2) discovers the barbarian lost a squadmate to frostbite—shared backstory, instant bond.
5. Mini Quest & Debrief (40 min)
A 3-room “stress test” dungeon. Afterward: “What felt good? What spiked you?”
Why Session Zero Heals
| Element | Clinical Parallel |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Consent checklist | Trauma-informed care |
| Shared vulnerability | Group therapy |
| Low-stakes practice | Exposure therapy lite |
Call to Action
Your seat is reserved. Sign up for the next Session Zero at [roll2heal.org/events](http://roll2heal.org/events). Bring your character, your boundaries, and zero apologies. Share your table stories on [Facebook.com/Roll2Heal](http://www.facebook.com/Roll2Heal).
