While Role-Playing may sound like a fringe or gimmicky modality, it has been successfully used in the UK for work with neurodivergent youth and military staff dealing with PTSD. It provides a safe environment where complex and intense emotions can be recognised and explored. It draws from drama therapy, narrative therapy, and parts‑work, but in my interpretation of it, it centres embodied experimentation — trying on gendered behaviours, voices, postures, and relational dynamics in a safe, facilitated space.

This webinar expands on these approaches and focuses this modality on the experience of gender queering clients. It is important to note that this is a trauma‑aware, experiential approach and it is not about gamifying gender exploration and it is not suitable for everyone. It is for supporting clients who are queering their gender navigating shame, uncertainty, or social threat. It supports insight, emotional regulation, and self‑affirmation.

The webinar does not teach people how to play games, roll dice or fight mythical beasts. It is about presenting counsellors with a modality in which their clients can inhabit fictional worlds or eras as something other than their current selves. By stepping into these other selves, or symbolic roles, clients can safely try out gender expressions, challenge internalised narratives, and build confidence in authentic identity. I am currently working with four scenarios which have been created in partnership with a non-binary writer to ensure they are not limited by heteronormativity. The therapist does not dominate the proceedings but sets the scene; the client is then faced with various choices they need to take to progress through the scenario and these choices have consequences as to where the story goes next. A basic example of this - when introduced to a medieval ball setting - the client has a choice to be introduced as Sir/Lady or Honoured Guest - all titles which carry gender expectations.

As anyone working in this field would suggest, gender queering is not about a classic search for change (understood as wanting to be someone else) but about returning home. It is about currently presenting as someone I am not and finding my way back to who I really am. The role-play modality is affirming of this quest.

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