Building Bridges Through Games: Pokémon as a Pathway to Connection in Clinical Work

Britney
Apr 28
3 min read

Gaming as a Clinical Ally

In today's clinical landscape, incorporating client interests is essential for building trust, fostering authentic therapeutic relationships, and promoting lasting change. Video games—particularly Pokémon—offer rich, accessible opportunities to support these goals across diverse ages, diagnoses, and practice settings.

Far from being mere distractions, games can serve as powerful metaphors, cognitive rehearsal spaces, and social entry points. In this primer, we will explore how Pokémon can be integrated into case conceptualization, intervention planning, and relationship-building.

I want to acknowledge that I am not the first to make these observations—there is already a growing body of work examining the therapeutic potential of gaming. However, I hope that by offering this perspective from a not-quite-superfan stance, I can help more clinicians remain open to the benefits of games like Pokémon, rather than focusing solely on their perceived risks.

You will also find tangible activities, sample questions, and upcoming tools you can use to thoughtfully bring gaming into your practice.

Understanding the Cultural Power of Pokémon

Pokémon is not just a game. It is:

A shared language across generations
A framework for values like perseverance, loyalty, courage, and adaptability
A social bridge (family play, event-based connections, online communities)
A therapeutic metaphor (evolution, teamwork, journeys, resilience)

Recognizing and validating the emotional power of a client’s relationship to Pokémon can foster dignity, autonomy, and motivation.

Case Conceptualization: Pokémon Across the Clinical Process

Rapport Building:

Questions:
- "Do you have a favorite Pokémon? Why?"
- "Have you ever played Pokémon GO or collected the cards?"
Clinical Goals:
- Normalize client interests
- Reduce relational power differentials
- Set a collaborative, client-centered tone

Assessment:

Questions:
- "If you had a team of Pokémon, what qualities would you want them to have?"
- "What kind of battles (challenges) do you think you’re facing right now?"
Clinical Goals:
- Identify personal strengths and coping styles
- Explore attachment themes (e.g., teamwork, isolation, striving)
- Reveal values, fears, and aspirations

Treatment Planning:

Activities:
- Create a "Personal Team" drawing or list: What strengths do you want to "level up"?
- Identify “evolution goals” (e.g., building courage, mastering patience)
Clinical Goals:
- Co-construct tangible, strengths-based goals
- Increase ownership and motivation

Monitoring Progress:

Activities:
- "Badge Board": Visualize milestones as gym badges or quest markers
- “Trainer Journal”: Short reflections on growth, setbacks, and lessons
Clinical Goals:
- Normalize growth as non-linear
- Reinforce resilience and reflection

Evaluation & Termination:

Activities:
- Create a “Pokedex” of skills learned
- Reflect: “How has your ‘team’ changed since we started?”
Clinical Goals:
- Celebrate growth
- Frame discharge as a new journey, not an ending

Beyond Gameplay: Tangible Ways to Integrate Pokémon Without Playing

In sessions:

Pokémon-themed worksheets (executive functioning, emotion regulation, values exploration)
Role-play battles as coping skills rehearsals (“What move would you use to fight anxiety?”)
Storytelling exercises (“If your life were a Pokémon journey, where are you now?”)

For clients who do not play actively:

Favorite characters and their meanings
Shows, movies, and community experiences
Pokémon as metaphors for personal struggles and strengths

Addressing Clinician Hesitations: Quick Reframes

Concern	Reframe
"I don’t know enough about Pokémon."	You only need curiosity. Clients love teaching you!
"Games seem childish."	Play is a developmental and emotional need, not a childish behavior.
"Will this distract from therapy?"	No—relational trust and creative metaphor deepen engagement, not derail it.

Teaser: Tools and Resources Coming Soon!

✨Pokémon Resources Cheat Sheet for Clinicians

✨Printable Worksheets: Skill Building with Games

✨Healthy Mind Platter Series: July 2025 Launch!

Keep an eye out for downloadable resources at:

These tools will help bridge theory to practice—and make gaming-affirming work easy to integrate, even if you’re new to the medium.

Healing Through Play, Connection, and Story

Pokémon offers more than nostalgia. It offers metaphors for growth, belonging, struggle, and hope.When we invite clients to share the spaces where they already feel strong and connected, we create opportunities for deeper, more joyful therapeutic work.

At 29 Blooms, we believe relational ecosystems—including play—are essential to collective healing.