Hero Journey Club wants to meet gamers' mental health needs, just don't call it therapy

Maybe you've seen the ads on social media: "Crush depression with Animal Crossing"; "Meet with a therapist while playing Stardew Valley." Advertisements for Hero Journey Club's gamer-focused mental health support groups have flooded the internet in recent months, drawing a mix of skepticism and enthusiastic intrigue from those who have been targeted by them. Come join us," the ads beckon. For some people who already turn to video games as an antidote to the difficulties of everyday life, Hero Journey Club's promises of community and a safe space to do inner work really hit home. But while Hero Journey Club may be a lot like therapy, the service it provides is not therapy, technically. It's not licensed healthcare, a point that anyone who signs up is told from the outset and must consent to before proceeding. The Journey Guides, however -- as the session leaders are called -- are qualified mental health professionals. To be hired, one must have at least a master's degree from an ...