THERAGAMES is a series of 15 therapeutic boardgames designed to support the social and emotional resilience of students aged 5 to 15 years. The natural appeal of boardgames to kids make them a great way to teach psychological skills like social and emotional literacy, resilience, assertiveness, humour, cognitive behaviour therapy, problem solving and character development. The games progress in skill and complexity and cover things kids deal with like friendship problems, teasing, bullying, anger, anxiety, success at school and happiness.

The semi-naturalistic setting of a boardgame creates a ‘life-space’ in which the facilitator guides discussion of psychologically sounds ways to solve problems and develop resilience to the ups and downs of life.

THE AUTHOR

The social and emotional resilience of children is a particular interest for Robyn, plus she loved boardgames as a kid. She developed THERAGAMES to explore socio-emotional skills and resilience with the students she worked with in her schools. Boardgames create an 'experiential environment' that quickly engages young people in learning new skills. Robyn's underlying philosophy is that children are a work in progress and that they learn most by watching us, their adults and peers. She has drawn on ideas from leaders in the field of social and emotional learning - Seligman, Gardner, Vygotsky, Bandura, Goldman, Goldstein - to produce this series of boardgames. In the words of one player, 'we have fun and we learn things'.

Robyn Hromek
Robyn has a Masters Degree in Psychology (Education) (1997), a bachelor degree in science and a graduate diploma in teaching. She researched peer-based programs aimed at reducing bullying and harassment for which her school was awarded an Australian Anti-Violence Award (1998). Robyn brings a depth of experience from 30 years of work in schools as a primary school teacher, school counsellor, district guidance officer, and senior psychologist; and in universities as a lecturer and tutor. Robyn has also presented on games-based learning at national and international conferences:

2nd European Conference Games Based Learning Barcelona 2008
5th International Conference Positive Psychology Copenhagen 2010
International Conference Moral Education Nanjing 2011
7th European Conference Games Based Learning Porto Portugal 2013
Australian Guidance & Counselling Association National Conference Sydney 2013
3rd Educational Games Competition Steinkjer Norway 2015. Dragons Paragons and Shadows was shortlisted

Other publications by the author are available from www.amazon.com.au

Planting the Peace Virus: Early Intervention to Prevent Violence in Schools 2004 (Luck Duck Publications). How a school reduce violence and harassment for which they received an Anti-Violence Award, Aust. 1998.
Game Time: Games to promote Social and Emotional Resilience 2005 (Paul Chapman: Sage Publications). This book comes with a CD to print 9 board games and cards.
A Training Framework: Planting the peace virus in ‘Violence Reduction in Schools – How to Make a Difference: A Handbook’ 2006 (Ed C Gittins, Publisher Council of Europe)
Emotional Coaching: A practical programme to support young people 2007 (Paul Chapman: Sage Publications). A mentoring program to coach young people with mild to moderate emotional difficulties. The book comes with a CD to print reflection sheets and therapeutic games.
Promoting Social and Emotional Learning with Games “It’s Fun and We Learn Things”. Simulation and Gaming. October 2009 (Co-author Dr Sue Roffey)
Peaceful and Compassionate Futures in ‘Positive Relationships: Evidence Based Practice across the World’, 2012 (Co-author A White, Ed S Roffey, Publisher: Springer)
Facilitation of Trust in Gaming Situations in 'Student Usability in Educational Software and Games: Improving Student Experience’ 2013 (Ed C Gonzalez. Publisher IGI Global)

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