Dr. Jared Kilmer, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Applied Games Researcher

Dr. Kilmer is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Clinic Director at Respec Psychological Services. He has developed groups utilizing TA-RPGs to promote psychological flexibility, resilience, and well being in military veterans recovering from mental illness, as well as to promote confidence, teamwork, and interpersonal effectiveness in children and adolescents. He worked with Virgils to pilot VR therapy experiences with clients and has supported the development of Minecraft-based interventions for neurodivergent youth.

The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Destiny

Edited by Jared N. Kilmer, PhD

"As someone who never could’ve imagined their life being so significantly changed by a video game, this book captures an engaging insight into the transformative ways the Destiny franchise resonates with its passionate (& quirky) playerbase."
-Fallout Plays

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The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Dungeons & Dragons

Edited by Jared N. Kilmer, PhD & Nina Higson-Sweeney, PhD

“When you play a game like D&D enough, you know instinctively that it is doing something inside your brain. This book is full of essays by experts who do an exceptional job of explaining in layman's terms the research around what exactly that something is. Not only did I find this book fascinating, it helped explain the mental benefits of roleplay I've always felt but not totally understood.”
- Kate Welch, celebrity Dungeon Master and former D&D game designer

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Panels

Did I Throw Enough Grenades?: The Psychology of Destiny, PAX East

Mastering Card Games: Beginner to Infinite in Marvel Snap, PAX West

Promoting Growth Through Games Is Simply Good Game Design, GDC 2023

The Player is Evolving! Fostering Growth Mindset Through Games, PAX East & Unplugged

Dungeons & Dog Tags: Enhancing Veteran Mental Health, PAX East

Don’t Yuck My Yum: A Debate on the Value of Evil Alignments, PAX Unplugged

Rolling for Recovery: Therapeutic Applications of Tabletop Role-Playing Games, American Psychological Association

Roll for Healing: Therapeutic Game Master Round Table, PAX West, PAX South

Book Chapters

Resilience and Trauma:

Ciri Fiona Riannon

Fostering a Growth Mindset in Destiny

Therapeutically Applied Dungeons & Dragons

Research Publications

Kilmer, E.D., Rubin, J.D., Scanlon, M., & Kilmer, J.N. (2024). Therapeutically applied RPGs to support adolescent social connection and growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.

Kilmer, E.D., Spangler, J., Kilmer, J.N. (2023). Therapeutically applied Minecraft groups with neurodivergent youth. F1000 Research. 12:216 doi:10.12688/f1000research.129090.1

Kilmer, E. D., Villarreal, C., Janis, B. M., Callahan, J. L., Ruggero, C. J., Kilmer, J. N., Love, P. K., & Cox, R. J. (2019) Differential early termination is tied to client race/ethnicity status. Practice Innovations.

Crandall, E.K., Ruggero, C.J., Bain, K., & Kilmer, J.N. (2014). Adjustment difficulties and caregiving burdens faced by college students with a parent with bipolar or depressive disorders. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 28(1), 47-58.

Ruggero, C. J., Kotov, R., Callahan, J., Kilmer, J.N., Luft, B. & Bromet, E.J. (2013). PTSD symptom dimensions and their relationship to functioning in World Trade Center responders. Psychiatry Research, 210(3), 1049-1055.

Rodriguez, C., Ruggero, C.J., Callahan, J.L., Kilmer, J.N., Boals, A., & Banks, J.B. (2012). Does risk for bipolar disorder heighten the disconnect between objective and subjective appraisals of cognition? Journal of Affective Disorders, 148(2), 400-405.