As an event, PAX is very committed to supporting mental health for its attendees. Enforcers (PAX staff) walk around with signs offering encouragement, reminders to drink water, and inspiration for joy. Mental health stations are set up at various locations to assist anyone who might be struggling. And exhibitors have formed a cottage industry around supporting gamers with their mental health.
An Important Voice in the Gaming Community
Leading the way, however, is the highly compassionate and professional Geek Therapeutics, led by Dr. Anthony M. Bean. We try to check in with the booth at each PAX to find out what’s new with this fantastic organization; on Saturday, Dr. Bean was kind enough to sit down with me for 20 minutes for an interview.
To read our previous coverage of Geek Therapeutics, along with other interviews of Dr. Bean, click here.
Interview with Dr. Bean
Lasby: Thanks for sitting down with me during this busy Saturday at PAX West. We know you guys are always cultivating new ways to support the community and guide folks to better mental health. What’s new for Geek Therapeutics since we sat down with you last year?
Dr. Bean: We have so much going on right now that we’re excited to share. We have five new books available or on the way thanks to our Kickstarter funding: The Psychology of The Last of Us, The Psychology of The Witcher, The Psychology of DnD, Integrating Geek Culture (2nd Edition, with updated research), and The Gamer’s Journey.
We initially sought $5k in funding, but the community response shocked us. We raised over $22k!
We are also launching a mindfulness certification program for professionals, paraprofessionals, and parents, which will become available in 2025. We’re very excited about this one.
We also have loads of new merchandise, including sensory plushies that are great folks who feel over- or under-stimulated. It’s definitely worth stopping by our booth to see all that’s available now.
I saw The Psychology of Elden Ring on your merchandise stand. The game is famous for its absurdly complex lore. Was it challenging writing this? What do you love about this line of books?
That one was a challenge for our team. We definitely started with a deep dive into YouTube theory videos to enhance our knowledge after extensive playthroughs. With a game this large, with this much lore, the team struggled to condense the content into a book that’s approachable for most readers. There was a lot of material left on the cutting floor. Our first chapter started in the drafting phase as an eight-thousand-word essay, before ending up at four thousand. A lot of the book was like that, but we’re really proud of the finished product.
As far as this line of books, I love taking these types of deep dives into games. When people see a Zelda book or a Final Fantasy book, they immediately get excited, they pick it up, they say, “I’d read that!”. It brings the community together, and I love that.
What do you wish people understood about what you do and the space you occupy in the gaming / mental health arena?
I want people to know that most of what we earn from book sales or merchandise goes right back into funding mental health training and care. For example, we’re paying for a member of our staff to go back to school and get certified to do psychological testing because we believe in its importance and want to be able to offer these kinds of valuable services to communities in need.
We’ve also been able to open two physical locations, one in Colorado and the other in Virginia, that are client-focused. These are places that people can go to get support and help with what’s burdening them.
How can people become more involved and support what you’re doing?
We’re going to announce some exciting volunteer opportunities in 2025. People should keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook. We’re listed as Geek Therapeutic (we couldn’t get the “s” because it was too many characters!).
Thank you so much Dr. Bean for taking the time to speak with Boss Rush Network. We look forward to checking in with you next year and wish you success in your valuable work.
Tell us what you think! Will you be checking out Geek Therapeutics? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation in Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
Source: Geek Therapeutics
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