Kelli Dunlap

Pixel Perfect Psychotherapy | Take This

Kelli Dunlap is a Clinical Psychologist at Pixel Perfect Psychotherapy and Head of Community at Take This. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology and a masters in game design, and is internationally known for her work at the intersection of psychology and games. In addition to being a practicing therapist, she is an award-winning game designer and has consulted on game projects with organizations including the National Institute for Mental Health, Vox Media, and 343 Industries.

She serves as an adjunct professor at American University’s Game Center where she teaches graduate courses on the psychological, cultural, and social components of designing games.

Publications:
Mental Health Live: An Ethnographic Study on the Mental Health of Twitch Streamers during COVID-19
Mental Health in 3D: A Dimensional Model of Mental Illness Representations in Digital Games
Integration of Game Design and Theory into Group Psychotherapy with Veterans with Severe/Chronic Mental Illness

www.dunlappsyd.com

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Social Profiles

All Sessions by Kelli Dunlap

  • 6. Fr

    Games & Psychology

  • 12:15  - 12:45
    Portrayals of mental illness are common in video games, both in AAA titles and in Indie games. Research on the impact of these portrayals is limited and has traditionally focused almost exclusively on character tropes as found in television and film. However, representations of mental illness in games are broader than just characters and have a unique potential to impact social understanding and cultural perceptions around mental health topics. This presentation will tackle some of the most common tropes, explore their cultural relevance and impact, and provide recommendations for game developers on how to avoid tropes, ditch stereotypes, and create better representations of mental illness in games.
    Where
    Room 211 & via zoom

  • 13:35  - 14:15
    Roundtable with summit speakers.
    Where
    Room 211

  • 7. Keynotes & Events

    Wed - Fr

  • II Thursday 17:15  - 18:00
    Games allow us to experience challenging psychological and mental health topics in a way that players actually want to engage with. As games continue to explore the depth and breadth of human emotional processing - tackling feelings like shame, guilt, and regret - it is essential that developers have a code for ethical design around this kind of content.

    Whether a game explores vulnerable populations or discusses topics traditionally considered stigmatized (i.e. mental illness) or traumatic (i.e. assault), game designers have an ethical obligation to prioritize player safety. In this talk, clinical psychologist and professor of game design Dr. Kelli Dunlap adapts psychological ethical standards to create guidelines for developing emotionally heavy content.
    Where
    Keynote Tent & live streamed on vimeo




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Kelli Dunlap