Mindfulness in Medieval Bohemia: Putting Therapy Skills to Work in a Game

I've never been good at being a beginner. I often hold myself to the unrealistic standard that I should inherently know the “right” way to do things, as if expertise should emerge fully formed rather than through the slow and sometimes messy process of learning. This perfectionism has been both a driving force and a persistent challenge in my life, particularly as I navigate the parallel journeys of personal therapy and graduate studies in professional counseling.

As an autistic person, I often find myself struggling to synthesize abstract concepts without tangible, lived experience. Traditional learning environments can feel disconnected from reality—or at least my reality—making it challenging to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application. This is particularly true in my personal therapy work, where psychoeducation and emotional nuances play such a pivotal role.

It's in this context that Kingdom Come: Deliverance entered my life - a historically-grounded RPG that has become more than just a game. It's evolved into an impactful teacher of patience, self-compassion, and a genuine journey of growth. For someone who habitually holds themselves to unrealistic standards and needs experiential learning opportunities, the game provides a unique space to practice, fail, and grow without real-world consequences.