The Positive Power of Parasocial Relationships: Creating Interventions People Can Love

Parasocial relationships get a bad rap in the media, but we, as geek professionals, know how valuable they can be. By connecting with their favorite characters, fans can gain insights, find community, and so much more. Whether you are enlisting the aid of a child's favorite comfort character or dreaming up NPCs for a TTRPG, understanding the purposes of these relationships will enhance the therapeutic process. Ava is an innovative video game series that captures kids’ hearts and attention for social/emotional learning. Writer Melinda Layden, MEd, subject matter expert Lucas Harrington, PsyD, and creative director/artist Lucy Stevens will discuss common functions of parasocial relationships and how they can be leveraged to enhance learning and healing.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to refute common myths and summarize benefits regarding parasocial relationships

2. Participants will be able to identify and examine their own beneficial experiences with parasocial relationships

3. Participants will be able to analyze each client/student’s beneficial parasocial relationships and interpret the relationship’s function(s).

4. Participants will be able to refine interventions to maximize benefits of parasocial relationships.