Advantage Guild
Social Skills Gaming Groups
For kids, teens & adults
Berkeley, CA
We use Dungeons & Dragons—a collaborative storytelling game that only requires paper, pencils and dice —as the foundation for our academically rigorous social skills groups. Our neurodiversity-affirming sessions apply social-emotional learning strategies in an engaging environment that makes social skills development fun and engaging.
This collaborative learning space provides endless opportunities to practice social engagement, all while developing critical thinking, executive functioning, and academic skills as players plan strategies, weigh consequences, solve puzzles, and adapt to unexpected challenges.
Our participants are matched with groups of similar age and ability. Each group member creates their own character and will be guided through an adventure where they can grow in their ability to build supportive and accepting relationships, develop stronger self advocacy skills, improve self esteem and leadership abilities, and increase confidence academically and professionally. The goal of our groups is to provide participants with a sense of autonomy which they utilize in developing important self regulation, leadership, and teamwork skills.
Game sessions will be in person and take place three times a month. Parents will also have access to regular monthly meetings with one of our facilitators.
Advantage Guild provides social skills groups and is not a clinical or therapeutic service.
We currently run groups in Berkeley, CA and are hoping to expand to Oakland within the next year.
Our games are appropriate for ages 7 and older. If you're interested in learning more,click here to contact us and set up a free 30 minute consultation call. During that time we can answer any questions you may have about our groups and ensure that your child is a good fit for our groups.
If you choose to enroll in a group, we will set up an initial call where we can learn more about your child, and then begin game sessions.
Meet our Facilitators
Anne Szostek, M.S., CF-SLP, brings nine years of experience supporting neurodivergent youth and their families to her role as Game Master (GM) for Advantage Guild. For the past five years, she has specialized in using Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop roleplaying games as tools to support social skills, self advocacy, and leadership skills in neurodivergent players. As a GM, Anne co-creates engaging stories that allow participants to explore their strengths and growth areas in a supportive environment. She takes a strength-based approach that helps neurodivergent individuals transform challenges into opportunities and feel empowered in any situation. Anne has extensive experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse families, skillfully adapting her sessions to meet each client's unique needs. Her extensive experience working with AAC users (alternative and augmentative communication) allows her to adapt her games to accommodate players with diverse communication styles.
Harjas (she/they), MSOT, OTD, OTR/L is a Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist with more than a decade of experience supporting clients across public schools, skilled nursing facilities, and pediatric mental health settings. Harjas earned both a bachelor’s of science in Therapeutic Studies and a master’s of science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University—home to the top-ranked OT program in the United States—and later returned to complete a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2020.
Harjas’ work in schools sparked an unexpected passion for tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) after being introduced to Dungeons & Dragons. Co-facilitating a week-long deep dive with students revealed the game’s remarkable versatility as an occupation that naturally fosters skill development, collaboration, and meaningful engagement. This inspiration led to Harjas’ doctoral capstone project, “Role for SEL: Using Dungeons & Dragons to Promote Social-Emotional Learning with Middle-Schoolers,” which explored how TTRPGs can support social–emotional growth in youth.
Grounded in informed, neurodivergent-affirming practices, Harjas values advocacy, accessibility, and meeting every learner where they are at with authenticity and joy. Beyond clinical work, Harjas continues to explore the broader world of TTRPGs delving into new systems, mechanics, and genres. In their free time, they enjoy baking, reading, board games, crocheting and knitting, and cuddling with their dog.
Group
Locations
Our current groups are held in West Berkeley
We are looking forward to starting groups elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please contact us for more information about groups in your area.