Short Version

Hawke Robinson is "...the Grandfather of Therapeutic Gaming. He has been tracking and involved in the therapeutic and educational application of role-playing games longer than anyone else.” –Adam Johns, Game to Grow, Executive Director, Lead Facilitator. (February 23rd, 2018).

Hawke Robinson is founder of many organizations, two key ones including RPG Research and RPG Therapeutics.

Slight Longer Version

In a referral by Adam Johns to someone else with Hawke Robinson CC'd (and permission granted to quote Adam).

"Hawke is sort of.the Grandfather of Therapeutic Gaming. He has been tracking and involved in the therapeutic and educational application of role-playing games longer than anyone else. He runs the websites rpgresearch.com and rpgtherapeutics.com, and has a unique perspective on applied roleplaying games with a background in recreational therapy. Additionally, more directly related to your program, he has designed several RPGs building specific skills, and has run LARP based summer camps that focus on skill building, in the Pacific Northwest.” –Adam Johns, Game to Grow, Executive Director, Lead Facilitator. (February 23rd, 2018).

A testimonial from one of the referenced camp programs, for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA):

"... I was a counselor at the MDA 2017 Summer Camp ... All I can say is that you guys are AWESOME. My shy camper completely opened up for the first time ... had the best time. ... was his favorite activity from the camp! ... Thank you for everything that you guys do. I'm forever grateful to you! " --Emily Fejeran August 8th, 2017

From a long-term client's mother (wishing to remain confidential), this client began diagnosed by others, including the Mayo Clinic and others, written off by doctors and therapists as "at the bottom fifth percentile of functioning". Had been through programs around the world with world-class Ph.D.s, and others. All kinds of psychotropics, behaviorial therapy, and more, and progress had plateaued. The client was suicidal, along, mostly responded in monosyllables or wordless sounds, mostly physically inactive, mostly cut off socially, and in frequent conflict with family members. This client is now midway through their college-level 4 year degree in computer science with nearly perfect grades, living in a different state from the family, in their own place, participating in multiple social groups per week, and very physically active. The program began as a weekly remote tabletop RPG, and has grown over the years in scope, but decreased in frequency and dependency.

"I consider this year a great success", "Thank you for your wonderful work <the client> has been a joy to have around and has matured a lot recently.", "<The client> is happier away from home and seems to be growing and thriving on <the client's> own."

Much Longer Version

Hawke Robinson was introduced to role-playing games by a cousin of his around 1977 when he was about 6 or 7 years old. This was the original 1974 Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game (RPG) (retronym OD&D for "original dungeons & dragons").

Hawke was a very hyperactive person, and involved in many physical activities, including a wide range of sports and outdoors activities. At the time including but not limited to: Aikido and Kung fu, basketball (he would eventually top out at six foot eight and three quarter inches), volleyball, soccer, rife target shooting, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, rappelling, baseball, tennis, golf, archery, swimming, sailing, and more. 

It was very difficult for him to sit still and focus on non-physical tasks, yet with a tabletop role-playing game (TRPG) it engaged his hyperactive mind enough to be able to trigger enough engagement to gain focus, and actually be able to sit and play a tabletop game for hours. Also, it was the first fully group cooperative recreational experience he had really been exposed to. Though he played on many teams, this was the first fully non-competitive experience he really had.

more to come as time allows...