An Adelaide psychologist has created a unique video game to help children navigate anxiety and mental health challenges. 

Drawing from her extensive experience working with children, April Benjamin identified a disconnect between traditional therapeutic methods and the way children prefer to engage.

“Kids were really struggling to maintain therapeutic outcomes because a lot of therapy involves homework tasks,” Benjamin told 9News. 

Recognising the need for a more engaging approach, she devised a game called Taming Yore Dragon that incorporates key therapeutic concepts in a fun and interactive way.

“It was wonderful to see the kids play it, and they were having so much fun, I don’t think they noticed they were learning (cognitive behavioural therapy), but the parents really understood what the kids were doing,” Benjamin said.

She’s aiming to bring the game to the market within the next two months, and hopes other child psychologists will adopt the game as part of their therapeutic approach.

Until then, Taming Yore Dragon will be available on game platform Steam for around $30.