Minecraft is a cultural phenomenon. Originally created in 2011, it has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide and amassed more than 200 million monthly active players. The newly released “A Minecraft Movie” is already the highest grossing release of 2025 and an astounding 53% of children aged 6 to 8 and 68% aged 9 to 12 are estimated to actively play Minecraft.
A guiding principle in behavioral health is to “meet people where they are.” By doing so, therapists provide a powerful foundation to help the people they serve feel seen, understood and accepted, all vital for recovery.
At WellPower, child therapists are taking this hallmark of care to a whole new level by holding sessions within the world’s most popular video game, Minecraft.
Pandemic Provides a New Opportunity
In 2020, Braulio Rivera, LPC, created WellPower’s Minecraft program as a way to connect with the children on his caseload during the pandemic when usual therapeutic tools, like toys and games, were not practical. During a therapy session one day, a distracted child was playing Minecraft on the side. The child invited Rivera to “join his world” in the game, which seeded the idea to hold sessions within the game itself.
“In Minecraft, kids create rich, intricate worlds and inhabit them with their own avatars,” said Rivera. “Minecraft provided a new and insightful way to connect with children and teens and provide support within that world that can translate to their everyday lives.”
In just five years, WellPower’s Minecraft program has grown from a single therapist – Rivera – to a staff of 10 clinicians and multiple Minecraft worlds. The team has expanded the program to serve children ages 6 through 17, offers clinical therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), as well as providing the space for many of Child & Family Services’ groups.
Minecraft Builds Connections
The Minecraft program has uncovered surprising benefits and interesting insights.
According to Rivera, “The people most enthusiastic about Minecraft therapy are exactly who therapists struggle to reach – pre-adolescent boys. Typically, this age group is the least engaged, the least open with feelings and the most likely to miss appointments.” Rivera continued, “But they never miss a Minecraft session and are among the most animated and engaged. Minecraft allows us to see a side of them that can be difficult to access in traditional therapy.”
This is especially encouraging, as group programming for youth under 18 typically sees low engagement rates, leading many behavioral health organizations to offer limited options. Despite their therapeutic benefits, youth groups often face significant barriers to participation. Last year, only about 45% of traditional youth groups at WellPower met for at least five sessions. In contrast, the virtual Minecraft groups have successfully overcome many of these barriers, with 100% of attempted groups meeting consistently.
This program is also particularly meaningful for kids who may experience extreme social anxiety in person. Behind the safety of their avatar, they become much more open and can express their feelings, share resources with friends, engage in play therapy and show their clinicians what’s going on in their minds in ways they feel safe.
Evolution of Therapy Tools + How We Communicate
Minecraft therapy is proving to be a modern evolution of the traditional tools therapists used to engage children, like games, puzzles and dolls. And more remarkably, because the program more accurately imitates the way kids interact with one another in today’s world, it also helps break down barriers.
“Even in 2025, kids frequently interact with one another remotely instead of in person. They don’t get on video calls to talk to one another, instead they play video games together or simultaneously watch the same YouTube videos from separate locations, but ‘together’ on their devices. Connecting remotely via the Minecraft world is second nature to most kids. It’s much safer-feeling for many of them as it’s the way they are accustomed to connecting,” noted Rivera.
The Universal Appeal of Minecraft
Minecraft is a worldwide phenomenon and appeals to all cultures and backgrounds. According to Rivera, 67% of the kids WellPower serves in Minecraft Therapy are non-white and approximately half identify as LGBTQ+. There is also a Minecraft therapy group solely for Spanish speakers
“Initially, teenagers were the most likely to be in our Minecraft program, but we’ve seen rapid growth among ages 7 – 13 year olds,” said Rivera. “Many of these are kids are dealing with high anxiety levels, possibly resulting from the isolation of the pandemic and missing the typical milestones to connect in person during a critical time. Thankfully, Minecraft is helping us make strides in working with them.”
Ensuring Minecraft Can Meet Demand
By reaching youth in the Minecraft world, WellPower is indeed “meeting people where they are.” Rivera notes that WellPower is hosting Minecraft groups daily to meet demand.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, WellPower depends on the support from generous donors to make our innovative programs possible. While Medicaid and insurance billing covers many – though not all – of the services we provide, new approaches to treatment like Minecraft are only possible because people like you recognize the importance of making mental health available for all. Your contribution will make a meaningful difference, right away.