Play & Connect
Start with games, then add a check-in or Session Enhancements if you want.
Interactive therapy games, step by step: From the first game to the conversation that matters.
Here’s what a session can look like in Opening Play, from the welcome screen to the wrap-up, with plenty of room to make it your own.
You lead, your client plays, and you decide how far to take it.
14 days free. No card needed.
Three ways to start
Pick the kind of session you need today.
Every session starts in one place, where you choose the kind of experience you want to create today, plus any games, questions or Session Enhancements you want to include.
Check In
Use questions and optional Session Enhancements, without starting with a game.
Explore & Reflect
Go straight into Session Enhancements when you want a deeper conversation.
A session, step by step
A classic Opening Play session.
Here’s one way a session can flow. Use every step, or just the ones that fit today.
Screenshot
The welcome screen
Step 1: Welcome them in
Start in a way that feels easy.
Open with a simple welcome screen that helps the session begin without pressure. It gives you a natural starting point before you move into play, questions or something deeper.
Screenshot
Choosing from today’s games
Step 2: Start with a game
They choose from the games you picked for today.
Offer a small set of games that fit this client, then let them choose. It could be strategy, drawing, word play, guessing or conversation games, usually ten minutes or less. If you want a quick place to begin, Find an Opening suggests a few ready-made collections.
Screenshot
A check-in question on screen
Step 3: Check in
Pause and notice what is coming up.
After a game, you can move into a check-in if it fits the moment. Sometimes that means reflecting on a feeling, naming what stands out or noticing a shift in energy. Sometimes it simply gives you a better sense of where to go next. Use one of our question packs or your own.
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A Session Enhancement in use
Step 4: Go deeper
Use the moment, if there is one.
This is where Session Enhancements can help you explore what is surfacing. Maybe there is a pattern worth noticing, a feeling worth naming or a moment that opens the door to a deeper conversation. You decide whether to stay light, keep going or shift directions. Try the Reflection Wheel, Circle of Control, Squiggle Scenes, or The IDK Menu for clients who’d rather not talk.
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The wrap-up screen
Step 5: Wrap up
Take the conversation wherever it needs to go.
Sometimes Opening Play is just the first five minutes. Other times, a game or activity leads to something you want to explore further. You decide when to move on, keep playing or let the conversation take over.
Before your session
Set yourself up for an easy start.
Choose the games that fit, save your favorite setups and keep Playbooks handy. After that, starting a session takes just a moment.
Switch on the games that fit.
Choose which games and activities make sense for your clients. Change them any time.
Save your go-to setups.
Keep a few favorite combinations ready, so getting started feels quick.
Keep helpful guidance close.
Look through a game’s Playbook ahead of time, or print it to keep nearby. Session Enhancement Playbooks open right inside the activity.
Short on time? Find an Opening gives you a place to begin.
Works wherever you meet
In the room or over video.
Opening Play runs in a web browser, with nothing to install. Use it on a shared device in person, or pull it up over video and share your screen.
- iPad or tablet
- Laptop
- TV in your office
- Screen share over video
Your clients never need an account.
Client names and answers are never saved.
Playbooks
Every game comes with a Playbook to help you turn play into meaningful conversation.
Questions
How it works, in practice.
Still curious? The free trial is the fastest answer.
How long does it take?
That’s up to you. Most games take ten minutes or less, and you decide whether to add a check-in or a Session Enhancement. Some sessions use one game; others use all three steps.
How much prep do I need?
Very little. Switch on the games you want once, save a setup or two, and you’re ready. Find an Opening can suggest games when you’re short on time.
Can I pause a game to try something else?
Yes. You can pause mid-game, open a Session Enhancement, and come back to the game exactly where you left off.
Can I use it with groups?
Yes. Many games are designed for groups, and some support two to four players or teams on one shared screen.
What ages is it for?
The library leans toward kids, teens and young adults, with play that never feels babyish. Many games and most Session Enhancements work just as well with adults.
Can I use my own check-in questions?
Yes. Add your own questions, and they’re always included alongside any question packs you choose.
Does it work over telehealth?
Yes. If your video platform lets you share your screen, Opening Play works with it. Nothing to install.
Is client information saved?
No. Names, answers, choices and drawings stay in your browser’s memory and are cleared when you end the session or close the tab. Your account saves only your own setup, such as presets, saved setups and the questions you write.
Your next session could start with a game.
Try everything in Opening Play free for 14 days. No card needed.