Press Start to Heal: Video Games and the Future of Therapy | Dr. Sara Roldan | TEDxSDSU
NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for mental health advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of video game therapy, trauma, and healing which remains an ongoing field of study. Several theories discussed lack sufficient scientific support. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfIn her talk, Dr. Sara discusses the visionary exploration of how video games are reshaping the future of therapy. By bridging the gap between entertainment and mental health, she demonstrates the immense potential of technology to enhance well-being. She inspires hope for a more interactive and personalized approach to therapy, one that can reach and resonate with people in unprecedented ways. Dr. Sara Roldan is a Guatemalan-born therapist, educator, author, and speaker who is dedicated to empowering individuals to transform their lives by reclaiming their stories. With over 20 years of advocacy for inclusion and a decade of clinical expertise, Dr. Roldan merges her cultural heritage, modern therapeutic techniques, and the power of fandom culture to create innovative and accessible pathways to healing. Her passion is to help people feel empowered through their own narratives, encouraging them to see themselves as the heroes of their journeys. Her own experiences—shaped by her background in performing arts, education, and her journey as an immigrant—drive her commitment to making others feel seen, heard, and capable of thriving. Her work is a powerful call to transformation, inspiring individuals to embrace their power, overcome adversity, and become the heroes of their own stories. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 24:37Leading with Purpose:Transforming Education for a Changing India | Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal | TEDxBBAUIn this visionary TEDx talk, Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), addresses the urgent need to transform India's educational framework in a time of rapid social, economic, and technological change.With decades of academic leadership, Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal highlights how purpose-driven education must go beyond degrees — empowering youth to become ethical, innovative, and resilient contributors to national growth. He calls for a system that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence — equipping students not just for jobs, but for leadership in a dynamic world.This talk is a must-watch for educators, students, policymakers, and all those who believe in the power of purposeful learning to build a better India.TEDxBBAU is organised by Lakhan Varshney (Organiser) , Aditya Kumar Bharti (Co-Organiser) and Divyanshi Vishwakarma (Production), the core team members behind TEDxBBAU 2025.Lakhan's Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/lakhanvarshneyAditya's Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/adityakumarbharti Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal is the Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, with over 35 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. He holds a Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A. (Economics), MBA, and B.Com., and has previously served as Vice Chancellor at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, and Maharishi Valmiki Sanskrit University.He has held senior academic roles at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, including Professor, Dean, and Director-Development. Prof. Mittal has published 120+ research papers, supervised 21 Ph.D. scholars, and guided 150+ MBA students.Awarded the IEEE Lifetime Achievement Award and Best Teacher Award, his interests include entrepreneurship, NEP-2020, and promoting Indian knowledge systems in education. He has completed five major research projects and participated in academic visits to the USA, Japan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 17:30Planea con estrategia, actúa con propósito, inspira con pasión | Marco Pérez | TEDxAnahuacUniversityMarco Antonio Pérez toma el escenario de las TEDx Anáhuac University organizadas por Vértice, el Programa de Excelencia Anáhuac y nos invita a ver la vida como una historia significativa, en la que cada caída puede ser parte de un renacer. Al aceptar nuestras sombras, formar a otros y actuar con propósito, podemos construir un legado auténtico y convertirnos en héroes de nuestra propia historia. Asesor de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo. Él nos dice "Planea con estrategia, actúa con propósito, inspira con pasión". This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
