As a tool for guided therapy, yes, I could see role play environments having a place. Being able to rp in a game anonymously along with a therapist who is either a character or someone who monitors the game oocly could open lots of opportunities for bringing up social difficulties that one needs to address, an an opportunity for the therapist to get a first hand glimpse at how the patient interracts with others.
I think rp can be theraputic on its own in varrying degrees. For a person who is serious about exploring their demons and working on themselves, it could be a great tool. For those who seriously need therapy by have no interest in working on themselves, I don't see much benefit.
If a person is mentally or emotionally fragile and feels a need for their character to be treated a particular way by others, then public, uncontrolled rp might cause some serious grief for them.
This expectation introduces a problem - separation of ic and ooc.
