You will Learn

Video games in and of themselves can be very positive, honing decision making, mental agility and manual dexterity. Many of our clients, however, have trouble self-regulating limits with video games. Parents are frustrated by the amount of time their kids spend pushing buttons in front of a screen, young adults drop out of school after playing video games instead of doing homework, adolescents retreat into games instead of developing friendships…What is it about these games that is so addicting?

  • Participants will understand what motivates people to play video games.

  • Participants will learn ways to help parents make decisions about setting limits about video games.

  • Participants will identify benefits and downsides of gaming.

  • Participants will review current research about video game addiction and what makes games hard to stop playing.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Video Games and Your Clients: What You Need to Know Now

    • Welcome to your CEU Webinar

    • Video Presentation - Video Games and Your Clients

    • Copy of Presentation Slides

    • Quiz: Video Games and Your Clients

    • Course Review Survey

Instructor(s)

LCSW

Andrew Fishman

Andrew Fishman, LCSW (he/him) is a therapist who works with teens and emerging adults. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New College of Florida, with a double major in psychology and art. After graduating, he spent four years working at a therapeutic school for middle schoolers with emotional and behavioral disorders while pursuing a master’s degree in clinical social work at Loyola University Chicago. Since then, he has conducted individual and family therapy for adolescents dealing with a variety of issues and led both support groups for people with behavioral issue disorders and social groups for autistic teens and adults. Andrew uses a client-centered, humanistic approach to therapy, incorporating elements from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, as appropriate for each client. Andrew has a unique specialty in the impact of video games on mental health. He writes regularly on the subject for Psychology Today online: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health “As a life-long gamer, I recognize the many educational and social benefits video games can offer. I also know that, for some, video games can present a serious concern. Because they are often designed to be habit-forming, many players find it challenging to balance their desire to play games with work, chores, family time, homework, and extracurricular activities. Parents may struggle to understand whether these games are harmless fun – a popular way to hang out with friends online – or an isolating obsession. “By helping people identify and examine their values, I help them to find balance in their lives and be the people they want to be.”