Video Game Addiction: Prevention & Intervention

Neils Clark & Anna DiNoto, PsyD, LMHC

Agenda● Culture and Learning: Understanding who

they are and how they learn

● Preventative Care: Practical balance

● Efficacy: Utility of intervention(s)

Ethical Caveats

Gamer Perspective:Cultural Competency

Enter their world first.

Gamer Perspective: Levels & Processes of Learning

Intelligences for young clients

Value of different teaching approaches and learning styles

Assessment: Behaviors are Clues

Assess functionality

Assessment: Addiction

Which came first?

Prevention: Starting

Addressing the problem(s)

Prevention: Whole Picture

Prevention: Skill-Building

Bridging the gap

Prevention: Preparation

Importance of scaffolding

Prevention: Practicality of Pulling Away

Kids tend not to have that ability naturally.

Systems InvolvementTake a systems-based approach.

Intervention: Behaviors

Think outside the box &have them be part of it

Intervention: Balance

Take-Home Points

● Realistic expectations● Genuineness: Explain what you are

doing and why ● Replacement behaviors● Think: Bigger picture

Take-Home Points● Cultural competency & systems approach● Be mindful of how media is being used and the

re-calibrations needed to guide them to adaptive use

● It’s a journey, guided by one’s developmental trajectories

● Early intervention