Mitigating the Risk of Digital Media Overuse at College Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. mitigating the risk of digital media overuse at college Mitigating the risk of digital media overuse at college is possible if you plan accordingly. Unfortunately, most adults overlook this detail when preparing students for the transition to college. Therapists, coaches, teachers, and parents read on to learn how you can help teens and college students take advantage of the tools at their disposal. In This Article What is Digital Media Overuse? Digital media ..read more

Digital Media Overuse & the Transition to College Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. why in-person therapy is better College students are the highest risk group for digital media overuse. While the transition to college is challenging for all students, those who lack the necessary self-management skills can find themselves overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. Often causing them to retreat into the relative comfort of their favorite digital media. The presence of co-existing conditions like ADHD, autism, anxiety, or mood disorders further increases the ..read more

Why In-Person Therapy is Better for Internet Addiction Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. why in-person therapy is better Online therapy, or teletherapy, became a necessity in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic made in-person meetings unsafe. Today, most mental health therapists continue to see clients online either because of health concerns or because one or both parties prefer it. Some therapists have fully embraced teletherapy and exclusively see clients online. For those with internet addiction or digital media overuse issues, however, teletherapy is oft ..read more

How the Internet Changed the Modern Athlete Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. the modern athlete The modern athlete is more likely to fact check their coach. They have notoriously short attention spans. They struggle with in-person communication. And their athletic focus is challenged at every turn. All of which can be directly attributed to the internet. Coaches, sports psychologists, and all others who work with the modern athlete, read on to learn. In This Article Why Take the Time to Understand the Modern Athlete? As mental health professionals ..read more

Autism & Technology Addiction: Common Co-Occurring Diagnoses Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. In This Article Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common co-occurring diagnosis for people who struggle with technology addiction or digital media overuse. Few therapists, however, are trained to recognize the wide array of characteristics that a person on the autism spectrum can present. Portrayals of autism in the media also contribute to a stereotyped or limited understanding of ASD. This has resulted in many autistic people going undiagnosed their entire l ..read more

How do social media and gaming affect athletes’ performance? Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. In This Article Social media and gaming affect athletes’ performance in many undesirable ways. From the professional level down, coaches report that today’s athletes have a hard time focusing and experience increased challenges with communication skills necessary for successful training. In studies, college athletes report losing sleep because of their phones and researchers find that when athletes use social media and video games before and during competitions it ..read more

Therapist Training Series: How the Internet Has Changed the Parent-Child Relationship Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. In This Article Today’s parent-child relationship is one of 24-hour connectivity. Most parents cite peace of mind as the primary reason for giving their child a cellphone, but how do teens feel about this new digital contract? One in which they are only allowed to venture outside the home on their own if they promise to keep their phone on them at all times and immediately respond to any communication from their parents? Those of us who work ..read more

The Internet, The News, & The End of Kids Playing Outside Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. kids playing outside In This Article Kids playing outside used to be a common sight. But today it’s becoming exceedingly rare. In the US, studies show that parents are fearful of allowing children to play outside unsupervised despite the fact that there’s never been a safer time to grow up. That’s right. There’s never been a safer time. Why does that sound wrong? One answer might be our constant access to news. News that researchers have correlated with higher stre ..read more

Athletic Focus in the Age of the Internet: A Coach’s Guide Improving focus in sports is one of a coach’s greatest challenges. Social media and video games haven’t made that any easier. Across every level and type of athletic competition, coaches report taking on more roles than they did ten years ago to ensure their athletes are mentally and physically prepared to practice and play. If you can relate, read on for some helpful ideas for building a team culture that prioritizes healthy digital media use and gets buy-in from your players to turn off the internet and get their heads in the ..read more

Therapist Training Series: Teen Online Dating Written by Tracy Markle, MA, LPC & Dr. Brett Kennedy, Psy.D. This is part two of our therapist training series on true digital natives. The first people in history born into an established, online, social structure. Thanks to the internet and social media, the rituals and unspoken social rules around family, friendship, and dating are changing in their wake. As therapists, we have a lot of catching up to do if we are to serve them effectively. Today’s teenagers are coming of age at time when the most popular way for heterosexual co ..read more