My name is Derrick Hoard and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, Cetrion Main in MK11, and I chose "destroy" at the end of Mass Effect 3.
Videogame Addiction is a label given to someone who's behaviors surrounding videogames are deemed as problematic.
It is another way for a mental health professional to say "officially, I believe that you believe that you play videogames in a way that causes you problems at work, school, or in your home life".
As adults, there are individuals whose use of videogames does not provide them with relaxation, recharge, or regeneration but is another way for them to feed addictive behaviors cultivated by growing up in a less than validating childhood.
They find themselves playing more often than they would like or they have someone in their lives who complains about the amount that they play.
Videogame companies like EA and Activision that use excessive loot boxes, weekly "log in bonuses", and reward perfectionism with colorful displays and pleasing sound effects contribute heavily to the problem, however, understanding the causes of Videogame Use Disorder require looking under the surface.
Videogames, which I love and will defend until my dying breath, offer us an opportunity to escape from the troubles and perils of life.
There is no other form of interactive media that is as powerful and can captivate the way that videogames do.
In a world where the West Coast is on fire, the South is underwater, and there is an invisible virus that threatens to kill us all, I can see why you would want to escape this reality.
Like the other "mental illnesses" in the DSM, the videogames are the symptom, not the problem. It could just as easily be comic books, make-up products, and even golf. I focus on "What is wrong with your situation" instead of "what is wrong with you".
Playing videogames is just as much a coping skill as going outside for a run or painting a picture. The problem is that boomers and generation X have conditioned us to believe that gaming is a waste of time.
People have made entire careers from sitting down and playing videogames; there are competitive sports leagues, sponsorships, and twitch streamers who have built communities through the connections and shared stories they have made while gaming.
In the world, we are in now, having a community is essential, and video games allow us to create and foster that community.
It is possible to have a healthy relationship with video games and use them as tools to make genuine changes in your life.
It is also possible to use gaming as a way to grow positive relationships in your life.
If you once had an excellent relationship with games but find that the time you spend gaming is becoming problematic for you, reach out to me. I will help you repair your relationship with gaming.
I am an AVID gamer, and I love them to death, so you will NOT be shamed or guilted here. We will work together to come up with a plan that works best for you!
To parents with children who they think have "videogame use disorder". If I work with your child, I require you to be in therapy as well. There will be a 1 to 1 ratio of treatment with the primary care givers AND the child.
These meetings are not free; they are not phone calls; they are full-blown sessions where the focus will be on parenting styles, differences in parenting, and how you discipline your child.
Please do not sign up for therapy with me without understanding this and no I will NOT just see your child.
Parents who understand their influence on their children are welcomed with open arms to a shame and guilt-free environment where we can discuss solutions. Parents who think the diagnosis is the problem should find a therapist who specializes in shaming coping skills.
My hourly rate for therapy/coaching is $200. I have an Xbox, Playstation, and PC and every session comes with a free 3 month subscription to Xbox Game Pass! (How else am I going to find the perfect game to help you solve your problems?)
Financial scholarships are available to those who qualify. You must attend a free consultation first.
This is a video about mental frametraps and how they keep you stuck!
Using Videogames to talk about difficult subjects.
Teaching you how to lose successfully!
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Copyright © 2023 Derrick Javan Hoard