Strategies for Problematic Gaming

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Jamal Ahmelich

Jamal Ahmelich is a registered clinical counsellor through the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. His philosophy of therapy is that the client/counsellor relationship is of utmost importance in promoting change and as such, always uses a client centered, strengths based approach.

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Strategies for Problematic Gaming

Video games have increasingly become the hobby of choice for many youth around the world. With more and more options of types of games, improving graphics, social connection and intense, engaging storylines, it’s easy to see why it’s become so popular with young people. With this increased prevalence, we’ve also seen the rise in issues related to overuse of video games. While it’s hard to define where the line between healthy use and unhealthy use is, there is a point where unhealthy use can be problematic. Here are a few tips for parents to consider when reflecting on their young person’s video game use.

Strategies for prevention of overuse

• Promotion of healthy activities and hobbies
• Sleep
• Social “in person” interactions with family and friends
• Time in Nature
• Physical Activity
• Anything that supports a strong parent-child relationship can be a protective factor
• Be a role model for healthy technology use

Setting Healthy Limits:

• Connecting with your child
• Positive reinforcement of good behaviour
• Be positive with your child as much as you can.
• Working with your child to set boundaries on use and discussing the reasons why
• Setting limits that include increased responsibility of use. One day they will need to manage their own use so anything we can do to prepare them for this will help.
• Setting consistent boundaries and having systems built in to support this. (For Example: Timers, Wifi controls, etc)
• Limit recreational technology on weekdays. Many parents will limit video games on school days, while allowing them on weekends.

Managing Problematic Use:

• Limit wifi access. For example, turning this off at night or during set periods
• Change the wifi password daily.
• Consider removing controllers or cables when your youth will be unsupervised
• Consider removing devices completely.

What needs is your child meeting through video games?

• Is your child trying to keep occupied? Find healthy activities and people.
• Is your child looking for social connection? Find other ways to connect socially.
• Is your child looking for adrenaline and excitement? Find ‘adrenaline’ sports such as mountain biking, kayaking, etc. to meet that need.
• Is your child looking for others to validate and accept your child? If so, find responsible adults that can help your child feel accepted.

Treatment

Family participation is so important when considering, planning and implementing change in the problem gamer’s life. Family members can keep young people on track and support that positive change that may be needed in their life. Treatment can occur in multiple ways from working with a counsellor or psychologist in the community or by doing residential treatment where the youth would be at a facility for a given period of time. Therapists use various types of interventions and treatments depending on the situation such as the following.

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): CBT is a therapy that helps people look at their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
• Motivational Interviewing: Motivational interviewing helps look at a patient’s readiness for change and explores ambiguity around their willingness to change problematic behaviours.
• Family therapy: Excessive video gaming can impair family relationships, and family interventions seek to improve relationships between the child/youth and family members.

Treatment goals may include:

• Helping the child/youth to find other activities and people to meet the needs that the video games meet. It can be helpful to explore what needs are being met by the video games. Is it a social need? Or is it a need for dopamine/adrenaline? Or is it a need for achievement?
• Finding other ways to give adrenaline/dopamine, such as time in nature or physical activity.
• Finding other ways to have social connection, such as with family or friends.
• Finding other ways to give mental stimulation, such as reading, learning, or other hobbies.
• Treating any other mental health conditions that the person has. People with excessive video gaming may have other conditions such as substance use problems, depression, anxiety, ADHD.
• Addressing any other significant life stresses that the young person may have. The person may have troubles coping with family stresses. Or stresses with bullying and peers. Video games may be a way of escaping and coping with stresses.