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Course description

Recent research reveals a complex dynamic between social media and mental health. Overuse of social media is consistently correlated with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, but the theoretical models explaining these correlations are wide-ranging and poorly integrated. To complicate matters, common social media use may have little to no impact on mental health, and in some cases can facilitate prosocial behavior and a sense of interpersonal connection. This course looks at all facets of our relationship with social media, helping clinicians distinguish different patterns of use and, most importantly, interpret those patterns with respect to a given client’s psychology. Specific attention will be given to real-world examples of how clients talk about their social media use in psychotherapy to illustrate the assessment of social media’s impact on a client’s life and, if needed, how to effectively intervene.

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 90 minutes. 

Content advisory: To protect confidentiality, case examples include fictionalized elements.

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least two negative psychological symptoms associated with social media overuse

  • Identify at least two psychosocial benefits associated with moderate social media use

  • Identify at least three factors that may protect against social media overuse

  • Describe at least three types of social media overuse, and clinical approaches suited for each

Course outline

1. Social media and mental health

a. Extant research on social media use and connections with mental health

b. Evidence about moderate social media use

c. The role of moderating factors

2. Theories of social media use

a. Diverse models

b. An integrative, practical model

3. The model in practice

a. Considerations in a variety of cases

b. Considerations for the therapeutic relationship

c. Attending to social media use in session

References.pdf

Instructor

Alexander Kriss, PhD

Alexander Kriss, PhD is a New York-licensed Psychologist and a specialist in the interaction between psychology and technology. He is the author of "The Gaming Mind: A New Psychology of Videogames and the Power of Play," and has served as Adjunct Faculty for Fordham University and City College of New York.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 90 minutes. Progress is saved after each lesson section so you can complete the course in multiple sittings. Please note that if you leave the course in the middle of a video, quiz, or survey section you may be required to start that section from the beginning.

Topic Area:

Clinical Practice 

Instructional Level:

Intermediate 

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments in their entirety, complete a satisfaction survey, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a course completion quiz. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within a reasonable number of attempts, and may be blocked from completing the course and receiving their certificate if unable to do so. Credit will not be provided for partial attendance. Your CE certificate will be issued automatically in your SimplePractice Learning account following completion of all course requirements.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After watching course videos, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Publication and Review Dates:

Publication Date: September 30, 2021

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund, Grievance, and Accommodations Policies:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, grievances, and accessibility, and other frequently asked questions. Click here to contact us or submit a grievance. 

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us.

System Requirements:

Please ensure your device meets our system requirements. 

Continuing Education Approvals:

SimplePractice is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course provides 1.5 hours of continuing education (1.5 CE credits) for psychologists.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice, #1749, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Simple Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/06/2021 – 07/06/2024. Social workers participating in this course will receive 1.5 continuing education credits in the Clinical topic area.

SimplePractice is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #145276). SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

SimplePractice is approved as a Rule/Statute Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Note that we do not automatically report CE completion to CE Broker at this time, so certificates of completion must be manually uploaded. Click here for more information.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0582. 

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0030.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0091.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0206.

This course is not part of our continuing education program approved through NAADAC.