Course description

Video games are ubiquitous in our culture, but playing them is frequently regarded with judgment or disinterest. As a result, therapists tend to overlook the meaning in their clients’ gaming behavior, or view it solely through the lens of pathology. This course provides a framework for clinicians to understand games and their relevance to the therapy process, focusing on debunking longstanding stigmas in the interest of a theoretical and scientifically robust model of gaming psychology, as illustrated through specific case examples. Issues of gaming addiction, violence in video games, and talking with children and their parents about game-playing behavior will be addressed.

1 Hour CE. Recorded Video Format (non-interactive)

Learning objectives

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

  • Identify at least two common attitudes and stigmas surrounding video game use, where they came from, and how they compare to up-to-date scientific research

  • Describe a new, relational model of game-playing

  • Identify at least three methods of inquiry that can be used with patients in session to facilitate more empathic and useful dialogue around game use

  • Differentiate three types of game-playing behavior across a range of different clients and presenting issues

Course outline

1. Games in our culture

a. Popularity of games

b. Stigma around game use: Violence and addiction

c. History and research

2. A new relationship model of games

a. The game and the player’s psychology

b. Three essential questions

3. The model in practice

a. Reconceptualizing “video game addiction”

b. Talking about games when gaming is not a major presenting issue

c. Talking about video games with children and their parents

References

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 65 minutes.

Topic Area:

Clinical Practice 

NAADAC Counselor Skill Group 4: Counseling Services

Instructional Level:

Intermediate

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments, 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.

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:

Course Published: January 21, 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 Policy:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, refunds, 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 hour of continuing education (1 CE credit) 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 continuing education credit 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 hour 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 has been approved by SimplePractice, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1 Hour CE. NAADAC Provider #186410. SimplePractice is responsible for all aspects of their programming. Click here to view our complete CE approval information.