"What is behind "Addicted to Video Games" label? Insight from counselling sessions with Kids and Teens in Hong Kong" Presentation for ADHD Foundation Hong Kong, Hong Kong, DEC 2016

1. ● MSc in Clinical Psychology
● Cert.: CBT, NLP, Addiction Therapy Certificate (incl. Internet and Gaming
Addiction), trained in Positive Psychology counselling
● 2500+ of individual counselling sessions
● regular ind. and gr. supervisions with Dr Mark Gandolfi and Dr Alex Li
● Member of Hong Kong Psychological Society

2. What is behind
”addicted to video games” label?
Insight from Counselling Sessions with Kids and Teens

3. Conflict of Interest - declaration:
None

4. Comorbidity
depression,
mood,
social
anxiety
disorders...
Compulsive
Internet and
Video Gaming

5. “My child is addicted to video games”...atypical cases
Plays in order not to witness
and hear parents fighting,
shouting and arguing
Case Study One (boy, 9 y/o)

6. Lives in a luxury estate in Mid Levels,
feels isolated and is not able to interact
with friends in other way than through
video games.
Case Study Two (boy, 13 y/o)
“My child is addicted to video games”...atypical cases

7. Top reasons behind compulsive gaming
Communication
with friends
Acknowledgement
and achievement
Stress
relief,
security
blanket
Peer pressure

8. The Name of the Game: Money and Gambling
● get money
● buy credits/items in game
● get advantage and praise from classmate
● trade, bet to make real money

16. Common challenges
in therapy

17. “Stop playing computer!...Mum,
I’m not playing, you just don’t
understand...”
Get Interested, Learn,
Let them share their world to you

18. “Don’t tell me what to do...I know
better and I’m not a small kid”
Empower | Discuss | Compromise | Review

19. “How was at school, did you do
your homework?....
Dad, stop nagging me…”
Understand | Appreciate | Enjoy | Laugh

20. “Matt, I just installed parental
control software on his computer,
he can’t break it...yeah right...”
Open talk | Trust | Support | Consistency

21. “Mum: Matt, my son is addicted to computer.
Spends all evening playing.
Matt: How does your evening look like?
Mum: I’m on my tablet, need it for my work.
Matt: that’s what your son thinks as well”
Kids observe and learn from parents:
stress coping skills | spending free time

22. “My parents forced me to stay
with them and watch silly reality
show. How’s that different from
me playing games? Watching TV
is OK, but using computer
not...that sucks...”
Have integrity....

23. “Eating at home is like in a hotel.
Helper calls us for dinner, we eat
and go to our rooms. Like total
strangers...”
Value House Chores

24. “I don’t like my helper, she
thinks, she can tell me what to
do....she’s not my parent...”
Be clear about your helper’s role at home

25. Thank you!