While addictions are always negative, social media addiction is one of the easier addictions to fight. If you are truly motivated to control your use of social media, it can be done! Breaking the pattern may be easier to do than you believe. Internet addiction treatment aims to create boundaries and balance around Internet use rather than eliminating it entirely. However, if a certain app, game, or site seems to be the focus of the addiction, stopping its use may be part of treatment. Often described as an impulse control disorder, internet addiction is a behavioural addiction which involves the use of self-help, abstinence and coaching to regain control over their use of these platforms and rediscover a healthier lifestyle. Coaching sessions would aim to encourage ways you can reduce the amount of time spent on the internet, with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and behavioural activation techniques being effective methods of reaching this goal. The action-oriented and problem-solving approach helps you understand the impact of internet addiction on your relationships and conduct with others, as well as teaching you methods of managing your thoughts and behaviours that lead to compulsive internet use, in a more positive manner. Because the inability to control your impulse to use the internet can lead to a pattern of addiction that is difficult to stop, self-control techniques learned during these sessions can help to minimise the severity of withdrawal symptoms of internet addiction, such as anxiety, making it possible to reduce your internet usage in a safe and gradual manner. This means working together to correct faulty beliefs, rid negative thoughts, and think before reacting. Doing this makes you stand a much better chance of moving onward and fighting the urge to log in. The cognitive-behavioural approach could include: practice opposite time of Internet use (discover patterns of Internet use and disrupt these patterns by suggesting new schedules) use external stoppers (real events, activities or apps prompting to log off), set goals (with regard to the amount of time), abstain from a particular application (that the client is unable to control), use reminder cards (cues that remind the costs of IAD and benefits of breaking it), develop a personal inventory (shows all the activities/hobbies to engage in or can’t find the time due to IAD), enter a support group (compensates for a lack of social support), engage in family therapy (addresses relational problems in the family) Behavioural activation – By being mindful of your environment as well as what you’re thinking and doing, you can work through triggers and other challenges. This technique can be particularly effective if co-existing mental health conditions such as depression are contributing to internet addiction. It aims to increase activity levels and focus on ways that you can prevent feeling the need to avoid other activities through your internet use, and help you to find alternative hobbies which can help improve general mood and overall wellbeing. Meditation Life visioning Communication and assertiveness training Social skills Life skills Life balance plan How to Get Help for a Teen Although giving your teen a say regarding treatment is recommended, assuming the teen is a minor, the parent/guardian has authority to make the final decision. Beyond treatment, it is imperative that parents/guardians work collaboratively with the teen every step of the way. This includes actively participating in treatment, maintaining boundaries in the home, talking through problems, and leading by example. If your teen’s behaviour is not monitored at home, then it is likely that they’ll return to their problematic use.

A free introductory call and assessment is offered, which explores the specific problems that you are experiencing with digital addiction, after which a bespoke treatment plan can be defined. If we believe we can work together, we will sign a contract and define the coach/client partnership required to obtain the desirable outcome. During our sessions, we will look at the underlying reasons for your habits and you will begin to find new ways to do well with challenges and thereby reduce the role of social media or technology in your life. We would work together to correct faulty beliefs, rid negative thoughts, and think before reacting by using strategies, tools and exercises to stand a much better chance of moving onward and fighting the urge to log in. The process would normally entail the following steps: Set goals: Set clear goals for reducing or eliminating social media use. Be specific about the amount of time you want to spend on social media each day and the specific times of day when you will check your accounts. Develop a plan: Develop a plan for reducing social media use, such as gradually reducing the amount of time spent on social media each week or limiting the use of social media to certain days of the week. Find alternative activities: Find alternative activities to replace social media use, such as reading, exercise, or spending time with friends and family. Exercise may be incorporated into Internet addiction treatment to ease the effects of reduced dopamine in the brain resulting from restricted Internet use. Seek support: Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. They can provide encouragement and accountability as you work towards breaking free from social media addiction. Practice mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help reduce stress and increase awareness of your social media use. Take a break: Consider taking a break from social media altogether. This can help break the habit of checking social media impulsively and help you rediscover a healthier lifestyle. The goals of self-help and one-to-one coaching sessions for overcoming internet addiction include: Helping you to identify how internet addiction has impacted your life Working with you to try and understand if there are any underlying mental health issues which may be causing you to compulsively use the internet as a coping mechanism Shifting a negative relationship with the internet into a positive one by finding new outlets for coping with the stresses and strains of daily life

I offer you a free initial consultation, by phone, under no obligation. Sessions are normally once a week and last 55 minutes. All session prices include free support by email between sessions. I offer sessions mainly online but face to face can be also arranged. I can cover East London, North London, Central London and Essex. Please let me know if you would prefer a different structure. I normally work session by session and do not insist you must pre-book a certain quantity of sessions. The majority of clients will have between four and 12 sessions. Some have fewer and some will have more. Not all challenges are the same and no two clients are the same either. The intended treatment outcome and timeline is highly dependent upon your motivation to change. I advise perspective clients to book a session and then book session by session. However there are reductions for block bookings. CURRENTLY ACCEPTING PRO-BONO CLIENTS TO PRACTICE NEW STRATEGIES AND APPS.

Social media addiction is widespread, but it isn’t a hopeless problem. It’s conquerable. Unlike substance abuse, it’s not physically addictive. It’s simply an issue where you lack structure and you can easily track your use. You can get a timeline of phone use, letting you tackle the issue effectively. Plus, social addiction isn’t as chronic as other forms of abuse, so it’s easy to give it up. However, the intended treatment outcome and timeline for working toward recovery, is highly dependent upon your motivation to change. If you fully engage in treatment while utilising appropriate coping skills, changing your environment, and abstaining from unhealthy social media use, then the treatment outcome is quite favourable. All therapeutic work is really a partnership between me, the coach and you, the client. I give you tools and work very hard to help you see things differently and gain resources. However, whatever changes you wish to see will ultimately be carried out by you. You are responsible for your decisions, choices and mindset. Though I cannot guarantee results, I am confident you will greatly benefit. If you are motivated, wonderful changes should hopefully result.