Internet Addiction

The majority of my clinician background has been in the field of addiction/compulsive behaviors, with a special focus on digital media overuse/addiction for the last three years. This includes various online behaviors like gaming, porn, social media, shopping, and information/entertainment addiction. I have also been fortunate to speak at a number of conferences and schools as an expert in the digital media overuse field, in addition to teaching other therapists how to work with this concern.

I am experinced treating internet and gaming addiction and cybersex/pornography addiction for teens and adults and provide free presentations to parent, school and religious organizations to educate the public about this epidemic, and how it is changing our brains.

Internet Addiction encompasses the compulsive use of games, pornography, shopping, and media, and also the difficulties of living in hybrid/virtual environments that over-expose our lives in ways we cannot control. Integrating what you do and who you are online is part of my therapeutic technique.

Addiction is defined as "The state of being being given up to some habit or compulsion." Smartphones and the internet are tailored toward keeping your personal interests active. We are in "wild, wild, west" territory here, but while we are in it, we don't have to be of it. There are tools and methods to help regulate this new world. I am in it, of it, and have learned how to help others healthfully modify and recognize and take on compulsive behaviors.

Kendra is certified in Digital Health and Wellness through the National Institute for Digital Health and Wellness (NIDHW) and has received specialized training in diagnosing and treating technology addiction in children and adolescents.

As someone who worked in technology for decades prior to being a therapist, I have a keen understanding of too much Internet use and the problems it can create. I have both professional and personal experience helping my clients to use technology in a way that is helpful and aligned with one's values

I hold a post-graduate certification in Psychology of the Web which deals with both positive and negative ways in which technology affects all of us. I've worked with many individuals to resolve addiction to social media and video games.

Any issues related to video games, endless scrolling and browsing, tilting in games, rage-quitting, table-banging and lack of productivity.

I've always loved technology and worked as a website developer for years. When I began my work as a social worker, I started to see how challenging technology could be for both kids and adults to navigate. I then dedicated much of my doctoral work to understanding technology addiction and how it could be treated. I do work with individuals trying to form better habits around use and parents who want to learn how to better support their children to develop healthy technology habits.

As a lifelong gamer myself I have an acute understanding of this lifestyle. For as long as I've been able to pick up a controller I have been playing video games and browsing all the corners of the internet.

I specialize in digital addictions, notably video game addiction. I have been a active member and player in the video game community for 28 years. I understand the joy and anguish video games can cause depending on how they are being used.