Where Gaming and Mental Health Intersect
Video game counseling is offered as a specialized psychotherapy service for adults whose relationship with gaming intersects with mental health, identity, stress, or life transitions.
Gaming is not inherently problematic. For many adults, games provide connection, mastery, regulation, creativity, and relief from stress. Difficulties tend to arise when gaming becomes the primary coping strategy, begins to interfere with work, relationships, sleep, or health, or becomes a source of shame, internal conflict, or emotional distress.
I received direct training and clinical supervision in Video Game Child & Family Counseling Inc. under Monet Goldman, LMFT, a nationally recognized clinician and educator in this specialty.
What Is Video Game Counseling
Video game counseling intentionally integrates a client’s relationship with gaming into treatment. Therapy focuses on understanding how gaming functions in your life, what needs it meets, and where it may be limiting growth or well being.
Depending on your goals, treatment may include:
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Exploring gaming as a coping strategy, identity space, or emotional regulator
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Understanding patterns such as avoidance, hyperfocus, burnout, perfectionism, or shutdown
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Addressing internal conflict between values, responsibilities, and gaming behavior
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Developing flexibility and choice around gaming rather than rigid rules
Gaming may or may not be used directly in session. When referenced or incorporated, it is done intentionally and clinically, never casually.
Who This Service Is For
This service may be a good fit for adults who:
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Experience anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or emotional numbness
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Have ADHD or executive functioning challenges that affect routines and follow through
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Feel socially diconnected offline but engaged online
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Use gaming to cope with pressure, burnout, or identity confusion
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Feel stuck, behind, or dissatisfied despite external success
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Struggle with guilt or shame about gaming habits
*Clients often present with high functioning profiles while feeling internally overwhelmed or conflicted.
A Gamer Affirming, Adult Centered Approach
This practice takes a gamer affirming stance that recognizes gaming as a legitimate cultural, social, and psychological experience.
This means:
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Gaming is not pathologized or treated as inherently addictive
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The focus is on meaning, function, and impact rather than hours played
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Therapy respects autonomy, adult choice, and self-direction
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Goals are collaboratively defined, not imposed
Many adults have tried self-imposed rules or external pressure with limited success. Therapy focuses on sustainable change grounded in insight, nervous system regulation, and values alignment.
When Gaming Becomes Clinically Relevant
In therapy, gaming becomes a focus only when it contributes to significant distress or impairment in important areas of life.
This may include:
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Difficulty stopping or transitioning away from gaming
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Gaming consistently taking priority over sleep, work, or relationships
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Escalating use during periods of stress, loss, or burnout
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Persistent internal conflict about control, productivity, or self worth
If reduction or restructuring of gaming is a goal, therapy emphasizes gradual, compassionate change, not abrupt elimination or shame based restriction.
What Sessions May Look Like
Individual sessions are tailored to your needs and may include:
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Therapy exploring identity, attachment, and long standing patterns
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Behavioral strategies for habits, routines, and thought loops
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Mindfulness and nervous system regulation skills
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Executive functioning support for planning, boundaries, and transitions
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Values based work to clarify what you want your life to include beyond gaming
Some clients prefer purely conversational therapy. Others benefit from examining specific games, play patterns, or gaming related experiences as therapeutic material.
Common Therapy Goals
A therapeutic approach to understanding gaming, stress, identity, and emotional wellbeing. The goal is not to eliminate gaming unless that is explicitly what you want. The goal is choice, flexibility, and self trust.
A healthier, more intentional relationship with gaming
Improved mood, stress tolerance, and emotional regulation
Better sleep, structure, and daily balance
Reduced shame and self criticism
Increased motivation and follow through
Greater alignment between values and behavior
