Looking for Video Game Addiction Help in Maryland?

Our Video Game Addiction Help is located in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania and serves teens from Maryland, in addition to teens from across the US.  While the length of help varies, we do not believe that substantial change can be achieved in a few short days. Campers typically attend our video game rehab for a full session (two weeks) or longer. 

The effects of playing violent video games on the mental health of children and adolescents have been of great concern to researchers, health professionals, and public policymakers for years.  Based on the overwhelming scientific evidence, several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have issued a policy statement on media violence warning about the risks posed by violent video game content not only for its addictive qualities but for the risk of desensitization to violence and the relationship screen activity has with depression.

Video game addiction help is uncharted territory for most parents.  Parents today are tasked with raising the very first generation of teenagers immersed in a world of technology.  Screens are everywhere- teens bring internet-connected smartphones to school and often have access to games on the bus, in class, in the lunchroom, and back home again until mom or dad return from work.  For most families, gaming addiction is an issue that requires high levels of intervention.

The focus at our video game rehab is to help young people learn how to live in tandem with video games, cell phones (smartphones), and other digital devices so that they can be successful with life beyond high school.  Internet gaming addiction and excessive use of screen time technologies is a behavioral problem that has been classified and explained in numerous ways.

Camp Pocono Trails Provides Help for Maryland Teens With Real Solutions

At Camp Pocono Trails, therapists, nutritionists, counselors, instructors, nursing, and activity staff all work together as a multidisciplinary team to help your child.  Multidisciplinary care happens when professionals from a range of disciplines work together to deliver comprehensive care that addresses as many of the camper’s needs as possible.

Our video game rehab uses a range of professionals functioning as a team under one organizational umbrella. As a student’s condition changes over time, the composition of the team may change to reflect the changing clinical and psychosocial needs of the student.

By participating in a positive peer culture, campers learn how to socialize appropriately and interact in the real world without the use of screens.  Over time we will reintroduce your student to screens in a slow, systematic manner.

Looking for a Video Game Addiction Help? A Place for Maryland Families to Start

Located in Pennsylvania in the Poconos, our video game rehab offers Maryland families effective options for creating life changes.  Many parents that enroll their child at Camp Pocono Trails try in-home interventions first. A behavioral contract can work, but parents need to remember that a contract is like a marriage.  Both parties need to agree. You can’t just force the rules upon your child. Ask them what they want to work for, and how much time is reasonable to play online after homework is done. 

The key to taking back control of the media in your home is to make agreements ahead of time. before the video game ever goes on. There should be a clear agreement that spells out the limits and rules about the use of the game. Make it a family rule that your teen must make a schedule before they turn on the game system.  Have your teen write down exactly what time they will play from and when the game system needs to be turned off.

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that provides independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media. Its website includes recommendations for age-appropriate content and advice for parents who have concerns about their children and social media/technology.

American Academy of Pediatrics provides a customized “Family Media Plan,” which helps craft a realistic schedule for screen time, taking into account educational requirements, extra-curricular activities, household chores, and other items determined by the family.

However, if gaming is an ongoing source of tension in your family, you may be beyond the stage of trying an in-home intervention.  If any attempt to curb your teen’s video game use or cellphone/computer use results in a heated argument, please give us a call today.

Consider the Future Cost of Doing Nothing

We know that teens who play online excessively have lower self-esteem, read less, and score lower on tests.  Sitting for long periods of time can result in weight and health issues. Missing out on face-to-face interactions can set your child behind socially.

Teens face many challenges today.  Some believe they will be the next Youtube star, or the next champion video game player.  Parents often have difficulty arguing this logic with their teen. At Camp Pocono Trails we can introduce your child to more realistic life pursuits in a supportive atmosphere.

At Camp Pocono Trails, we focus on teaching coping skills and develop insight, something no pill has the ability to do.  We also take a positive approach. We don’t see your child as “broken,” they simply need to learn new skills and develop new habits.  Punitive programs that seek to tear a child down and rebuild them can result in a child simply pushing back harder than before.

Who does Camp Pocono Trails help?

Camp Pocono Trails helps teens struggling with issues similar to those below:
– Impulse Control
– Poor Communication Skills
– School Refusal
– Social isolation
– Addictive Behaviors
– Trauma
– Depression
– Autism Spectrum
– Social Issues
– Social Anxiety Disorder
– Technology Addiction
– Video game addiction
– Family Conflict
– ADHD
– Low Self Esteem
– Anxiety

Resources

Video Game Addiction Help Resource: Setting up Controls on Your Apple Computer and Phone

Apple brand products offer some of the best and hardest to get around controls for parents.

You can learn how to set up parental controls for Apple products here: https://support.apple.com/kb/ph18571?locale=en_US

As a parent, you want your kids to have a safe and happy experience on the Mac. Using Parental Controls preferences, you can manage, monitor, and control the time your kids spend on the Mac, the websites they visit, and the people they chat with.  After you set restrictions for a child using a Mac, you can manage parental controls from a different Mac. Both computers must be on the same network.

Video Game Addiction Help Resource: Playstation Limits

If we simply take the strategy of putting external controls on gaming or internet-connected devices, we have done nothing to develop the child’s ability to self-regulate their gaming or browsing behavior independently.  However, if you need to put up some structure now, here is a guide for setting up Playstation spending limits and gaming times:

How to set parental controls and spending limits on PS4: https://www.playstation.com/en-au/get-help/help-library/my-account/parental-controls/ps4-parental-controls/

By creating a sub-account for your child you can prevent them from accessing PlayStation Store content that is unsuitable for their age, user-generated content and online gameplay. You can also stop your associated sub account from making purchases without your consent.

In this article, you can learn about the parental controls available on PlayStation products: https://www.playstation.com/en-au/get-help/help-library/my-account/parental-controls/age-ratings-and-parental-controls/

Camp Pocono Trails helps families from Maryland

Camp Pocono Trails helps Maryland families from cities and towns like Chevy Chase Village Somerset Travilah Chevy Chase Terrace Chevy Chase Brookmont Cabin John Potomac Bethesda Darnestown