A vast cultural gap exists between the average mental health therapist and the average gamer. This problem is highlighted when an individual who needs help for problems related to gameplay can't find a professional who knows the difference between an MMO and Anime (I actually heard this recently from a colleague).
By and large, therapists don't get it. At a recent conference where I presented on the topic I found many were concerned with trying to understand gamers in their own families as well as their clients yet ignorant about the process. How do you differentiate healthy gaming from addictive or problematic gaming? What do you do when your partner, your child, your friend seems to play excessively?
We all need to develop awareness and skills in dealing with this issue, particularly mental health therapists. I will be continuing to offer interactive multimedia seminars over the next 12 months for professional training on this topic.
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