One of my colleagues phoned the director of a large family counseling agency in Los Angeles recently to share that a workshop is being offered in their community to train mental health professionals on the topic of video gaming and the associated risks and benefits. Those of us who are intimately familiar with gaming realize that in general, mental health professionals are less than culturally competent when it comes to issues related to electronic media and their clients.
The agency director's response proved that point.
"We don't need any training on that topic" she said. "Our counselors only deal with typical adolescent issues."
Ummm, excuse me, but isn't gaming an extremely "typical" activity among people of all ages, particularly adolescents? And while most people have absolutely no impairments from their gaming activities, it's not news that a substantial number are struggling with compulsive playing that interferes with important aspects of life...
Is it?
For the director of a large mental health agency in a major urban area to be so oblivious to the issue shocks me. It really is one of the most surprising things I've ever heard.
More on this topic next time.
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