[In The Media] Re-programming Screen Time: Chicago Counselors Help Families Find Balance | WGN9's Medical Watch

Navigating screen use and social media for youth and families can feel overwhelming. A top priority for parents is safety, but the online world often feels full of unknowns. Our Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Claudia Welke, MD, was invited to speak with Dina Bair and Katharin Czink on WGN9 Chicago about treating screen dependency.

See excerpt below: Originally published August 15, 2024 --

CHICAGO — Experts know it’s not an all-or-nothing game when it comes to adolescents and screen time. But they also know kids who are on social media platforms for three or more hours a day are twice as likely to develop mental health issues.

Now, Chicago area counselors hope to help families re-program usage patterns for a healthier balance.

David Watkins saw the pattern in his home, particularly in his son Jadon — a competitive gamer.

“I likened it to almost an addiction. They really needed it almost all the time,” he said.

The 13-year-old toggled between a controller and his phone — connecting with friends and classmates through his devices. It was a habit that began during the pandemic.

“And when I would say, ‘Hey guys that’s enough screen time,’ I got these reactive emotions and I said, ‘Uh oh something is happening here,’” Watkins said.

What’s happening is actually chemical. As the adolescent brain develops, there’s a surge in dopamine receptors. The result? Teens crave and thrive on the high of feel-good moments. But at the same time, their prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain that regulates impulsive behavior doesn’t finish developing until the mid-20s.

Dr Claudia Welke MD, is the chief medical officer with Compass Health Center.

“You put that all together and it’s almost impossible for teenagers to resist using social media,” she said. “And I think that’s something the tech companies, they know that. They are banking on that. .. Our average in this country is 5 hours, so this is an enormous problem.”

Screen time – whether it’s playing video games or scrolling on social media — is a growing concern among parents and mental health experts, particularly the loss of sleep and lack of in-person engagement that comes with excessive use.

“They were upset. They were frustrated, animated,” Watkins said. “(Saying) ‘No dad! I need my screen! I need my phone! I need!’ I said, ‘No we don’t need these devices.’”

“When there are behaviors that are interfering with day-to-day functioning, and for some kids they are spending 10-12 hours … there is a dependence there,”  Welke said.

Jadon lacked interest in any activities other than video games and he struggled with his mood and emotions. That’s what drove his dad to seek support at Compass Health, where counselors helped the family establish limits. A checklist serves as a reminder for Jadon and his brothers to prioritize certain tasks before picking up their devices. And there’s a plan for tech-free activities when all family members turn away from tech and toward each other.

“That meant my role changed from being the nagging father to more of a nurturing coach or mentor,” Watkins said. “To say, ‘Hey here’s a healthy way to have screen time. Here’s a moderate limit.’”

“We actually practice,” Welke said. “We have screens in the group rooms and they practice getting off of the screens, which can be really tough for kids having a hard time regulating themselves.”

Welke says engaging kids and teens in the conversation about healthy usage is a powerful strategy.

“If I’m forced to do it then I don’t really like it,” Jadon said. “But at the same time, if I know it’s going to help me, then I’ll gladly do it.”

There’s been some progress in the Watkins household.

“I’ve been able to get away from it easier and have more time around my brothers and my dad,” Jadon said.

“It’s been helpful. Not always perfect of course, but it has helped tremendously,” Watkins said. “It was wonderful when Jadon said once, ‘Hey Dad, I think I’ve had enough of screens today. Let me go do that or something else. … ‘ Perfect! I couldn’t ask for anymore.”

Read the full article here.

Learn more about screen dependency treatment and how we can help here.

About Compass Health Center:

Compass Health Center provides immediate access to comprehensive, specialized mental health services, empowering individuals and families to receive the care they need when they need it. Children, adolescents, young adults, and adults are able to schedule a mental health assessment within 24 hours after the first phone call and begin treatment as soon as the next day. Our age-based approach to mental health treatment centers on three core principles: immediate access, comprehensive care, and specialization in areas such as trauma, OCD, school refusal, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring substance use and mental health.