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Snap Out of It: Examining Process Addiction to Social Media and Internet Gaming

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April 7, 2025
1:00 - 3:00pm CST
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmember
Trainer(s): Donald Altemus
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0
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Course Description

Millions of people use social media and play video games. Currently, there is no official diagnosis for social media addiction. The American Psychological Association has listed it as a condition for further study, but compulsive social media use is recognized as a behavioral addiction and is becoming increasingly more common. Gaming disorder became a recognized diagnosis in 2019. This training will examine the developmental, social and neuroscience impacts that influence compulsive social media use and gaming disorders. Training participants will leave with information on the risks associated with specific social media platforms, diagnostic assessments to determine social media and/or gaming addiction, and interventions that can be used to treat social media and/or gaming addiction. Objectives Understand the developmental, social, and neuroscience behind social media and/or gaming disorders. Define the criteria for social media and/or gaming disorder. Name clinical interventions that can be used when treating an individual with social media and/or gaming disorders.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the developmental, social, and neuroscience behind social media and/or gaming disorder
• Define the criteria for social media and/or gaming disorder.
• Name clinical interventions that can be used when treating an individual with social media and/or gaming disorders.

About Your Trainer

Don Altemus

Donald Altemus

Don Altemus has 15 years of experience in supporting people in recovery. He presents internationally to advance concepts in peer support, community inclusion, and self-direction.

Don earned a BS in Behavioral & Addictions Counseling from Drexel University, and an MS in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. 

Don currently provides counseling for children, adolescents and adults at Tranquil Solutions Counseling Center and North Coventry Elementary School. He is an Adjunct Professor for Villanova University and Reading Area Community College. And he provides Consulting, Supervision and Recovery Coaching services with Recovery Education and Consulting, LLC. Don is a Board of Directors member for the Pennsylvania Certification Board where he serves on the Ethics Committee. He is Co-Chair of the Chester County MH/IDD Advisory Board, Chair of the Chester County Adult Mental Health Subcommittee, Member of the Chester County Human Needs Network Advisory Board, QPR Gatekeeper Trainer, Crisis Intervention Team Trainer, Hearing Distressing Voices Simulation Facilitator, and a member of the Chester County Emergency Behavioral Health Team.