| From Strugglingteens.com Parent Choices Radio Show Woodbury Reports, Inc Bonners Ferry, ID The Light And Dark Side Of Computer GamingContact: Lon Woodbury, MA, CEP, IECA 208-267-5550 lon@woodbury.com www.strugglingteens.com Featuring: Dr. Hilarie Cash, Ph D Co-founder- reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program 425-861-5504 hilariecash@gmail.com www.netaddictionrecovery.com Steven Cessario Founder - CT Youth Mentoring and Coaching 860-338-9856 contact@ctmentorandcoach.com www.ctmentorandcoach.com January 7, 2013, on "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens" with Lon Woodbury, the conversation took a look at the light and dark side of computer gaming with his guest's Dr. Hilarie Cash, Ph D, representing the dark side of computer gaming and the co-founder of reStart, the first therapeutic program for adults with addiction issues with Internet and video gaming and representing the light side of computer gaming, Steven Cessario, the founder of CT Youth Mentoring and Coaching, a mentoring and support service for teens. When posed with the question of violent video games having a positive effect on teens, Steven believes teens, especially boys look at video gaming more as a competition with their peers, somewhat as a game of football, rather that the "killing" aspects of the games. He also feels that these young men use video gaming as a way to cope with their feeling, finding it a safer way to express themselves, somewhat like "letting off steam." Whereas, Dr. Cash firmly believes that parents must monitor their child's interaction with video gaming, and that moderation is key. "It is easy for kids to get sucked into dangerous stuff on the internet, like pornography as an example, especially for those children who are unsupervised. Research also shows that there is decreased empathy and a tendency toward aggression if not kept at a moderate impact. Over exposure can lead to computer addiction." Parents need to know what to recognize as the dangers of video gaming. These include the increase of screen time on the computer or the need for an even more exciting game (to raise the pleasure centers of the brain), the child is choosing "the game" over their life/friends or family and the dysfunction that shows up in the rest of their lives: school, academics and relationships. Video gaming, Internet and cell phones have both their positives and negatives, as both guests pointed out…in moderation, of course. To listen to the full interview go to The Light And Dark Side Of Computer Gaming on LATalkRadio. Also available in Podcast  Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens. Dr. Hilarie Cash is the co-founder of reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program, the first and only therapeutic program for adults struggling with Internet and video addictions. She is also the co- author of: "Video Games and Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control" (now in its second edition.) Steven Cessario is the founder of CT Youth Mentoring and Coaching and works with young adults and teens, helping them decide the life they want to live. This segment was sponsored by Spring Ridge Academy, 928-632-4602, www.springridgeacademy.com, a Therapeutic Boarding School for Girls in Arizona. Stay Tuned...Upcoming Programs:January 2013 January 14: Annette Poizner: "Graphology's Insight into Personality" Parent Choices For Struggling Teens on on LATalkRadio, Mondays at 12:00pm, Pacific Time, Channel One. © Copyright 2012 by Woodbury Reports, Inc. |