Social Media and Mental Health (3 CE)
Course Level: Intermediate
This Course Is For: LMFTs, Social Workers, LPCCs, Nurses, Substance Abuse Counselors, and other mental health clinicians.
Content By: Nikolai Nygard, B.A., Gerry Grossman, LMFT, Kat Foley, M.A., MHP, Stacey Soto, B.A.
Course Description: In recent years, the advancement of technology has led to a rather drastic shift in the way our society interacts and communicates with one another. The rise of the internet and increasing prevalence of smartphones means that people are increasingly “plugged in” to communication networks and social media. While this is a recent phenomenon, making it difficult to know the long-term effects of this paradigm shift, the increasingly universal aspect of smartphones and social media behooves that mental health professionals are prepared to deal with the potential impacts these technologies may have on a client’s day-to-day life. Smartphones, which effectively act as small portable computers, have created a new social climate where people have access to the internet at all times. The ability to stay constantly connected can impact a person’s mental health and wellbeing. While some may be familiar with concepts such as internet addiction, social media addiction, or similar issues stemming from the high rate of internet use, there are also numerous reports of this constant connection being able to benefit people’s lives
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify common applications and the positive and negative effects of using these applications.
- Understand how to set apart regular internet, smartphone, and social media use from internet addiction and problematic internet use.
- Help clients through trust and self-esteem issues which are affected by unhealthy comparisons, cyberbullying and harassment, privacy violations, and scammers and catfishers.
- React to clients’ use of the internet to self-diagnose or cope with aspects of themselves not generally well-received in a public setting.
- Understand relationship issues that have evolved from the increased use of technology to communicate.
- Treat anxiety and addiction that clients experience due to problematic internet use.
Approvals:
Board Approvals | American Psychological Association (APA), Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), NBCC, Florida Board - Social Work, MFT, Counseling, and Psychology, NYSED - Social Work, MFT and Counseling Only, American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders |
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CE Format | Online, Text-Based |