Women and Video Gaming Addiction: Exploring Issues in Play and Treatment

Women and Video Gaming Addiction; Exploring Issues in Play and Treatment

Presenter: Adrianne L. Johnson, Ph.D., LPCC-S, Associate Professor in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Wright State University

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2022
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Units: 2
Register here.

It is currently estimated that almost half of video game players are female, yet little is understood about the special factors related to addiction and treatment for women with gaming addiction. Women generally tend to select online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) as their preferred video game due to gender-specific social characteristics. It is important to understand the motivations for female players in general and players of MMORPG’s specifically. Identifying these characteristics may help practitioners discern leisure play from addiction in women and will aid in the appropriate formation of treatment strategies and future research.

The presenter will discuss the understudied topic of gaming addiction in women, MMORPG in particular and associated diagnostic characteristics as articulated by the American Psychiatric Association (2013). Learning Objectives: 1. Develop an understanding of the impact of identity, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences of female gamers. 2. Learn about the video games that women are most likely to play and how the choice of game may drive addiction. 3. Identify appropriate and successful treatment strategies for women including individual and group treatment approaches. 4. Learn advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede appropriate diagnosis and treatment for gaming addiction behaviors in women.

About Adrianne L. Johnson, Ph.D., LPCC-S: Adrianne L. Johnson, Ph.D., LPCC-S, earned her doctorate in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in 2007. She is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She has published and internationally presented on Dr. Johnson has over 15 years of professional experience as a clinical mental health counselor and educator. She has published and internationally presented on various topics related to best practices and approaches in clinical mental health counseling, higher education, process addictions, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Scholarly interests include counselor training, mental health advocacy, and social justice in the field of counseling.