Plugged In & Checked Out
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Liberty University
First Presenter’s Email Address
seoliver@liberty.edu
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Sarah Kitchens, Ph.D., LPC, NCC is an associate professor at Liberty University and a licensed professional counselor at a private practice. Prior to joining the faculty in 2013, Dr. Kitchens worked as a professional school counselor, serving both the elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools. Dr. Kitchens is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a licensed School Counselor (K-12). She has authored several professional publications, as well as several book chapters. In addition, Dr. Kitchens has presented several presentations at the state, regional, and national levels.
Second Presenter's Institution
Liberty University
Second Presenter’s Email Address
lricks1@liberty.edu
Second Presenter's Brief Biography
Lacey Ricks, Ph.D., NCC, NCSC is an associate professor at Liberty University. Prior to joining the faculty in 2015, Dr. Ricks served seven years as a middle school and high school counselor within the state of Georgia. She also has two years of experience as a career and college coach. Dr. Ricks has presented at state, regional, national, and international levels in the areas of poverty, disabilities, Narrative Therapy, child abuse/maltreatment and digital addiction. She has numerous publications in peer-reviewed counseling journals, textbook chapters, and professional newsletters. Her primary research focuses are poverty and diversity
Third Presenter's Institution
Liberty University
Third Presenter’s Email Address
thannorwalker@liberty.edu
Third Presenter's Brief Biography
Dr. TeShaunda Hannor-Walker is an Assistant Graduate Professor at Liberty University, a Licensed Clinical Therapist, and author of How to Raise a Successful Child with ADD. She served 15 years in the public schools and was named, The American School Counselor Association’s "Top Ten School Counselors in America." She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Dr. Hannor-Walker has presented at local, state, and national conferences for over a decade on various counseling topics.
Location
Session Four Breakouts (Scarbrough 5)
Strand #1
Health: Mental & Physical Health
Strand #2
Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention
Relevance
This presentation will focus on the hands (Cybersafety and creating safe spaces) and health (Intervention, prevention, or treatment programs) in order to help students, parents and teachers to understand the impact of technology and social media. We will also be helping attendees understand how to create a healthy balance regarding social media and technology so they are not so plugged in that they are checked out of real life.
Brief Program Description
Adults and children alike overuse technology and social media. While technology has many benefits there are also many negative implications. This session will suggest interventions school counselors can implement to help parents, teachers, and students seek to create healthy, sustainable balance between technology and social media. We all need to make sure we aren't so plugged in to technology that we are checked out of real life.
Summary
This session is designed to inform attendees about the impact of technology and social media on individuals, while specifically looking at students and their academic and social/emotional development. The session will suggest best practices for parents, teachers, and students seeking to create a healthy, sustainable balance between technology and social media. The presentation also explores ways in which school counselors can lead the implementation of interventions in their schools to fight the effects of technology and social media overuse. The presenters will define and explain pertinent information regarding the effects of social media as it applies to one’s social/emotional development, self-perception, and mental health.
Presentation Structure: 1) Opening Activity
2) Presentation of information/ facts
3) Suggestions for implementation
4) Discussion
5) Questions & Wrap-Up
We will provide a handout with specific interventions/ideas to fight the overuse of technology.
Evidence
Currently, there is no formal definition for internet addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-V). However, within the DSM-V, behavioral addiction has been defined as “a repeated behavior leading to significant harm or distress. The behavior is not reduced by the person and persists over a significant period of time. The harm or distress is of a functionally impairing nature” (Kardefelt-Winther et al., 2017, p. 212). According to Griffiths (2000), Young, and Rodgers (1998), the following symptoms may be caused by digital addiction.
Salience
Mood modification
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Conflict
Low self-esteem
Poor motivation
Fear of rejection
Need for approval
Griffiths, M. (2000). Does internet and computer “addiction” exist? Some case study evidence. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 3(2), 211-218.
Kardefelt-Winther, D., Heeren, A., Schimmenti, A., van Rooij, A., Maurage, P., Carras, M., Edman, J., Blaszcznski, A., Khazaal, Y., & Billieus, J. (2017). How can we conceptualize behavioural addiction without pathologizing common behaviours? Addiction, 112(10), 1709-1715.
Learning Objective 1
Participants will be able to define the impacts of excessive technology and social media use, as well as what constitutes an “excessive” amount.
Learning Objective 2
Participants will be able to identify signs of technology and social media usage negatively impacting students.
Learning Objective 3
Participants will be able to offer strategies and techniques to parents, teachers, and students to assist with creating and maintaining healthy balance between technology and social media
Keyword Descriptors
technology, social media, balance, schools, counseling, mental health, addiction
Presentation Year
2023
Start Date
3-7-2023 8:30 AM
End Date
3-7-2023 9:45 AM
Recommended Citation
Kitchens, Sarah O.; Ricks, Lacey; and Hannor-Walker, Teshaunda L., "Plugged In & Checked Out" (2023). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 66.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2023/2023/66
Plugged In & Checked Out
Session Four Breakouts (Scarbrough 5)
Adults and children alike overuse technology and social media. While technology has many benefits there are also many negative implications. This session will suggest interventions school counselors can implement to help parents, teachers, and students seek to create healthy, sustainable balance between technology and social media. We all need to make sure we aren't so plugged in to technology that we are checked out of real life.