I have lived a thousand lives: Teaching mental health professionals about the geek and gaming community.

Geeks and gamers make up a 2.6 billion-person strong community. Many of our clients, family, friends, and peers are active in the culture, yet other mental health professionals know little about these activities. Our beloved activities have historically been blamed for negative patterns of behavior, however the literature increasingly shows benefits for those who participate in healthy ways. This presentation will explore the history of the mental health field’s bias against geek and gamer culture and propose methods to change the narrative. Further, ethical arguments and counseling theory will be explored to bolster our support among those who are uncertain of the legitimacy of our identity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Highlight the underlying concerns with mainstream mental health treatment and the needs of the geek and gaming community.

2. Identify counseling literature that supports the core theme of relationship as the central factor in the change process.

3. Recommend assessment and treatment options that center around geek culture, but are rooted in classic mental health theory.

Note: Handouts can be found here - https://www.experiencepts.org/resources.html