Therapy can help whether your goal is to game less, to stop, or to understand what gaming is doing for you. I work with adults, and with the family and partners of people whose gaming has taken over.
When gaming becomes a problem
For most people gaming is a way to relax and be with friends. For a minority it becomes excessive, and harms the player and the people around them. The World Health Organization describes gaming disorder as a pattern of impaired control over gaming, giving gaming increasing priority over other activities, and carrying on despite negative consequences. It is usually evident over a period of at least 12 months, though it can be sooner if the effects are severe.
Signs it may be becoming a problem
- Finding it hard to control how much you play
- Spending more time and money on games than you want to, despite trying to stop
- Spending less time with friends, family or a partner
- Gaming getting in the way of work, study, sleep or other interests
- Feeling irritable or low when you cannot play
- Gaming to escape stress, loneliness or low mood
- Continuing even though it is clearly costing you
What therapy can offer
- A place to talk about it without being told to just switch it off
- Working out what gaming does for you (escape, achievement, company, structure) and what else could do some of that work
- Practical strategies for regaining control and rebuilding a routine that feels more balanced
- Support if low mood, anxiety or loneliness sit underneath it
- Goals you set, at a pace you can manage
If a child or young person is gaming too much
I work with adults. In England, the NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders sees people aged 13 and over. Young people can refer themselves, and families and professionals can refer with the young person’s agreement. You can find out more on the centre’s website. If it is affecting you as a parent or partner, you are welcome to get in touch for support of your own.
Confidentiality
What you tell me stays between us, with a few limited exceptions that I go through with you before we start. How confidentiality works.
If it is someone you love
If someone you love is affected, you can have support of your own, whether or not they get help. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Is gaming addiction real?
Gaming disorder is recognised by the World Health Organization in its ICD-11 classification. Whether or not you use the word addiction, if gaming has stopped being a choice and is costing you, it is worth taking seriously.
Is my son’s gaming a problem?
Gaming is usually a positive way to relax and socialise. It becomes a concern when he cannot control it and it is harming his studies, family life or friendships. If he is 13 or over, the NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders accepts referrals, including from families with his agreement.
How do I know if I have a gaming problem?
The signs listed above are a good guide. If you have tried to cut down and cannot, or it is damaging things that matter to you, it is worth talking to someone.
How many hours of gaming is too much?
The World Health Organization does not set a number of hours. It says to pay attention to how much time you spend gaming, particularly when it is to the exclusion of other daily activities, and to watch for changes in your physical, psychological or social wellbeing. What matters is impaired control, gaming taking priority over other interests, and carrying on despite harm.
Does everyone who games a lot have gaming disorder?
No. The World Health Organization says gaming disorder affects only a small proportion of people who game. It requires a pattern severe enough to cause significant impairment in personal, family, social, work or other important areas, which would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.
What treatment does the NHS offer for gaming problems?
The National Centre for Gaming Disorders offers assessment, then cognitive behavioural therapy focused on controlled gaming and increasing other activities. Options include individual or group treatment, a peer support group, family therapy and support for affected family members. The service is part-time and does not offer crisis intervention; in a crisis it says to contact your GP, community mental health team or A&E.
My partner or adult child games all the time; what can I do?
You cannot make another adult change, but you can say calmly what you miss and what worries you, without ultimatums. The NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders in England sees people aged 13 and over, and accepts self-referrals as well as referrals from family members. If it is wearing you down, there is support for families and loved ones. National Centre for Gaming Disorders