What’s the first thing you look for in the morning? Probably your phone. But have you ever felt panic when you can’t find it? Or when it’s running out of battery and you can’t charge it? And do you spend a lot of time scrolling through social media even when it’s really late and you have a test the next day?
In our society, we have so many things that grab our attention (that it’s easy to become overstimulated). We use our phones and the internet all the time, and it’s hard to take a break. Some studies show that this overstimulation is causing significant emotional, mental and behavioral problems for young people, such as having trouble focusing and feeling motivated, having difficulty to control themselves, having disrupting family relationships and routines, it is similar to having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Our addiction to technology, like social media and games, is a way to escape from our busy lives, but it actually makes things worse by creating disconnection from our real selves and those who care for us. It’s a cycle that keeps going, and it’s been even harder to control and overcome during the pandemic. It can make us feel empty, depressed and worried all the time.
Do these sound familiar to you?
To parents:
“During COVID, online games become such a part of my son’s social life. His friends will call and ask him to go online.”
“My daughter will be irritated when we ask her to stop playing video games, we don’t know what to do.”
“We tried to limit his playtime and screen time, but nothing worked.”
“She has her phone with her anytime anywhere, even in bathroom. No one can take the phone away from her.”
To youth:
“I enjoyed making friends online than in-person. It saves more time and we have the same interest. I seldom hangout with friends now.”
“Every time I met a new friend, I would ask him/her what video games he/she is playing.”
“My screen time report showed that I spent more than 8 hours a day on social apps.”
“I have a charger with me all the time because I am too scared that my phone would run out of battery.”
How can we regain control?
The goal of this course is to help young people, their families and those who care for them face a big challenge. How can we take control of our lives again? We want to control how much we use our phones, how we feel, and how motivated we are and how we invest our time and energy. We will learn about attachment and behavioral science to help us connect with ourselves and others. We will build systems to be more disciplined and reach our goals. We’ll learn about emotions and how they affect us. We’ll also use exercises to understand our habits and find a good balance. We’ll do all of this together as a group, so we can support each other and feel like we’re part of a community. Technology will always be around and will only get more prominent with AI. The key is developing life long skills so that we can use technology mindfully while keeping the connections that we value.
Join us to start the journey!
Come and join our supportive group of friends who are facing similar challenges. We will encourage each other and help each other get better. You can take the first step towards regaining control and living a more fulfilled life by joining our program today.
Overclocked: Deescalating Digital Overstimulation
Overclocked: Deescalating Digital Overstimulation (Overclocked) is a virtual course for youths designed to restore a healthier balance and satisfying relationships. It is not a group counselling session but a psycho-education virtual course that offers an understanding of how the brain works, skills learning and support groups to each participant.
Audience: Youth aged between 13-18 years old
Language Spoken: English
Each session is richly packed with 1.5 hours of neuroscience, skills learning and group application.
- The first portion: Focusing on psychoeducation on neuroscience, addiction, coping strategies and behavioral changes.
- The second portion: Small Group Interaction, Experiential Exercises to develop awareness of healthy and harmful technology use.
What is Technology Addiction?
Watch a video to have a brief understanding!
Learning Objectives
Understanding the neuroscience of Gaming Addiction: Let’s learn about why some people get really hooked on gaming and how it can affect their lives. Our instructor will guide us to understand what causes this addiction so we can learn how to use technology mindfully instead of mindlessly instead of mindlessly.- Personalized Strategies: We’ll discover special tricks and tips that are just right for each of us and our gaming habits. Together, we’ll create strategies to help control how much we play, make smart choices, and foster a healthier relationship with games.
- Supportive Friends: We’ll meet other individuals who have similar challenges, and we’ll become a team that supports each other. Our community of fellow gamers-turned-conquerors will provide invaluable motivation, empathy, and understanding throughout the journey.
- Balancing Real Life: To learn how to have fun with other activities, hobbies and relationships in addition to gaming. We’ll find a good balance between playing games and doing other things that make us happy. We’ll discover new interests, get better at getting things done, improving relationships that we value and feel even more joyful in our lives.
Understanding the neuroscience of Gaming Addiction: Let’s learn about why some people get really hooked on gaming and how it can affect their lives. Our instructor will guide us to understand what causes this addiction so we can learn how to use technology mindfully instead of mindlessly instead of mindlessly.Program Schedule
- This program consists of six 1.5-hour sessions (9 hours in total)
DATES: TBC- TIME: TBC
DATES: TBC
TIME: TBCEach session will revolve around a certain topic that is accompanied by a key conversation and several hands-on exercises to help rewire your brain that require your active participation.
Seats are limited, and we strongly advise that you commit to attend every session for optimal learning and to ensure a safe environment for all participants.
Meet Your Facilitators:
Course Developer, Lead and Host:
- Caleb Tse, MDiv, RP (Qualifying)
- Along with Co-Facilitators: Dedicated mental health practitioners, peer supports and student learners
Course Consultant and Co-Host:
- Dr. Tat-Ying Wong (MD, MTS, MDiv., AAMFT, CAMFT Supervisor, ICEEFT Certified Supervisor and Trainer)
Course Fees and Sponsorship:
Course Fees and Sponsorship:
(Fee promotion info)
- Standard Fee: ($50 per 1.5 hour session) = $300 for 6 sessions
- Sponsorship Application (applicable to those with financial challenges. Please read below for more details)
- Participants who would like a sponsorship, please email our staff at therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca for the application form.
- Participants who successfully applied for sponsorship from Grace Health Centre will be asked to help with demonstrations of the exercises by Caleb and Dr. Wong, and to grant permission to use these demonstrations to benefit other participants.
Grace Health Centre will make every effort to accommodate people experiencing low resource, take into consideration your financial situation and not turn away anyone unless the seats are full.
Payment is made with cash or credit card at Grace Health Centre after the in-person registration screening process is completed and registration is confirmed. E-transfer is also accepted, please use email address therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca for e-transfer service or credit card.
Payment must be made on or before September 12, 2023.
If you are paying by e-transfer, please take note of below details:
email: therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca
Password: Your last name + last four digit of your mobile number on the registration form
example:
Name: Alex Chen
Mobile: 647 123-4566
Password: chen4566
Course fees (covering non-physician facilitation, course development costs and copyright fees) may be eligible for private insurance coverage claims under Social Worker or Registered Psychotherapist – for Online Group Therapy. Your private insurer determines and approves the eligibility of the claim. You will receive an invoice to send to your insurer. You are responsible for making these claims to your insurer. Dr Wong’s fees are covered by OHIP for residences of Ontario.
Save up to $50 with Family and Friend Referral!
Learning together with a loved one will reap even greater benefits.
If you are joining with a family member/friend, everyone will be eligible for a $25 discount on their registration! The maximum discount received per registrant is $50.
Refer your family or friend: You get a $25 discount. Your family member/friend gets a $25 discount on his/her registration. That’s a saving of $50 together.
Please Note: This offer is not in conjunction with the early bird discount!
Register Now!
Once you register, a Grace Health Centre staff will be in touch to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at Grace Health Centre (402-2830 Keele St, Toronto) for an initial screening with our Dr. Wong before the 1st session.
Since technology overuse may often be complicated by underlying ADHD, ASD, depression, anxiety social phobia, it is important to undergo a screening by a qualified physician. The screening will be done without a family physician referral or virtually if you have a referral from your family physician. You will be asked to complete a screening questionnaire prior to your meeting with Dr. Wong. Parents or family members can also complete the questionnaires to evaluate the participant if they have concerns.
Participant's Agreement
1. This is an educational program that does not replace the need for professional help and medications. Participants need to continue their current treatment during the course. Even though the facilitators are trained and licensed mental health professionals, they are not acting as a professional counsellor in their role as course facilitator.
2. Participants need to be stable, able to commit the time required, concentrate, absorb the key concepts, complete the basic exercises and not to be at risk to themselves or others so that a safe and productive learning environment can be maintained. The facilitators will ask participants who need additional help to consult their helping professionals. Participants are required to attend and in-person or virtual screening appointment at the clinic. The virtual screening requires a referral from the participant’s family physician whereas the in person screening does not requires a referral and is recommended for participants who do not have a current family physician.
3. Attendance of all virtual sessions, engaging with course material for each session and participation in the in class discussions, sharing, self-reflection and skill building exercises and keeping your camera on are essential for maximum benefit and growth.
4. For optimal learning, participants are encouraged to review each lesson in the handbook and other learning materials.
5. Participants will keep the personal sharing and discussion confidential to protect each other.
6. Participants who are absent for emergencies, illness and other reasons beyond their control are expected to notify the facilitator as soon as possible.
7. I acknowledge that my personal growth is my own responsibility and am willing to take this responsibility by engaging and renewing my way of thinking, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviour and experience without avoiding, or blaming myself or others. I understand that I am fully and solely responsible for the results and decisions that I make regarding my use of this course. I release the facilitator, the program developer and all related institutions and organizations from any and all liability and accept full responsibility for my involvement in this course and the use of any related materials.
8. Participants can support each other through mutual acceptance, understanding, validation, empathy, prayer and encouragement.
9. In emergency situations or times when the participant is at imminent risk of hurting him/herself or others, then he or she will need to go to the closest emergency department or call 911 for immediate assistance.
10. Participants agree to be involved in photographs, recording, testimonies, and the production of short audio- visual clips for promotion, distribution at discretion of course facilitators, record-keeping for the purposes of helping other course participants.
11. Participants understand the risks of using electronic communication and that Grace Health Centre team will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received using email and/or text messages. However, because of the risks outlined below, the team cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of electronic communications.
- Use of electronic communications to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties.
- Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of electronic communication, it is not possible to completely secure the information.
- Electronic communications can introduce malware into a computer system and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
- Electronic communications can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the GHC Team or the patient.
- Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of electronic communication, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
- Electronic communications may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
- Participants acknowledge and understand that despite recommendations that encryption software be used as a security mechanism for electronic communications, it is possible that communications with the team using the Services may not be encrypted.
12. Participants understand that Grace Health Centre will keep participant information private and secure.
13. Application fee is non-refundable. If participants withdraw before/after the course starts, the course fee will be prorated and can be kept as “credit” for future courses. A “credit’ will be valid for 24 months, starting from the date of your cancellation.
14. The maximum referral discount received per registrant is $50 from Family and Friends referral discount program.