Any adolescent would be able to tell you that a hashtag is used on social media to group information together by topic, theme, or content. Search #Prom2018 and you will certainly find a plethora of prom photos posted on Instagram. Sometimes it also provides an opportunity for teens to cleverly caption a photo and obtain more likes or followers, #squadgoals. Nevertheless, the purpose here is simple. Just as we strive to be culturally competent across racial and ethnic groups, we should also strive to learn just as much about adolescent online culture, especially if adolescents are the primary population of clients we are working with. As you’ll see in the next section, the more you know, the better questions you can ask!
Any adolescent would be able to tell you that a hashtag is used on social media to group information together by topic, theme, or content. Search #Prom2018 and you will certainly find a plethora of prom photos posted on Instagram. Sometimes it also provides an opportunity for teens to cleverly caption a photo and obtain more likes or followers, #squadgoals. Nevertheless, the purpose here is simple. Just as we strive to be culturally competent across racial and ethnic groups, we should also strive to learn just as much about adolescent online culture, especially if adolescents are the primary population of clients we are working with. As you’ll see in the next section, the more you know, the better questions you can ask!
Assesing for an addiction to Social Media
Assesing for an addiction to Social Media
"What do you enjoy doing on the computer?"
"What do you enjoy doing on the computer?"
"What do you enjoy doing on the computer?"
Recognizing Cognitive Distortions Online
Debunking cognitive distortions or challenging unhelpful thinking styles is a method often used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Click on these examples from my clinical practice to help adolescents recognize when and how they are viewing online content in a distorted or unhealthy way. Also encourage the youth you work with to consider their own online cognitive distortions!
References
Beck, A. T. (1964). Thinking and depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 10, 561-571.
Beck A.T., Rush A.J., Shaw B.F. & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Guilford Press.
Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187-195.
Stallard, P. (2019). Think Good, Feel Good: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook for Children and Young People. Wiley.