Live Virtual Training via Zoom

Shiveta Gandotra, PhD, presents a live virtual professional training program on Scrolling Minds: Understanding and Addressing the Mental Health Effects of Social Media.

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, influencing self-perception, relationships, and mental well-being. While it offers connectivity and self-expression, excessive use has been linked to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and addictive behaviors. This workshop will explore the psychological impact of social media, focusing on both risks and benefits.

Participants will examine the neuroscience behind social media use, including dopamine-driven engagement and attention dysregulation. We will discuss the effects of online social comparison, cyberbullying, and digital socialization on mental health. Through interactive discussions and case studies, attendees will learn to identify signs of problematic social media use and differentiate between healthy engagement and digital addiction.

The training will also introduce clinical strategies to help clients establish healthier relationships with technology. Participants will gain practical tools, including cognitive-behavioral interventions, digital detox techniques, and psychoeducational approaches for guiding clients toward mindful and intentional social media use. Ethical considerations in treatment will also be addressed.

Designed for psychologists, therapists, counselors, and social workers, this session will provide actionable insights to support individuals struggling with social media-related mental health concerns. By understanding the complex interplay between social media and mental health, clinicians can help clients navigate the digital world more effectively and foster overall well-being.

This training is designed for mental health professionals who work with individuals struggling with social media-related mental health concerns. This training will equip professionals across various settings with practical tools to support clients in building healthier relationships with social media.


Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the psychological impact of social media on self-esteem, mood regulation, and interpersonal relationships
  • 2 Describe signs of problematic social media use and differentiate between healthy engagement and digital addiction
  • 3 Describe clinical strategies and interventions to help clients manage social media consumption, including CBT techniques, digital detox approaches, and psychoeducation
  • 4 Describe emerging research and ethical considerations in treating social media-related mental health concerns

  • Intended Audience

    This program is intended for mental health professionals who support individuals experiencing challenges related to social media use, including its effects on self-esteem, mood, relationships, and digital well-being. The audience includes those who address the psychological impact of technology on adolescents, adults, and families, as well as those specializing in digital addiction, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and the influence of social media on youth and relationships.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Therapist
    • Counselor
    • Social Worker
    • Psychologist
    • Addiction Specialist
    • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
    • Child and Adolescent Therapist
    • Couples and Family Therapist
    • School Counselor
    • University Mental Health Professional
    • Community Mental Health Professional
    • Healthcare or Hospital-Based Clinician
    • Corporate Wellness Professional

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels who wish to enhance their understanding of social media’s impact on mental health and develop practical clinical strategies.
    Beginner: Participants new to addressing technology-related mental health concerns, seeking foundational knowledge of social media’s psychological effects and basic intervention tools.
    Intermediate: Clinicians with some experience integrating digital wellness into practice, aiming to deepen their skills in assessment, intervention, and ethical considerations related to social media use.
    Advanced: Experienced professionals familiar with digital mental health issues, looking to refine advanced intervention strategies, stay current with emerging research, and address complex clinical presentations involving social media.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this program typically work in environments where they provide mental health support to individuals, families, or groups affected by social media use. These settings may include private practices, schools, universities, hospitals, community agencies, and corporate wellness programs. Their workspaces are often confidential, supportive, and designed to facilitate open discussion about digital well-being, technology use, and its psychological impacts. Professionals may engage in one-on-one counseling, group therapy, educational workshops, or organizational wellness initiatives, adapting their approach to the needs of diverse populations.

    Examples of practice settings:

    • Private therapy offices for individual, couples, or family sessions
    • Community mental health centers serving diverse or underserved populations
    • School counseling offices supporting students’ social and emotional development
    • University counseling centers addressing student mental health and digital stressors
    • Hospital or healthcare clinics integrating digital wellness into broader treatment plans
    • Corporate wellness programs promoting healthy technology use among employees
    • Nonprofit organizations offering psychoeducation and support groups on digital well-being

Presented By

Shiveta Gandotra, PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Shiveta Gandotra holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from India and was the first Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Psychology at the University of Jammu. She has 11 years of experience as a professor in the Higher Education Department in India, where she published numerous research papers and authored the textbook Introduction to Psychology for graduate students. As the Head of the Department, she created course schedules, managed class assignments, and ensured the department's smooth functioning. She also mentored students in their pursuit of master's programs, served as a member of the Counseling Cell to support students dealing with stress, and was a member of the Board of Studies at the University of Jammu, where she contributed to designing coursework and syllabi for undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programs across the state. After moving to California, she earned her master’s degree in counseling from Palo Alto University, graduating in 2021. She is now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Outside of her professional life, she is a devoted mother to two young children, ages five and three, and enjoys spending quality time with them in her free time.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Shiveta Gandotra, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introduction (10 minutes)

      • Welcome & objectives of the session
      • Icebreaker: Quick poll on participants’ social media habits

  • Understanding the Impact of Social Media (20 minutes)

      • The Neuroscience of Social Media: How dopamine and reward cycles contribute to addictive behaviors
      • Mental Health Effects: Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and attention issues
      • Social Comparison & Identity: The curated self vs. real self, FOMO (fear of missing out)

  • Identifying Problematic Social Media Use (15 minutes)

      • Signs and symptoms of social media overuse and addiction
      • Case studies: Interactive discussion on real-world clinical examples
      • Self-assessment exercise for participants to evaluate their own digital habits

  • Clinical Strategies & Interventions (20 minutes)

      • CBT Techniques: Addressing cognitive distortions related to social media
      • Digital Detox & Mindfulness Strategies: Helping clients set healthy boundaries
      • Psychoeducation & Behavioral Plans: Tools for therapists to use in practice

  • Identifying Problematic Social Media Use (15 minutes)

      • Privacy concerns, misinformation, and professional boundaries in the digital age
      • Q&A session for participant reflections and takeaways

Live Event Policy

Registration for our live events is covered for one (1) person per purchase. If you would like to purchase for a group, please contact our group training team.

  • Event Communications

    When registering, use an email that is active and that you check regularly. We are not responsible for communications not being received; if you do not add [email protected] to your email safe sender list, our emails are likely to end up in your spam or junk folders.

  • Cancellation Policy

    This is a live program only and will not be made available on-demand. If you are unable to attend live please contact customer service 48 hours before the live event to request a refund.

  • Event Conduct

    Professional conduct is expected during our live programs. Our goal is to make our events as interactive as possible for all participants. We reserve the right to remove any participants who are disruptive, act unprofessionally, or who we are unable to verify their purchase.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship/ provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.