15 Hours | 15 CEs

This self-paced training program on Technology and Mental Health for Children and Adolescents: Screen Time, Digital Interventions and Teletherapy is presented by Eduardo Bunge, PhD and Blanca Pineda, Ed.D.

With the rise of new technologies our society is being transformed and children and adolescents will be affected both positively and negatively by these technologies. Clinicians working with children and adolescents often advise parents on what to do with their children's technology use (e.g., screen time, cyberbullying, video games, etc). Developing a science-based view of the impact of the new Information and Communication Technologies on the children and adolescents development could help clinicians provide better recommendations for parents. Additionally, technologies can be specifically designed to treat and prevent mental health disorders in children and adolescents. Even more, Behavioral Intervention Technologies (BITs) may have the capacity to expand delivery models and/or increase the outcomes of therapy. BITs are defined as mobile and electronic interventions that incorporate a variety of technologies, such as mobile phones, the Internet, and virtual reality, in order to assist users in altering behaviors and cognitions related to mental and physical health wellness (Mohr, Schueller, Montague, Burns, Rashidi, 2014). Emphasis will be placed on treatments designed to be effective with the most commonly occurring pediatric and adolescent health conditions and mental disorders. New professionals trained for the future of mental health care will require to be familiarized with the evidence for and utilization of BITs such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, Internet interventions, mobile health, wearables, etc. Finally, there is a need to deliver therapy through videoconference (Teletherapy). Conducting teletherapy sessions is both challenging and provides new opportunities. A set of considerations and recommendations on how to conduct teletherapy will be presented.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Describe the attitudes towards technology present in youth, parents and mental health professionals

  • Describe a critical view of the impact of the new Information and Communication Technologies on the children and adolescents development

  • Describe that new technologies have on youth development, including recommendations for that clinicians can give parents on how to deal with technologies

  • Describe the core concepts of Behavioral Intervention Technologies (BITs) for Children and Adolescents for the most common mental health disorders

  • Describe the main Behavioral Intervention Technologies (BITs) with empirical support for children and adolescents, including apps, websites, and videogames

  • Describe on how to conduct telehealth with children and adolescents

Presented By

Eduardo Bunge, PhD

Dr. Eduardo Bunge is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Palo Alto University (PAU). Dr. Bunge directs the Children and Adolescents Psychotherapy and Technology (CAPT) Research Lab, and is Associate Director for the International Institute of Internet Interventions for Health at Palo Alto University.  His works focus on integrating technology and mental health, and his most recent contributions were in Artificial Intelligence-Based Chatbots for depression, anxiety, and parenting in English and Spanish. He is also the Director of the Master of Science in Psychology at PAU. He was born and educated in Argentina, earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Buenos Aires, and received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Palermo (Argentina). Dr. Bunge has more than 80 publications, including five clinical books and more than 70 peer-reviewed articles and chapters.

Blanca Pineda, Ed.D.

Dr. Blanca Pineda is the Research Project Manager for i4Health (Institute for International Internet Interventions for Health) and former Chair of the Latinx Task Force at Palo Alto University. She earned her MA degree in Interdisciplinary Education with a focus on STEEM (Science, Technology, Environmental Education, and Math) from Santa Clara University and received her Ed.D. in Learning and Instruction from the University of San Francisco. She is bilingual (English/Spanish), her research interests include using internet interventions and digital technologies to help reduce health disparities, and to enhance learning outcomes in psychology and education.

  • Intended Audience

    This self-paced course is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.

  • Experience Level

    This self-paced course is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.

  • CE / CPD Credit

    APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC Click here for state and other regional board approvals.

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Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Review Before Proceeding

  • 2

    Introduction

    • Introduction
  • 3

    Introduction to Evidence for BITS for Children and Adolescents

    • Chapter Outline

    • Introduction

    • Examples of Behavioral Internet Interventions

    • Emerging Technologies in Psychology

    • Youth Seeking Resouces for Depression Online

    • Meta-Analysis - Depression

    • Depression: Review of Apps for Depression in C&A

    • Depression: Evidence-based Interventions CATCH-IT

    • Worldwide Online Depression Screener

    • BITS with Pediatric Patients

    • Digital Interventions for Treatment and Prevention of Anxiety Disorder

    • Apps for Children and Adolescent Anxiety

    • Using A Smartphone App

    • Computerized Programs - BRAVE

    • Video Games for Treating ADHD

    • Video Game for ADD Study

    • Digital Interventions for Treatment of ASD

    • Social Skills Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder

    • Digital Interventions for Treatment and Preventions of ODD and ADHD

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 4

    The Impact of Technology on Children and Adolescents

    • Chapter Outline

    • Changes in Media Use

    • Digital Media

    • Technology Use and Mental Health: Recommendations for Parents

    • Media and Young Minds

    • Media Use in School-Aged Children

    • Children & Adolescents

    • Parenting Tips - Screen Time

    • Family Media Use Plan

    • Family Media Plan

    • How Much Screen Time is Too Much? What Science Tells us About It

    • Goldilocks Hypothesis

    • Technological Enviroment

    • Social Media - Part 1

    • Social Media - Part 2

    • Depression in Adolescents

    • Sexting in Adolescents

    • Cyberbullying

    • Video Game Types

    • Violence and Video Games

    • Violent Video Games Do Not Contribute to Societal Violence and Crime

    • Internet Gaming Disorders

    • Essential Facts- Computuer and Gaming Industry

    • Cognitive and Psycological Predictors

    • Who Plays, How Much, and Why?

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 5

    Videoconference with Children and Adolescents

    • Chapter Outline

    • Videoconference Assignment

    • Introduction

    • Things to Consider

    • Setting the Stage

    • Introducing the Client to Teletherapy

    • Techniques of Teletherapy

    • Tools for Teletherapy

    • Videoconference with Clients with ASD Intro

    • Nuts & Bolts

    • Additional Resources

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 6

    Attitudes Towards Technology

    • Chapter Outline

    • Attitudes

    • Therapist's Attitudes Towards Technonology

    • Emerging Technologies in Psychology

    • Mental Health Professionals Attitude

    • Lesson Quiz

  • 7

    Evaluation

    • Instructions

    • Evaluation

    • Submission Verification

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