by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Oct 1, 2025 | Internet Addiction, Mental Health
As teens turn to AI chatbots for comfort and companionship, several families say those “friends” failed their children in crisis — here’s what every parent should understand about the risks. Chatbots are everywhere now. Teens use them for homework,...
by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Sep 16, 2025 | Mental Health
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a hard look at the line between justice and vengeance — and an honest reckoning with the hatred such violence stirs in all of us. This past week has been difficult for many with the assassination of Charlie Kirk by an...
by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Sep 11, 2025 | Gaming Addiction
Marketed for focus and endurance during marathon gaming, these energy drinks carry real cardiovascular risks from their caffeine loads and additives — especially for the teens who consume them most. Energy drinks designed for gamers have become a booming industry,...
by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Aug 4, 2025 | Internet Addiction
Brain scans show internet addiction can physically reshape a teenager’s developing brain — weakening focus and impulse control — yet the same youth that makes them vulnerable also makes recovery possible. We all know that the internet can be a powerful tool—but...
by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Jul 28, 2025 | Autism, Internet Addiction
Some toddlers develop autism-like symptoms from heavy early screen time, not genetics — and unlike classical autism, this “Virtual Autism” may be reversible. In recent years, clinicians and researchers have raised growing concerns about a phenomenon known...
Thirty Days Will Not Cure You
Why an AI Companion Feels Like Relief to an Autistic Teen — and Why That’s the Problem
But They’re Fine at School: The Hidden Cost of a High-Masking Teen
What to Do When the Urge Hits — and Why “Just Don’t” Never Works
Why You Reach for the Phone the Moment You’re Bored