The Mental Health Benefits Of A Smartphone Break

by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Feb 25, 2026 | Internet Addiction, News

Experts say three weeks without your phone can do more for your mental health than a two-week vacation — a striking claim from a field now treating phone use as genuine addiction. Three weeks without a smartphone can have a more significant positive impact on mental...

Did A Boy Kill His Adoptive Father Over Nintendo Switch?

by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Feb 23, 2026 | Mental Health, News

An 11-year-old shot his adoptive father after being sent to bed — and the internet rushed to blame his Nintendo Switch. The real story is far more complicated, and far less certain. In what could only be considered a tragedy, an 11-year-old boy shot his father in the...

Brain Changes Linked to Mindfulness in Gaming Disorder

by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Feb 18, 2026 | Internet Addiction, News

A new clinical trial shows mindfulness meditation doesn’t just ease the symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder — it measurably rewires the brain regions that drive compulsive use. Mindfulness Meditation as a Treatment for Internet Gaming Disorder A recent study...

A New Type Of Internet Addiction: “Reel Addiction”

by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Feb 17, 2026 | Internet Addiction, News

A new term is emerging for an old trap — “reel addiction,” the compulsive pull of endless short-form video, now affecting nearly one in six young people and plenty of adults too. With the rise of digital media access, a concerning trend is emerging among...

Why Profound Autism Deserves Its Own Diagnosis

by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC | Feb 17, 2026 | Autism, News

As autism diagnoses climb, the most severely affected are being left behind — and advocates say recognizing “profound autism” as a distinct diagnosis is the only way to get them the care they need. Experts are increasingly calling for “profound...