Therapy for Problematic Internet Use · Ontario
When Gaming, Social Media, or Internet Use Starts Taking Over: Therapy for Problematic Internet Use in Ontario
Book my FREE 20-min consultationBeing online can offer connection, creativity, entertainment, and a welcome break from the demands of everyday life. For many people, gaming, social media, and online spaces become meaningful parts of their routine. The concern begins when these activities start taking up more space than intended, leaving you feeling pulled back again and again, even when you want more time and energy for other parts of your life.
Therapy for problematic internet use offers a space to understand these patterns with compassion and explore a more intentional relationship with technology.
When Online Time Starts Taking More Than It Gives
Gaming, social media, and online spaces can provide connection, enjoyment, creativity, achievement, and a way to unwind. They can become harder to step away from when they begin taking more time and attention than you intend, leaving less space for relationships, responsibilities, sleep, or the activities that help you feel connected to the life you want.
You might notice yourself scrolling, gaming, or browsing longer than you planned, returning to your devices even when you had hoped to do something else, or feeling as though your attention is repeatedly pulled back online. For some people, these patterns develop alongside stress, loneliness, anxiety, low mood, or the need for a break from overwhelming thoughts and emotions.
Over time, what once felt enjoyable, helpful, or restorative may begin to feel less satisfying and more consuming. Therapy can provide a space to understand what these patterns are offering, explore what may be underneath them, and discover new ways to respond to your needs while creating more choice in your life.
Exploring Your Relationship With Technology in Therapy
When online activities begin taking more than they give, therapy offers a space to understand what is happening beneath the surface. Together, we can explore what draws you toward gaming, social media, or online spaces, what these experiences provide for you, and what thoughts, emotions, or life circumstances may be connected to these patterns.
My approach is collaborative and shaped around your individual experience. While creating healthier boundaries around screen time may be part of the process, we also explore the deeper patterns that influence your relationship with technology. Depending on your goals, we may draw from approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Focusing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Family Systems Theory.
The goal is not simply to remove something that has served a purpose. It is to help you better understand your relationship with technology, develop greater flexibility in how you respond to your needs, and create more space for the parts of life that matter to you
A Thoughtful Approach to Therapy Across Ontario
Elizabeth Boom is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor Qualifying (RMFT SQ) with over a decade of clinical experience supporting individuals through periods of change, stress, and emotional difficulty.
Online therapy allows you to access support from the privacy and comfort of your own space, without the added time and pressure of travelling to appointments. Elizabeth works with clients across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Kingston, Kitchener Waterloo, and surrounding communities.
Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by your relationship with technology or simply noticing that something has shifted, therapy offers a space to explore what is happening with compassion, curiosity, and respect for your individual experience.
Your First Step Does Not Have to Be a Big One
Beginning therapy can feel like a significant step, especially when you are reaching out about something that may feel personal or hard to explain. You do not need to have all the answers before starting. The process is designed to be straightforward, supportive, and paced in a way that allows you to decide what feels right for you.
Free 20-Minute Consultation
Your journey begins with a free 20 minute consultation. You can reach out by phone at 1 844 JOY2DAY or by email at elizabethboom@protonmail.com to schedule a time. This is an opportunity to share what has been happening, ask questions, and get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit. There is no expectation to continue. It is simply a conversation to help you decide what feels right for you.
Schedule Your First Session
If you decide to move forward, we will schedule your first 50 minute online session. You will receive a secure link to connect from a private space of your choice. Sessions are held through a platform that supports privacy and confidentiality.
Begin Your Therapy Journey
In your first session, we will begin by understanding what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to feel different in your day to day life. This may include exploring your relationship with technology, patterns you have noticed, emotions that arise before or after going online, and the impact these patterns may be having on your relationships, responsibilities, and wellbeing.
Together, we will begin creating a direction for therapy that reflects your goals and your pace. Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly, with flexibility to adjust over time as your needs change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is problematic internet use, and how is it understood in therapy?
Problematic internet use describes patterns of internet use, gaming, or social media use that feel difficult to shift and begin affecting important areas of life. However, not everyone who struggles with technology use identifies with this label, and the focus of therapy is not on applying a diagnosis or judgment.
Instead, therapy explores your relationship with technology, including what these activities provide, what needs they may be meeting, and what may be contributing to patterns that no longer feel helpful. The goal is to better understand what is happening and create meaningful change.
Can counselling help with gaming, social media, and screen time?
Yes. Therapy can support people who feel their gaming, social media use, scrolling, browsing, or overall screen time has started affecting their relationships, responsibilities, sleep, mood, or daily life.
The focus is not on eliminating technology or deciding whether online activities are good or bad. Together, we explore your patterns, create healthier boundaries when needed, and develop other ways of responding to stress, emotions, and personal needs.
Is therapy for problematic internet use covered by insurance in Ontario?
Many extended health benefit plans provide coverage for services offered by Registered Psychotherapists (RP). Coverage varies depending on your individual plan, so it is best to check directly with your insurance provider to confirm your benefits.
How long does therapy for problematic internet use take?
There is no set timeline for therapy. Some people may focus on building new routines, creating boundaries around technology, or making changes to their daily habits. Others may spend more time exploring emotional patterns, relationships, or experiences connected to their online use.
The length of therapy depends on your goals, needs, and what feels most helpful for you.