Teens and Screens: Parenting Tricks to Promote Digital Wellbeing
Join us for an interactive and informative virtual parenting workshop designed for parents of teens ages 13-18 to explore the challenges and opportunities of raising digital natives in a connected world.
Learning Objectives
This session will provide valuable education on how social media use impacts your teen’s mental health and overall wellbeing. We’ll delve into:
- Adolescent development and the role of social media in teens’ lives
- Social media and mental health in adolescents, including typical risks by gender
- Communication about social media use with teenagers
- Parenting strategies for encouraging healthy social media use
We will equip you with practical strategies, including how to:
- Evaluate age-appropriate media
- Identify signs of screen addiction and emotional distress
- Set healthy boundaries, implement structure, and encourage balanced screen use
- Lead by example and foster open communication
- Engage in offline activities and promote holistic development
About Instructor(s)
Dr. Ayal Goldberg earned his B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University, then completed both his master’s in Educational Psychology, and his Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Combined School and Clinical Psychology at Kean University, an institution accredited by both NASP and APA. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of New York.
With a warm and compassionate approach, Dr. Goldberg specializes in helping children, adolescents, and families who have experienced trauma or are facing disruptive behavior challenges. He values working closely with families and caregivers to support their youth in managing emotions and behaviors effectively. He is particularly passionate about helping families navigate technology and media, offering strategies to establish healthy screen time habits and promote social-emotional development.
While employing evidence-based treatment modalities, Dr. Goldberg tailors his approach to fit the unique circumstances of each individual and family. His therapeutic techniques include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Parent Management Training (PMT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Game-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GB-CBT).
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Goldberg has training in school psychology, providing direct interventions, teacher consultations, and supportive services for children and adolescents facing emotional and educational hurdles. He integrates prior experience as a special education paraprofessional into his collaborative work with educational professionals.
_____________________________
Dr. Aidan Schmitt is a therapist who earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University with a specialization in children and adolescents. She is currently working in private practice at MPG and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Before graduating, Dr. Schmitt completed her dissertation on social media use and mental health in adolescents. She also completed a pre-doctoral clinical internship in Washington, DC, during which he worked in various school settings affording her experience navigating school wellness teams and special education programs. Dr. Schmitt has also obtained clinical training in inpatient, outpatient, community clinic, and private practice settings.
Dr. Schmitt treats children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other behavioral difficulties. She utilizes evidence-based psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, parent management training, interpersonal therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Dr. Schmitt prioritizes a collaborative, strengths-based approach and tailors care to the needs of each individual and family. She applies current research and acknowledges diversity factors when conceptualizing cases and developing treatment plans.
Regarding specializations, Dr. Schmitt has a particular interest in treating and researching internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression). Additionally, she conducts research on social media use and emotion regulation in adolescents. Overall, Dr. Schmitt enjoys working with clients and families to decrease symptoms and improve quality of life.
