Ben Kessler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Coping Partners. He has over ten years of experience working with children ages six and up, adolescents, adults, and families. After receiving his Master of Social Work from Loyola University, Ben joined the Jewish Child and Family Services as a Clinician, Clinical Supervisor, and Assistant Director of Outpatient Adult, Child, and Family Services. Ben is skilled at engaging his clients and works from a strength-based perspective, knowing that trust and a solid therapeutic relationship are central to successful psychotherapy.

Technology and social media use has become increasingly prevalent, especially among kids and teens. While these platforms can provide opportunities for communication, connection, and education, children can also become too dependent on them. How can you establish healthy technology boundaries with your children?

According to Ben Kessler, technology addiction occurs when its usage disrupts children’s relationships and behaviors. When this happens, each member of the family must participate in a 30-day abstinence period from technology. This strict boundary allows children to understand technology’s detrimental effect on their mental health, build physical relationships, and discover healthy activities.

In this episode of The Coping Podcast, Dr. Leigh Weisz hosts Ben Kessler, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Coping Partners, to talk about technology addiction in children. Ben also highlights the importance of parents teaching young children the boundaries of healthy technology use and describes what happens when technology is taken away completely.