Social Media Addiction Counseling

Do I Need Counseling for Social Media Addiction?

Social media addiction is classified as a behavioral addiction, similar to gambling or shopping addiction. In terms of treatment, counseling is one of the best treatment options for social media addiction (and the broader issue of internet addiction).

If you suspect that you or a loved one has an issue with social media use, see if the warning signs of social media addiction sound familiar.

Although social media addiction may seem less dangerous than substance abuse, addictive behavior can still seriously affect your life.

By entering counseling for social media addiction, you can address addictive behaviors that worsen mental health and regain control over your social media use.

Common signs of social media addiction include:

• Excessive social media use that interferes with work, school, and social activities
• Spending large amounts of time on social media despite harmful effects or mental health issues
• Doing dangerous things for social media content
• Becoming obsessed with the lives of strangers who post on social media sites
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like mood swings, headaches, and sleep issues when not on social media
• Engaging in constant destructive activities like cyberbullying while on social media
• Using social media to cope with negative emotions or mental health conditions
• Mindlessly scrolling social media for hours without realizing how much time has passed

Types of Counseling for Treating Social Media Addiction

Evidence-based counseling is generally the most effective treatment for behavioral addictions like social media addiction.

The effects of social media can also be wide-reaching, potentially leading to mental health issues (e.g., eating disorders, anxiety disorders, etc.) as users look for validation through these platforms.

Not only can therapy help social media addicts understand what factors might have contributed to their addictive behavior, but they can also address any new concerns that have come up as a result of their social media addiction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most popular form of behavioral therapy, especially for behavioral addictions.

CBT works by helping the patient identify the self-destructive thought patterns that lead to addiction and learn to redirect those thoughts into more productive ones.

Many social media addicts (especially young people) struggle with low self-esteem and tend to compare themselves to impossible standards seen on social media.

CBT can also help patients spot false beliefs they carry about themselves due to these comparisons, improving their self-worth.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is highly effective for treating behavioral addictions such as social media addiction. DBT originated from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Whereas CBT focuses on thought patterns and false self-beliefs, DBT targets and changes destructive behavioral patterns instead.

Another difference between CBT and DBT is how practitioners conduct therapy sessions: CBT is typically a one-on-one session, while DBT is both one-on-one supplemented with a skills training group setting.

DBT also helps patients to develop skills for coping with intense emotions in the moment so patients don’t relapse back into their social media addiction.

Motivational Interviewing

Many social media addicts may struggle to find the motivation to recover from their addiction, something motivational interviewing (MI) can help with. MI is a goal-oriented therapy designed to strengthen the patient’s motivation and commitment to a specific goal.

A licensed therapist will work with the patient to identify their reasons for wanting to change through acceptance and compassion for themselves. The goal is for the patient to feel empowered and motivated to recover while creating an environment free of judgment.

Group Therapy

Some social media addicts find that group therapy is more effective for them than one-on-one therapy. Group therapy is typically led by a licensed therapist who helps a small group of fellow social media addicts talk about their experiences and offer peer support to one another.

Group therapy can provide a much-needed support network and sounding board for addicts, exposing them to new ways of improving difficult situations concerning their addiction.

Peer support in group therapy can also help hold addicts accountable when cravings or temptations strike.

How Counseling Helps Treat Social Media Addiction

Unfortunately, social media has become deeply embedded in daily life, with many jobs requiring employees to use social media platforms and social networking with others.

Counseling can help addicts learn to curb destructive or excessive social media use, giving patients better tools to cope with stress.

Using social media causes a spike in dopamine, and over time, you can develop a dependency on this regular dopamine source.

Unlike substance use disorders, most cases of social media addiction do not require inpatient rehab stays. Typically, outpatient care through counseling or support groups is all that’s needed to address the overuse of social media and addictive behaviors.

While complete abstinence from social media may be difficult, counseling can help addicts monitor and reduce social media usage. By learning to identify when social media apps have a negative effect, patients can develop strategies to combat problematic social media use.

Additional Options for Social Media Addiction Treatment

In addition to treatment programs featuring counseling, support groups can significantly help recovering social media addicts. Whether through real-life or online meetups, addicts can connect with others who understand the challenges of recovery in a world dominated by social media.

Support groups Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous and Media Addicts Anonymous are two popular options to supplement existing counseling. Both groups also offer a 12-step program that could serve in place of treatment if counseling is unavailable.

Finding the Right Social Media Addiction Counselor

Finding a social media addiction counselor may feel daunting, but many counselors and treatment centers offer options for treating social media addiction.

Because each person’s addiction and situation is unique, finding the best counselor or therapy option to fit your needs may take a few tries.

Here are a few things to consider when looking for a social media addiction counselor:

Comfort

If your therapist doesn’t make you feel comfortable and safe to be vulnerable and express yourself, you may not achieve the results you’re hoping for.

Don’t be afraid to try another therapist if you don’t feel compatible with their personality and therapy style.

Appointment Times

If attending an appointment is a hassle, you’ll be less likely to stay on top of your recovery process.

When considering a particular office or therapist, make sure they offer appointment times that work with your schedule.

Price

Cost is often a huge reason people avoid or write off therapy sessions.

Don’t hesitate to ask about the price of sessions and what co-pays you’ll have if you have insurance or request information about lower-cost sessions. You can also ask if community resources are available at lower costs or for free.

Experience

The treatment of behavioral addictions can differ from treatments for other mental health conditions.

Make sure your healthcare provider has experience treating social media addiction to ensure your best chance at recovery.

Locating Counseling for Social Media Addiction

If you or a loved one is experiencing social media addiction and are ready to find a counselor to help you, there are many in-person therapy to online therapy options available to you.

Talk to your doctor about the amount of time you use social media accounts and see what counseling options they recommend.

If you don’t have a doctor or don’t know where to start looking for treatment, you can try SAMHSA’s treatment locator or call their phone number at 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) to receive information on social media addiction treatment options near you.