Video Game Addiction Lake Mary: Helping Your Child Reconnect with Real Life
Are you looking for video game addiction counseling near me, as your children are addicted to video gaming? For young kids, it starts small—just a few extra minutes after school. But soon, the screen becomes their entire world. Meals are skipped. Homework’s forgotten. Conversations fade. You’re left watching your child drift into a virtual space, while real-life connections slip further away, affecting their physical health.
As a parent, it’s painful. You try to set limits, but it turns into arguments. You wonder if you’re overreacting until you notice the mood swings, the isolation, and the sleepless nights. This isn’t just a phase. It’s something deeper. And you’re not alone.
At Total Life Counseling in Lake Mary, we understand what families are going through. Video game addiction through internet gaming isn’t about laziness or lack of discipline—it’s often a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, or disconnection.
Thus, our licensed therapists create a judgment-free zone where your child can explore what’s driving their dependence and learn healthier ways to cope, grow, and reconnect.
We’re not here to pull the plug—we’re here to help your child rediscover the joy of real life, step by step.
What is Video Game Addiction?
It’s more than just “too much screen time.” Video gaming addiction happens when gaming takes over a child’s or teenager’s life—emotionally, socially, and mentally, becoming a key part of life for them. It’s when the pull of a virtual world becomes stronger than real-life relationships, school responsibilities, or even basic needs like sleep and nutrition.
You might notice your child becoming irritable when asked to stop playing, sneaking in hours late at night, or withdrawing from family members and friends. These aren’t just habits—they’re warning signs of something deeper.
At Total Life Counseling in Lake Mary, we approach this with compassion, not criticism. Video game addiction often stems from underlying struggles like anxiety disorders, loneliness, or difficulty coping with emotions.
Our goal isn’t to blame or shame—it’s to understand the “why” behind the behavior and guide your child back toward balance, confidence, and connection in the early stages of video game addiction treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Video Game Addiction
It often starts small—a few extra hours here and there. But over the periods of time, the signs become more challenging to ignore. It could be more than a phase if your child is constantly glued to a screen and seems distant, frustrated, or isolated.
Common signs of video game addiction include:
- Irritability or anger when not allowed to play
- Loss of interest in physical activities they once enjoyed
- Neglecting schoolwork, sleep, or meals
- Lying about gaming time or sneaking in extra hours
- Social withdrawal or difficulty maintaining friendships
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression linked to gaming
- Decline in academic performance
Video game addiction doesn’t happen overnight and doesn’t go away on its own. What starts as “just a few extra hours of screen time” can quietly evolve into isolation, mood swings, falling grades, and a widening gap between you and your child, impacting younger addicts significantly. If not treated early, it could lead to serious mental health illnesses.
Why Early Intervention Matters?
Video game addiction is similar to substance addiction. It’s like a person is addicted to substance use and can’t do anything to get over it. The addiction doesn’t happen overnight and doesn’t go away on its own. What starts as “just a few extra hours of screen time” can quietly evolve into isolation, mood swings, falling grades, and a widening gap between you and your child.
The earlier we step in, the easier it is to untangle the patterns behind the screen. Maybe your child is using gaming to escape anxiety, loneliness, or pressure to fit in. Perhaps it’s become their only safe space to feel in control.
At TLC in Lake Mary, we help families recognize these early warning signs and intervene with compassion, not criticism. When we meet children where they are emotionally, we can guide them back to a healthier balance before the consequences grow heavier.
Because this isn’t just about taking the game away, it’s about giving your child their life back, one step at a time.
How Does TLC Approach Video Game Addiction Counseling?
At Total Life Counseling, we understand the pain and frustration of watching your child get lost in the world of excessive gaming. It feels like they’ve slipped away from you—isolated, withdrawn, and trapped in a cycle that’s hard to break.
As a parent, you worry about their future, social skills, and well-being. You’re desperate to help them, but it can feel like there’s no clear path forward. You’re not alone in this; we’re here to help you both navigate this challenging time with care, empathy, and expertise. Here’s how we approach this addiction:
We know that every child’s struggle with video game addiction is different. What works for one might not work for another. That’s why our approach begins with a deep understanding of your child’s unique challenges. We listen, assess, and create a plan that’s as individual as they are.
Whether it’s their fear of socializing, emotional escape, or simply an overwhelming need to escape, we’ll identify the root causes and build a plan to address them, so your child can start regaining control and moving forward with the help of our treatment programs.
As a parent, it’s easy to feel lost in the process, unsure of where to start. Setting limits can feel like a battle, and enforcing them is even harder. At TLC, we work closely with you to offer concrete, practical solutions and treatment options.
We further provide guidance on parental controls, strategies for managing screen time, and tools to help you foster healthier habits. It’s not about placing blame—it’s about partnership. We want to empower you with the support you need to help your child succeed.
Video game addiction can often steal a child’s self-esteem. When they’re immersed in a digital world, they lose sight of the real world around them—their strengths, passions, and talents. Our goal is to help your child rediscover confidence.
Through hobbies, volunteer work, and academic achievements, we help them build a sense of pride and accomplishment that doesn’t depend on the screen. We want them to feel empowered, not powerless.
When video game addiction takes hold, all the negative consequences start popping up. Your child may lose focus on their education, fall behind, and feel disconnected from their future. This can be one of the most painful parts for parents—the fear that their child’s future is slipping away.
We address this head-on by helping your child reconnect with their academic goals and reignite their passion for learning. Together, we’ll help them understand how the balance between gaming and real-life pursuits can lead to success in school and life.
Gaming can become a distraction from important goals and dreams. For many kids, it feels like a way to escape, but it often leaves them aimless. At TLC, we help your child explore their true interests through career assessments, setting a course toward something more significant than the next level or achievement.
We guide them toward discovering their passions, whether in academics, hobbies, or a future career, helping them find purpose and direction in their life outside of gaming.
In addition to all of this, we provide opportunities for your child to gain real-world experiences through community service. Whether it’s fulfilling high school graduation requirements or finding meaningful volunteer work, we help them connect with causes they care about. This contributes to their sense of purpose and builds connections and skills that will serve them in the real world.
At TLC, we don’t just help your child quit gaming; we help them rediscover who they truly are—individuals with purpose, confidence, and the skills to succeed in life. The journey may be challenging, but with the proper guidance, your child can overcome their addiction, rebuild their confidence, and look toward a bright future. Let’s face this together.
Video Game Addiction Counseling for Children & Teens
You’ve tried the limits. The warnings. Even the rewards.
But nothing seems to pull your child away from the screen for long. Whether it’s hours lost in video games, endless scrolling, or constant battles over “just five more minutes,” it can feel like you’re watching your child slip away—disconnected, distracted, and overwhelmed.
At Total Life Counseling Center, we understand this isn’t just about screen time. It’s about what’s underneath: anxiety, social pressure, low self-worth, or simply not knowing how to cope with life offline. That’s where our specialized video game addiction counseling for children and teens steps in—with empathy, not judgment.
Our licensed therapists work one-on-one with kids in a way that feels safe, human, and relatable. We don’t just tell them to “unplug”—we help them understand why they’re turning to the screen in the first place and give them real tools to build confidence, friendships, and emotional resilience beyond it.
With offices across Central Florida, from Orlando to Lake Mary, Winter Park, Avalon Park, and Clermont, TLC offers accessible care for families who need answers—not more guilt or confusion.
We’ve been trusted voices on NBC, CBS, FOX, and ABC, and we’ve helped thousands of families feel hopeful again.
If you’re ready to help your child find balance and reconnect with real life, we’re here to walk that journey with you.
Ready to help your child break free from video game addiction?
Schedule a confidential consultation with our Lake Mary video game counselors today:
Licensed Counselors & Therapists
Meet Our Team of Certified & Experienced Professionals
Total Life Counseling Center consists of Licensed Counselors, Masters Level Therapists, Espanol Counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Business Coaches, Image Enhancement Coaches who provide counseling for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual care including marriage, individual, family, substance abuse and more. Our team of certified and experienced professionals, dedicated to serving a comprehensive spectrum of mental health and relationship issues such as couples, women and men’s issues, children and teens with oppositional defiance, video game addiction, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, depression, and trauma survivors, is here to support and guide you through your journey towards healing and navigating life transitions. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of the counseling provided but also builds trust within the community and among potential clients, who may be seeking support.
We offer next level counselors specialized in areas such as relationships, video game & drug/alcohol addictions, abuse, trauma, depression, and ADHD. Our Therapists are EMDR (eye movement desensitization) trauma therapy trained, cognitive behavioral therapy, specialize in ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Children, and are also professional Gottman method marriage couples counselors to give the best results to couples and to provide the best comprehensive spectrum of mental health and relationship care for our clients.
Struggling with Anger? We offer 8 hour anger management group therapy!
Discounted Rates and the president of Total Life Counseling Center Jim West does not want to turn people away and we have counselors at various levels of experience at a discounted rate that are trained by our next level counselors!
Brandon Feinberg
MS, LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
Male Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in ADHD, Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and more!
Audrey DeBruler
MS, LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, Faith Based Counseling, Trauma Recovery, Anxiety and more!
Lyris Steuber
MS, licesned marriage & family therapist
Counselor, Coach, Marriage & Family, Play Therapy, Divorce, Adolescent and more!
Total Life In The News
Total Life Counseling Subject Matter Experts Have Been Featured On Multiple TV Networks and News Stations:
Our subject matter experts have participated in over 200 national & local news interviews and they are here for you!
At Total Life Counseling Center our Counselors are Experts for National and Local TV, Radio and Print Media including CNN, FoxNews, NBC, CBS & ABC and more. We have an excellent reputation amongst graduate & private schools, attorneys, doctors, therapists, providers and corporations. We strive to ensure our therapists have diverse clinical backgrounds, to allow us to match each client to the therapist that will best meet his or her needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a day is a gaming addiction?
The amount of time spent gaming varies for each person, but generally, gaming becomes an addiction when it interferes with daily responsibilities, relationships, and physical well-being. If gaming takes up several hours daily and replaces essential activities like school, work, or socializing, it may indicate an unhealthy obsession.
What is the root cause of gaming addiction?
Gaming addiction often stems from a combination of emotional, social, and psychological factors. For some, it’s a way to escape from stress, anxiety, or depression. For others, it’s driven by the desire for achievement, rewards, or the need to feel connected in virtual communities, masking deeper issues like loneliness or low self-esteem.
Is gaming addiction a mental illness?
Yes, gaming addiction is classified as a behavioral addiction and can have profound effects on mental health, like depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The World Health Organization officially recognizes “gaming disorder” as a mental health condition, highlighting the importance of seeking professional help when it interferes with daily life.
How do I stop gaming so much?
To stop gaming excessively, set clear boundaries on your gaming time, such as limiting play to a specific hour each day. Replace gaming with healthier hobbies, like exercise or social activities, and consider seeking video game counseling or support groups to address the underlying reasons for the addiction.
How do I permanently quit online video games?
Quitting online gaming permanently requires a multifaceted approach: set clear goals for a balanced lifestyle, gradually reduce gaming, and replace it with meaningful, real-world activities. Seek professional guidance from professionals such as TLC to address any emotional triggers or psychological dependency, and build a strong support system to help you stay accountable throughout the process.
Southwest Orlando Office Location
Our Total Life Counseling Center Southwest Orlando location is conveniently located at Metro West Professional Plaza near Dr. Phillips & Windermere 2 miles off the 408 off Hiawassee. Surrounded by shops and beautiful sceneries, our main office location provides counseling, therapy, coaching, camps and career services for relationships, addictions, abuse, trauma, depression, ADHD, and more!