Virtual Reality, Kids' Online Relationships, and Counseling with Melissa Bartholomew, LMHC | MHAM #2

05/18/22 • 38 min

Melissa Bartholomew is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor on the Big Island of Hawai'i who uses virtual reality to meet remotely with kids & teenage clients.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:12) - Mel's background
(06:23) - COVID pandemic + lockdowns have made adolescents lonely
(12:45) - Healthy and unhealthy digital relationships with "Internet friends"
(17:38) - Parental involvement in kids' digital lives
(21:18) - Social media and quality content
(24:35) - Using virtual reality in therapy with the Virgils platform
(28:57) - Mother and daughter open up on a walk-and-talk in VR
(34:13) - Tip for parents who are concerned about kids' tech use
EPISODE LINKS:
Mel's private practice: https://brighterbound.com
Mel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahelpfulcounselor/
Mel's email: [email protected]
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Mental Health in the Age of the Metaverse is hosted by Christian Ulstrup, CEO of Virgils Inc. Each episode, Christian speaks with therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers about how tech impacts our mental health — the bad as well as the good — and what parents can do about it.
ABOUT VIRGILS INC:
Healthy tech habits program for adolescent boys: https://virgils.io
HIPAA-compliant VR platform for therapists: https://virgils.io/therapists
SOCIAL:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/virgilsvr
Facebook: https://facebook.com/virgilsvr
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/virgils
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmu1qAWtxzDxA5DFBUzW01g

Previous Episode

Tech Addiction, Video Games in Therapy, and Tips for Parents with Monet Goldman, LMFT | MHAM #1

Monet Goldman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Silicon Valley who uses video games in therapy.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:06) - How Monet became the “Video Game Counselor”
(05:03) - Why it works with kids
(08:23) - Growing up with tech
(11:06) - What is a healthy amount of screen time?
(15:53) - What parents can do
(18:25) - What young adults can do
(20:01) - Quickest way to deal with tech addiction
(23:46) - No. 1 issue with tech use
(29:18) - Reminder for parents
EPISODE LINKS:
Monet’s private practice: https://videogamecounseling.com
Monet’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/videogamecounse
Free screen time tool for parents: https://virgils.io/screentime
ABOUT MHAM:
Mental Health in the Age of the Metaverse is hosted by Christian Ulstrup, CEO of Virgils Inc. Each episode, Christian speaks with therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers about how tech impacts our mental health — the bad as well as the good — and what parents can do about it.
ABOUT VIRGILS INC.
Healthy tech habits program for adolescent boys: https://virgils.io
HIPAA-compliant VR platform for therapists: https://virgils.io/therapists

SOCIAL:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/virgilsvr
Facebook: https://facebook.com/virgilsvr
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/virgils
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmu1qAWtxzDxA5DFBUzW01g

Next Episode

ADHD, Autism, and Adolescent Boys with Joey Santos, LPC | MHAM #3

Joey Santos is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Ph.D. candidate at Texas Wesleyan who is researching the use of family therapy for the management of ADHD. He also uses virtual reality in his clinical practice to connect remotely with clients.
OUTLINE
(00:00) Introduction
(00:55) How Joey became a therapist
(02:23) PhD research: ADHD in adolescent boys and the role of family therapy
(04:04) The challenges of working with adolescent boys
(05:58) ADHD management in the context of family therapy
(08:13) What parents of kids with ADHD need to know
(11:21) Screen time management
(14:05) Symptoms of unhealthy tech use in teens
(16:32) Unhealthy vs. healthy online relationships
(19:31) Using virtual reality to help a boy connect with his autistic older brother
(23:48) Mindfulness and attention management
(28:13) What can parents do about an unmotivated, tech-addicted kid?
(30:16) Healthy tech habits start with parents
(33:49) Connect with Joey
EPISODE LINKS:
Joey's private practice: https://jsantoscounseling.com
Joey's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsantos
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Mental Health in the Age of the Metaverse is hosted by Christian Ulstrup, CEO of Virgils Inc. Each episode, Christian speaks with therapists, scientists, founders, technologists, and activists about how tech impacts our mental health — the bad as well as the good — and what parents can do about it.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4U5c06aPN1tIMhChc120Tr?si=0bf23b777d054179
ABOUT VIRGILS INC:
Healthy tech habits program for adolescent boys: https://virgils.io
HIPAA-compliant VR platform for therapists: https://virgils.io/therapists
SOCIAL:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/virgilsvr
Facebook: https://facebook.com/virgilsvr
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/virgils
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmu1qAWtxzDxA5DFBUzW01g