Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeremy Edge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jeremy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

There was a family I worked with there the two kids struggled with anger, yelling, and unkindness towards parents when screens and gaming were removed. The parents discussed how their kids only wanted to be on screens or play video games. When they came to me, the kids had unlimited access to screens and parents struggled with misbehavior when they tried to put limits on devices.

When I started working with the parents, we worked on appropriate boundaries and rules for screen use and how to respond consistently to misbehavior like yelling, tantrums, disrespect, and unkindness. We set clear expectations of completing responsibilities first then the kids could play online. We found appropriate timeframes for entertainment-based screen use like gaming and watching YouTube and found other activities the kids could enjoy. I helped the parents find confidence in parenting their two kids.

Working on these areas resulted in positive changes in the kids and parents. After the initial resistance to the changes, the kids eventually adapted to the clear expectations and started completing their responsibilities prior to playing video games. With the parents addressing the heart of the problems (disrespect and misbehavior) they were able to help their kids regulate their emotions and take more ownership of their reactions rather than blaming video games or screens. Relationships were improved in the home by reducing everyone’s tension. The kids also found value in other activities rather than just time online. Our work together provided tools to help the parents find balance around screen use for their kids and family.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a licensed professional counselor supervisor and owner of a counseling practice called Escapingthe.com where we specialize in helping those struggling with problematic screen use like video games, social media, online gambling and sports betting, shopping, and pornography. I got into the field of problematic screen use because I saw a core issue around unhealthy gaming and porn use from my clients and did not see anyone specializing in those areas around me in Dallas, Texas. I’ve also personally struggled with unhealthy gaming in the past and had a personal connection to working towards balanced screen use. The combination of my personal relationship with gaming and seeing an emerging problem with my clients encouraged me to open up my private practice.

I provide presentations to teens, parents, educators, and mental health providers on balancing screen use. I help unpack how video games can be a problem, healthy hobby, or a career for some. We discuss the link between gaming and gambling. We explore challenges with social media and explore ways to find balance. I then go over practical ways to find balance with tools and insights I’ve seen work with my clients and in my trainings. I very much enjoy providing insights and tools to audiences on ways to balance screen use.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the name and logo of my practice. The definition of escape is “break free from confinement and control” and escaping is the active pursuit of breaking free of confinement or control. I think breaking free from challenges and vices from the internet can be a constant pursuit. In our day and age, we can not live without using some form of the internet. I often compare screen use to food. What we consume and how much we consume directly impacts our health and wellbeing. Rather than only focusing on abstinence, I think we need to learn how to live with a healthy relationship with the internet. Just like with food, a healthy balance is key to a healthy lifestyle.

And I am very proud of my logo which is a maze from the letters COM. The idea of trying to escape the internet or the .com. Thanks Fiverr!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I started my practice in 2019. In that time, my business has been up and down with financial success. I’ve seen success clinically but have yet to find consistent growth and progress financially. I think I’ve been resilient with continuing to adapt, learn, and be flexible to what my practice needs to grow and thrive. I’ve hired a few different coaches, adapted my business based on their proven results and seen progress. I’ve shifted from strictly private pay (not utilizing insurance for payment) to accepting some insurances with hopes to increase client numbers. I’ve seen a decline in gross profits but am trusting the process and systems I’m putting in place to have long-term growth rather than immediate results. My business is still a work in progress and I’m learning to be resilient through this process.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I think the most helpful training I obtained was for my International Gaming Disordered Certified credential. I took two 15 hour courses helping me learn the ins and outs of understanding video games and how to help clients struggling with Gaming Disorder. I’ve learned a lot from different books such as How to Raise a Healthy Gamer by Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD, Screenwise by Dr. Devorah Heitner, Ph.D, and The Self-Driven Child by Dr. William Stixrud Ph.D and Ned Johnson. These books provide evidence-based insights, tools, guidelines, and treatments for youth and families in navigating healthy screen use.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.escapingthe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapingthe.com_pllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/escapingthecom
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-edge/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Escapingthe.compllc