Sustaining Mental Wellbeing in the Digital Age
How Screen-time and Tech Affect The Brain
with Julie Frumin
Date: Friday, August 21st, 2026
Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm
Check-in/Networking from 11:30 am - 12pm. Presentation from 12pm - 1:30pm.
Networking time does not count toward CE credit.
Zoom Link: provided after registration.
CE: 1.5
Participants must attend 80% of the presentation to earn continuing education credit.
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COURSE DETAILS
Today’s families are navigating a childhood that looks drastically different from the one most therapists grew up in. From toddlers on iPads to teens immersed in social media and gaming, screen time is now at the center of many relational and emotional struggles we see in our practices. This talk will help therapists better understand the growing body of research around tech overuse and its impact on mental health, attention, behavior, identity development and family dynamics. My goal is to equip fellow therapists with the insight, language, and confidence to talk about tech use—not just as a parenting issue, but as a clinical one that touches nearly every case we see today.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
This talk will equip therapists with a deeper understanding of how technology overuse impacts mental health, relationships, and development across the lifespan. Attendees will gain practical tools and language to support clients in setting healthier digital boundaries, delaying harmful tech exposures, and fostering more intentional screen use.
AUDIENCE
Course is designed for mental health professionals of all levels.
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ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
For more than a decade, Julie has provided mental health support to individuals, couples and families. She holds a Masters degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. In addition, Julie is the Mental Wellness expert at The Four Seasons Center for Health and Wellbeing in Westlake Village, California. At the hotel, she provides workshops that help couples, families and organizations connect to their purpose, their goals and each other. Her most recent project began in 2023 after she could no longer stay quiet about the youth mental health crisis and its connection to compulsive technology use. She joined MAMA, Mothers Against Media Addiction, (www.wearemama.org) and leads the Conejo Valley Chapter. She hosts frequent workshops for parents, teens and tweens, encouraging safe, intentional, balanced technology use. She is a CAMFT approved CE Provider. You can find out more about her workshops (and join the Conejo Valley Chapter of MAMA) at www.healthier-tech.org.
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SYLLABUS
Welcome & Framing the Problem (15 min)
- Brief intro and speaker background
- What’s changed: From analog childhoods to digital immersion
- Overview of adolescent mental health crisis and digital correlation
How Screens Affect the Brain and Relationships (10 min)
- Neuroscience: attention, dopamine, sleep, attachment
Identity Development & Vulnerable Populations (10 min)
- How tech shapes identity, especially in kids and adolescence
- Addressing LGBTQ+ youth and online community nuance
Strategies for Healthy Tech Use (25 min)
- My parenting philosophy, Delay-Teach-Model
- The New Plate Method
- Using tech tools for improving relationship to tech
Clinical Tools (10 min)
- Defining Gaming Disorder
- CBT- for Internet Addiction
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) Bullseye tool
Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking (10 min)
Q&A (10 min)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Identify at least three ways in which excessive or unregulated technology use impacts child and adolescent development, mental health, or family dynamics.
2. Describe two ways screen exposure affects attention, emotional regulation, sleep, or identity formation.
3. Provide 3 ways digital overuse can contribute to anxiety, disconnection, or behavioral concerns across the lifespan.
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REGISTRATION
Pre-Licensed OC CAMFT Members - $5
OC-CAMFT Members (Early Bird Pricing until August 14th) - $20
OC-CAMFT Guests (Early Bird Pricing until August 14th) - $30
OC-CAMFT Members (after August 14th) - $30
OC-CAMFT Guests (after August 14th) - $40
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CE INFORMATION
Certificates will be sent within 2 business days after the CEPA director receives the evaluation and confirms minimum attendance requirements are met. All attendees much attended 80% of the program. In-person attendees will sign-in at the start of the program and sign-out after the program is concluded. Virtual attendees time will be monitored through the Zoom platform.
Digital evaluations must be completed after the program has ended. Evaluations are completed digitally (with a link or QR code).
Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Networking time does not count toward CE credit.
Orange County Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #59405) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Orange County Chapter of CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
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ADA POLICY
Please review our policy HERE.
If you have a special need or need special accommodations, please click HERE. Please advise us of your needs no later than 7 days prior to the event so that we may be able to accommodate you.
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PAYMENT, CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS, GRIEVANCES
Please make a separate transaction for each and every reservation requested. If you are paying by credit card, the receipt you receive at the end of your payment is your confirmation reservation. Any payments not received by the deadline are not reserved and will be considered walk-in status.
Cancellations are made by leaving a message at 714-556-7129 no later than two (2) days prior to the event by 12 PM. A refund less $5.00 processing fee will be returned to you. There are no refunds for cancellations made past this time
GRIEVANCES
For grievances, please leave a message at 714-556-7129 or email admin@occamft.org
EVENT SPONSORS
Please contact us at sponsorship@occamft.org if you are interested in sponsoring this event.
