Is your child or teen addicted to the internet, online pornography, and/or video games?

Our Mission

Christopher Mulligan LCSW created The Cyber Addiction Recovery Center in Los Angeles to address the unique social, psychological, and developmental needs of children and teens whose lives have been taken over by internet, video and online gaming, online pornography, and smart phone addiction.

How we help?

We help by using an innovative combination of individual, group, and family therapy at our recovery center located in Los Angeles or nationwide, via online sessions. We can break the destructive cycle of internet, video game, and online pornography addiction and help children and teens achieve their full social, emotional, and academic potential.

Family involvement is an essential part of helping a child or teen who has developed a problematic relationship with technology. The Cyber Addiction Recovery Center provides intensive parent training in order to help parents decrease their child/teen's dependence on technology while building a healthy and meaningful offline life. The key to successful treatment for technology overuse is not blocking access to technology - as that is impossible in 2018 - but to develop a productive and sustainable relationship to technology.

Understanding Treatment Participation

The significant majority of clients that have come to treatment since The Cyber Addiction Recovery Center opened in 2011 believed that they did not have a problem with technology and therefore believed that they did not need treatment.

It is a MYTH that your child/teen can’t benefit from treatment unless they agree that they have a problem and want to get better.

It is a FACT that your child/teen can benefit from treatment even if they come to treatment believing that they do not need help.

The reality is your child/teen does not need to agree to treatment. Clearly, it is a best case scenario if your child/teen is on board with receiving help - but The Cyber Addiction Recovery Center has helped dozens of clients who were highly resistant to modifying ANY aspect of their gaming behavior or internet use.

What should you say to your child/teen about coming to treatment? First, explain that it is NOT your plan to block all access to gaming and/or the internet. Rather, say that you are concerned about what you believe to be are problems related to gaming and/or internet use. In a matter-of-fact tone (no drama or arguing) list the problems that you think need to be addressed: inverted sleep wake cycle, poor academic performance, social isolation, withdrawal from offline recreational activities, agitation and irritability related to limiting tech use, ongoing conflict related to limits being set on tech use.

Second, explain that you want to see a therapist together. It is very important that you emphasize that you want to see a therapist to arrive at solution that works for the family. Underscore compromise and collaboration. Avoid drawing a line in the sand or ultimatums.

If your child/teen is completely unwilling to participate in a session, explain that you are going to see the therapist anyway. You have the option of receiving valuable training/coaching at the Cyber Addiction Recovery Center. The purpose of parent training/coaching is to create a home environment that promotes a reduction in the dependency of technology.

Finally, you have the option of an in-home session. In-home consultations and ongoing therapy can be very effective. In-home sessions removes the power struggle of going to an office and provides valuable insights and training opportunities. Christopher Mulligan has been providing in-home therapy for 26 years to children, tweens and teens. For many families this option results in significant changes in family dynamics and behavior.