Shavaun Scott, the Most Epic Gaming Psychotherapist in the World
So, yeah. I purposefully don’t advertise on this site, but I do want to plug my friend and co-author Shavaun Scott. I think that any and every therapist or medical professional who wants to know more about gaming-related problems (and they all should) needs to talk to Scott. Sure, I’m writing a book with her, I’m biased right? Of course. I trust her judgment so completely that I’m writing a book with her.
Myself, Shavaun, and Nick Yee during the filming of Dark Cave’s “Gamer Chronicles.”
Shavaun has been consulting with a few groups of therapists in the California area, but she recently mentioned that she’d like to present more broadly. If you have a group of therapists who need training in gaming-specific treatment (and most probably do), then hire her! She’s been making a documentary on gaming for the past year+, and is writing a book with me – so she (of course!) has an enormous amount of cogent material at her disposal. She’s also probably the world’s leading expert in games psychotherapy, and has been quoted by NPR, BBC Canada, MSNBC, and PC Gamer Magazine (as opposed to the UK’s PC Gamer, lol, see the post directly before this for explanation).
Check out her site:
No way! You seriously did your masters in video game addiction. Awesome.
Thanks Russell. It was technically just the thesis that was on videogame addiction - but yeah. I’m actually visiting Shavaun this week to figure out how to wrap up a book on the topic.
Quite an interesting project you two are having. I’d like to see it when it’s completed.
When I was watching the interview with Dr. Scott, some of the portion reminded me of a disorder called ‘hikikomori’ or as I call it Japan’s version of social withdrawal. I sometimes wonder whether MMO addiction and hikikomori have a parallel development and course… Given hikikomori’s recognition and MMO’s popularity in Japan, it sure would complicate treatment over there! But, I’m also worried whether such phenomenon happens here…
On a side note, I recommend watching an anime called “Welcome to the NHK” which deals with hikikomori and it has an episode that featured an MMORPG.
this conversation at terra nova brushed over hikikomori:
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2007/04/looking_at_addi.html#comments
but you’re absolutely right, in that cultural standards can add very subtle layers of complexity to the topic at hand.
I’ll see if I can find a copy or some youtubes of the episode that you’re talking about.
I can’t find any of the episodes form youtube and it has yet to be released in english. But if you can read french subtitles, then I can direct you to a website that hosts the anime.
can’t do french, but you might as well link me. I’ll probably look for an English sub this weekend, though I’m not sure when I’ll have a chance to get through it. All of my leisure time for the next month or so is invested in re-reading and book-on-taping Harry Potter =P
Nevermind, I googled a website that still host english subs. Even though it’s incomplete… The episodes that feature MMORPG is 15 and 16.
http://www.animedownloads.us/nhk-ni-youkoso.php
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! padxrjxlew