Ep.60 - Tom Kersting Exposes Screen Time's Hidden Harm | Teen Mental Health | Digital Detox | Parenting Tip

Discover a powerful conversation on the Virtuous Leaders Podcast as Dr. Johann D'Souza connects with Tom Kersting, a licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author from New Jersey.

With a private practice and a mission to combat the harmful effects of screen time, Tom lectures nationwide on mental health and "mental wealth."

His books, Disconnected and Raising Healthy Teenagers, offer deep insights into the digital age’s impact on youth, making this an essential discussion for parents and anyone concerned about technology’s role in our lives.

Top 5 Insights from Tom Kersting

• Tom pioneered warnings about screen dependency since 2009, linking excessive device use to mental health issues, academic struggles, and family disconnection.

• He introduces concepts like "acquired attention deficit disorder," suggesting many ADHD diagnoses in teens stem from screen overstimulation, not innate conditions.

• Removing screens often triggers oppositional behavior in kids due to dopamine crashes, akin to drug withdrawal, requiring firm parental resolve for detox.

• Tom highlights a teen sleep crisis, with 92-93% of surveyed students sleeping between 1-4 a.m. due to bedroom phones, severely impacting well-being.

• He urges tuning into self through silence and gratitude, advocating for spiritual grounding to counter external distractions and build lasting mental resilience.

Tom Kersting

Licensed Psychotherapist and Author

https://tomkersting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-kersting-306a464/

https://x.com/tomkersting

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Dr. Johann D'Souza

Clinical Psychologist at Values First Therapy

https://www.valuesfirstcollective.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanndsouza/

https://x.com/drjohanndsouza

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