While video gaming can offer a variety of benefits—including improved problem-solving skills, enhanced hand-eye coordination, stress relief, social connection, teamwork development, and cognitive stimulation—it has also become a growing behavioral health concern in Ohio among vulnerable populations. Behavioral health professionals throughout the state have observed increasing rates of problematic gaming behaviors linked to excessive screen time, social isolation, disrupted sleep patterns, declining academic or work performance, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Concerns have also grown around the use of reward-based game mechanics with gambling-like features (e.g., loot boxes and skins), microtransactions, and highly immersive online environments that can encourage compulsive engagement and contribute to unhealthy behavioral patterns in individuals who may already be at risk for addictive behaviors or mental health challenges.
In response, local mental health professionals are actively seeking information on how to become better equipped to support vulnerable residents. One critical pathway is obtaining Gaming Disorder Counselor Certification in Ohio, similar to what’s being offered for Gambling Counselor Certification (including the ICGC I and II programs). To provide clarification and guidance on what is required, Zepf Center and Kindbridge Behavioral Health have partnered to offer a free CEU webinar for counselors seeking certification to treat problematic gaming behaviors. The event will take place on June 26, 2026. Click or tap here to register, and read on for more information.
Free CEU Webinar for Ohio Mental Health Professionals Seeking Certification for Treating Gaming Disorder and Problematic Gaming
CEU WEBINAR DESCRIPTION
SUMMARY:
Gaming is no longer a niche concern — it is a mainstream cultural activity embedded in the daily lives of millions of clients. Yet most mental health training programs provide little to no guidance on how to assess or respond when gaming becomes a clinical concern.
This introductory webinar provides mental health professionals with a foundational understanding of gaming disorder and problematic gaming: what the research says, how it differs from healthy gaming, and how to begin identifying it in your clinical practice. Drawing on the ICD-11 diagnostic framework and insights from gaming psychology, this session will help clinicians feel more confident and less lost when a client says, “I think I have a gaming problem.”
GOAL OF TRAINING:
Participants will develop a foundational clinical awareness of gaming disorder and problematic gaming, enabling them to recognize at-risk clients, engage gaming-related concerns with confidence, and approach gaming behavior through a culturally informed, non-pathologizing lens.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Distinguish between healthy/adaptive gaming and problematic gaming patterns.
- Describe the ICD-11 criteria for Gaming Disorder and explain how it differs from DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder.
- Identify common risk factors and populations disproportionately affected by gaming-related concerns.
- Recognize at least three behavioral warning signs that may warrant clinical attention.
- Apply a non-pathologizing approach when discussing gaming with clients.
- Describe available resources and next steps for professional development in this area.
CEUS:
1 CEU is pending for both the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board and the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.
KINDBRIDGE FEATURED PRESENTER
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., LMHC / LPC, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC
Director of Gaming Services & Program Development
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann is an Associate Professor at Grand Canyon University and serves as Board President of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board. He has played a key role in developing gambling and gaming treatment programs and currently co-chairs the APA research task force on gaming issues while helping lead national training initiatives for mental health professionals. His internationally recognized research focuses on player psychology, video games, personality theory, online education, and counselor development. He also provides supervision to clinicians worldwide, helping bridge gaps in understanding technology’s impact on mental health and effective treatment approaches for gaming-related concerns. At Kindbridge Behavioral Health, Dr. Kaufmann leads gaming services and program development, supports clinician certification in gaming and gambling treatment, and develops educational programs that equip professionals to address gaming-related mental health issues. He is the author of the upcoming book The Gamer’s Journey, which explores narrative development through video games, and hosts The Gaming Persona podcast. Through his podcast, research, and online content as Dr. Gameology, he promotes greater understanding of the relationship between mental health and gaming.
“Gaming can be a healthy and rewarding activity, but for some individuals it can become disruptive to daily life. As modern games increasingly incorporate features that blur the lines between gaming and gambling, it’s important to increase awareness of potential risks and ensure behavioral health professionals are equipped to recognize and respond to gaming-related harms.” – Megan Poliquin, LPCC-S, LICDC-GAMB, OCPSA, Manager of Gambling Treatment & Prevention at Zepf Center in Toledo, Ohio.
(Ohio Counselors and Mental Health Professionals)