Course Description
We live in an epidemic of addiction to sex, pornography, online affairs, gaming, the Internet and Facebook/social media: all addictions that are exacerbated by technology. These fit into a larger category of addictions called behavioral addictions which also includes: codependency, eating, shopping, exercising and work addiction. This course is intended to equip students with an interdisciplinary approach to minister to those with technology-related addictions combining lessons from the disciplines of counseling/psychology, theology, public health and technology.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Monitor media usage and set boundaries with technology ensure their own sobriety and a healthy diet of media, technology and relationships and to enable others to do the same.
- Communicate the common causes, patterns and treatment of behavioral addictions including: codependency, workaholism, gaming, gambling, pornography, online/social media, eating, exercise and shopping.
- Communicate how technology-related and behavioral addictions and media have affected them.
- Identify resources available to get help if you or others you know face issues of technology-related and behavioral addictions and to be equipped to make referrals and, as appropriate, help with peer support groups within your ministry context.
- Develop a plan for themselves and others to maintain life balance, avoid burnout and protection from behavioral addictions.
Syllabus
Course Materials & Tuition
| Crouch, A. (2017). The tech-wise family: everyday steps for putting technology in its proper place. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. ISBN: 978-0801018664 224 pages. | |
| Hart, A. D., & Frejd, S. H. (2013). The Digital Invasion: How Technology Is Shaping You and Your Relationships. Baker Books. ISBN-10: 0801015294. ISBN-13: 978-0801015298 240 pages. | |
| Tuition | $800.00 |
| Total Cost of Course: | $822.50 |