Screen Battles and Digital Dependency

A practical parenting workshop for reducing screen conflict, understanding digital dependency, and building healthier routines at home.
About this Event

Are screens becoming a daily source of conflict in your home?

Many parents feel stuck between setting reasonable limits and avoiding another argument, shutdown, or meltdown. You may find yourself repeating the same rules, taking devices away, negotiating over “five more minutes,” or wondering whether your child’s screen use has become more than just a habit.

Screen Battles and Digital Dependency is a practical, family-focused workshop designed to help parents understand what is driving difficult screen behavior and respond in ways that reduce conflict rather than intensify it.

Led by Joseph Henson, LMFT, founder of Sunset Coast Family Therapy and a certified Digital Dependency professional, this workshop will explore how screens affect routines, emotional regulation, motivation, communication, and connection within the family.

Rather than treating technology as the enemy, parents will learn how to create healthier boundaries while strengthening trust and cooperation at home.

What You’ll Learn

During this workshop, we will explore:

• How to recognize signs of unhealthy or dependent screen use
• Why children and teens may become angry, anxious, or withdrawn when devices are limited
• How boredom, emotional discomfort, and family patterns can reinforce excessive screen use
• Ways to reduce power struggles over gaming, phones, social media, and YouTube
• How to set limits that are clear, consistent, and realistic
• Strategies for helping children transition away from screens
• How parents can encourage healthier routines without relying only on punishment
• Ways to rebuild communication and connection after repeated screen conflict
• When screen use may indicate that additional support is needed

The workshop will also include time for a live question-and-answer discussion with a family therapist.

Who This Workshop Is For

This event may be especially helpful for parents and caregivers whose child or teen:

• Becomes angry or emotionally overwhelmed when asked to stop using a device
• Sneaks, lies about, or repeatedly negotiates for additional screen time
• Has lost interest in family activities, hobbies, or responsibilities
• Struggles with sleep because of gaming, social media, or phone use
• Uses screens to avoid boredom, anxiety, sadness, or conflict
• Has difficulty completing homework or household responsibilities
• Seems disconnected from family members when devices are available
• Creates frequent arguments between parents about rules and consequences

A Family-Based Approach

Screen problems rarely exist in isolation. They often become connected to stress, emotional regulation, communication patterns, inconsistent boundaries, and a child’s need for comfort or escape.

This workshop will help parents look beyond the device itself and better understand the larger family pattern. The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to help families use it in a way that supports development, responsibility, and healthy relationships.