Screen Time and Tech Dependency Counseling
Finding Balance in a Screen-Filled World
At KidsHeart Medical Center, we understand how quickly screens have become part of daily life — for learning, for fun, and sometimes just to get through the day. But when screen time starts replacing play, sleep, conversation, or emotional connection, families often feel stuck.
We don’t judge. We help.
Our child psychologists offer clear, realistic strategies for managing screen habits and rebuilding healthy routines across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain.
What Is Tech Dependency?
It’s when screen use begins to interfere with:
- Sleep, eating, or physical activity
- Social interaction and face-to-face communication
- Emotional regulation (meltdowns when devices are taken away)
- School performance or attention
- Family routines and boundaries
This isn’t just about video games or YouTube. It’s about how screen time is affecting mood, development, and relationships.
When Should You Seek Help?
A consultation may be helpful if your child:
- Becomes angry, anxious, or withdrawn without screen access
- Spends most free time on devices and resists other activities
- Has major tantrums when screen time ends
- Can’t fall asleep without screens
- Is falling behind socially, emotionally, or academically
- Spends time online in unsafe or age-inappropriate ways
You’re not “doing it wrong” — but a reset might help.
How We Support Healthier Screen Use
Here’s what our counseling includes:
- Parent Intake and Tech Habit History: We explore how screens are used, when, and why — without blame.
- Child Interview or Observation: We assess emotional triggers, behavior patterns, and how screen use fits into your child’s life.
- Education on Tech and Brain Development: We explain the effects of screen exposure on sleep, mood, and focus.
- Custom Routine Planning: We create practical limits, activity swaps, and screen-free zones that feel doable.
- Emotional and Behavioral Strategies: We teach children how to handle boredom, frustration, and transitions without screens.
We’re not anti-technology — we’re pro-balance.
Why Families Trust KidsHeart
- Child psychologists who understand modern parenting challenges
- No blame — just solutions that work for your real life
- Age-appropriate strategies from toddlers to teens
- Support for both emotional regulation and practical routines
- Clinics in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain
Because balance isn’t about perfection — it’s about what feels healthy and sustainable.
Dr. Dolly Habbal
Consultant Psychologist – PhD in Clinical Psychology
Dr. Deiaaeldin Adel Hosny
Consultant Clinical Psychologist – American Psychology Association & British Psychological Society
No Doctors found! with ID: 12483
When Screens Take Over, We Help You Take Back Connection
We provide the first program in the Middle East and the Gulf countries of The Digital Detox:
- Consultation and pre-assessment before intervention, including the parents.
- Assessment of the effectiveness of screen addiction on executive functions, in addition to applying a specific assessment for screen addiction symptoms and behaviour.
- Intervention psychotherapy sessions for the child or the teens could be 8 to 12 sessions, and separate sessions as well to his parents could be 4 sessions.
- Referral back the child or the teen to his pediatrician or the developmentalpediatrician forre-evaluation or re-assessment and follow-up.
If your child’s screen use is affecting behavior, sleep, or family life, we’re here to help you reset, with kindness and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While not always a formal diagnosis, tech overuse can mimic dependency and cause real-life struggles.
No. We help you set boundaries that fit your child’s age, needs, and daily life.
We help families get on the same page — calmly and practically.
Yes. Screen use affects melatonin and brain arousal, and we guide better nighttime habits.
We also counsel families on healthy internet use and how to protect kids from harmful content.