Dr. Lisa Strohman, the Founder and Director of the Technology Wellness Center, one of the first organizations to address the global issue of technology addiction and overuse joins eHealth Radio and the Mental Health, Psychology and Technology Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dr. Lisa Strohman discuss the following:
- Tell us about your background in the field and what inspired you to specialize in technology addiction.
- We all use technology, whether it is professionally or recreationally; what are signs that you have crossed the line into unhealthy use and addiction?
- We learned from a recent interview that you worked with a middle school where 30% of its students were suspended due to some inappropriate text messages. Can you tell us a little more about this & why parents should be concerned?
- Parent's biggest concern with their child's internet use was once cat phishing and online predators, is sexting the next upward battle?
- You are about to release an online program called The Digital Citizens Academy, can you tell us more about that and how parents/teachers can bring it to their schools?
Recognizing the growing challenges parents now face with their children, and the increasingly serious issues her young patients are dealing with due to our growing dependency on technology, inspired Dr. Strohman to launch the Technology Wellness Center, which she co-founded with Dr. Melissa Westendorf JD, PhD in 2014.
After growing up in California, Dr. Strohman attended the University of California, Davis, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She then completed a joint, integrated program in law and Psychology at Villanova and Drexel Universities, where she met Dr. Westendorf.
During her undergraduate career, Dr. Strohman gained experience as a lead program coordinator with Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT), as a family reunification therapist and a hospice counselor. While attending graduate school, she performed research in substance abuse, risk communication and child abduction. Her avid interest in public policy earned her the honor of becoming a legislative intern for Congress. She was also selected as an honors intern with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and invited to become a visiting scholar with the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime division as she completed her dissertation.
After earning her Juris Doctorate, Strohman worked at a large law firm, while completing her residency at the Arizona State Hospital in both a clinical and forensic rotation in clinical psychology. She eventually settled back into her counseling practice as the clinical psychologist with Lifescape Medical Associates, where she utilizes her training in cognitive behavior therapy to help patients.
In addition to establishing the Technology Wellness Center, Dr. Strohman and Dr. Westendorf developed an assessment test (TUC) to help parents identify if their child is at risk from technology overuse. The two have also co-authored a book, Unplug: Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World, published in July 2015.
In an effort to educate parents, caregivers and students, Dr. Strohman frequently speaks at schools, parent organizations and with students to help raise awareness and offer preventative tools and resources. She is also frequently featured in the media as an expert source for issues related to technology use and behavior.
Dr. Strohman is married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. William Strohman and is a devoted mom to their two children.
Website: www.technologywellnesscenter.com