Governance
Governance
Mental health issues are at an all-time high, and we believe it’s important to do what we can to make it better. That’s why we created Healthy Gamer, a mental health platform designed to help the internet generation live our best IRL.
The mental health resources available today are too old, too slow and too expensive - especially for the digital generation. While innovation in healthcare is stifled by a pervasive risk-averse culture, we believe that new resources and approaches are needed to empower young people today to build meaningful lives.
We understand that when you create something new, questions will come up - and we welcome those questions. That’s why we’ve outlined what Healthy Gamer resources do and the lines between traditional therapy and our offerings.
Mental health issues are at an all-time high, and we believe it’s important to do what we can to make it better. That’s why we created Healthy Gamer, a mental health platform designed to help the internet generation live our best IRL.
The mental health resources available today are too old, too slow and too expensive - especially for the digital generation. While innovation in healthcare is stifled by a pervasive risk-averse culture, we believe that new resources and approaches are needed to empower young people today to build meaningful lives.
We understand that when you create something new, questions will come up - and we welcome those questions. That’s why we’ve outlined what Healthy Gamer resources do and the lines between traditional therapy and our offerings.
“Many who counseled me did so from a place of genuinely caring about protecting me and a basic sense of being risk-averse. I’m lucky to have absolute titans in the field of mental health supporting me personally and Healthy Gamer as a movement. Our mission is to provide people with a roadmap for dealing with all of their mental health challenges - not to diagnose or prescribe.”
“Many who counseled me did so from a place of genuinely caring about protecting me and a basic sense of being risk-averse. I’m lucky to have absolute titans in the field of mental health supporting me personally and Healthy Gamer as a movement. Our mission is to provide people with a roadmap for dealing with all of their mental health challenges - not to diagnose or prescribe.”
Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD MPH
Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD MPH
Psychiatrist, Creator, Author, President & Co-Founder of Healthy Gamer
What Consent Do Twitch Guests Give Before Stream?
What Consent Do Twitch Guests Give Before Stream?
One of our core principles at Healthy Gamer is “don’t worry alone”. The impact of seeing someone else process the things you’re struggling with - whether it’s being cheated on or ADD - can not be understated. Our guests who join Dr. K or one of our other experts on stream believe in that mission and proactively agree to discuss certain topics in a public forum with the goal of reducing stigma and providing space for discussion.
The line we draw between stream and therapy is when the topic is getting too close to giving medical advice: a diagnosis or medications. This is something we discuss with guests in advance, and also in our follow up discussions with our guests.
At the end of this, while we do have several layers of policies to protect everyone involved, we’re humans trying to help other humans through impactful, relatable conversations about mental health. Simply knowing that you’re not alone, everyone struggles, and that there is a way forward no matter how hopeless it seems can make all the difference.
All guests are made aware of the public nature of the conversation, are given contact info to requests modifications or edits, agree that the conversation is for educational purposes, and agree that no medical or therapeutic relationship (i.e. no doctor-patient relationship) is formed between the guest and HG.
One of our core principles at Healthy Gamer is “don’t worry alone”. The impact of seeing someone else process the things you’re struggling with - whether it’s being cheated on or ADD - can not be understated. Our guests who join Dr. K or one of our other experts on stream believe in that mission and proactively agree to discuss certain topics in a public forum with the goal of reducing stigma and providing space for discussion.
The line we draw between stream and therapy is when the topic is getting too close to giving medical advice: a diagnosis or medications. This is something we discuss with guests in advance, and also in our follow up discussions with our guests.
At the end of this, while we do have several layers of policies to protect everyone involved, we’re humans trying to help other humans through impactful, relatable conversations about mental health. Simply knowing that you’re not alone, everyone struggles, and that there is a way forward no matter how hopeless it seems can make all the difference.
All guests are made aware of the public nature of the conversation, are given contact info to requests modifications or edits, agree that the conversation is for educational purposes, and agree that no medical or therapeutic relationship (i.e. no doctor-patient relationship) is formed between the guest and HG.
Healthy Gamer Coaching (Group, Personal, Parents, Creator) vs. Therapy
Healthy Gamer Coaching (Group, Personal, Parents, Creator) vs. Therapy
Coaching is commonly defined as a process to help improve a person's performance. It is a self-directed process that helps a person change in the way they wish to change. Coaching builds awareness, empowers choice, and leads to change.
Healthy Gamer Coaching is a process to help you better understand how your mind works and provide a path forward, so you can build a life that helps you achieve your goals.
While both coaching and therapy use evidence-based techniques and intentional dialogue, there are important differences. Coaching is focused on "building" through planning, introspection, and awareness, while therapy is more about "fixing" something through clinical diagnoses, medication, and/or treatment. Coaching helps prioritize, set goals, and understand the root of discontent or unhappiness. Therapy is intended to alleviate clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.
You can learn more about that here.
Coaching is commonly defined as a process to help improve a person's performance. It is a self-directed process that helps a person change in the way they wish to change. Coaching builds awareness, empowers choice, and leads to change.
Healthy Gamer Coaching is a process to help you better understand how your mind works and provide a path forward, so you can build a life that helps you achieve your goals.
While both coaching and therapy use evidence-based techniques and intentional dialogue, there are important differences. Coaching is focused on "building" through planning, introspection, and awareness, while therapy is more about "fixing" something through clinical diagnoses, medication, and/or treatment. Coaching helps prioritize, set goals, and understand the root of discontent or unhappiness. Therapy is intended to alleviate clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.
You can learn more about that here.
Ethics FAQ
Ethics FAQ
Has Healthy Gamer received support from other mental health professionals?
Has Healthy Gamer received support from other mental health professionals?
Do Twitch guests know the difference between what happens on stream and therapy?
Do Twitch guests know the difference between what happens on stream and therapy?
Do you support Twitch guests after they go on stream?
Do you support Twitch guests after they go on stream?
What resources do you provide for users who are looking for therapy?
What resources do you provide for users who are looking for therapy?
Why isn’t coaching regulated like therapy?
Why isn’t coaching regulated like therapy?
Why isn’t HG free?
Why isn’t HG free?
Why does Healthy Gamer cite “pseudoscience”?
Why does Healthy Gamer cite “pseudoscience”?
Latest News
Latest News
Dr. K Talks "How to Raise a Healthy Gamer" on NBC News
Dr. K Talks "How to Raise a Healthy Gamer" on NBC News
Mar 15, 2024
Expert Roundtable on Video Games and Violent Extremism
Expert Roundtable on Video Games and Violent Extremism
Mar 24, 2023
Twitch psychiatrist Dr. K invited to UN counter-terrorism panel
Twitch psychiatrist Dr. K invited to UN counter-terrorism panel
Jul 15, 2022
Healthy Gamer Joins Evil Geniuses DOTA 2 at The International 10
Healthy Gamer Joins Evil Geniuses DOTA 2 at The International 10
Oct 1, 2021
How companies are dealing with burnout to keep workers on board
How companies are dealing with burnout to keep workers on board
Sep 15, 2021
Should excessive video gaming among young people be curbed?
Should excessive video gaming among young people be curbed?
Aug 31, 2021
Show more
Show more
Legal
Governance
Mental health issues are at an all-time high, and we believe it’s important to do what we can to make it better. That’s why we created Healthy Gamer, a mental health platform designed to help the internet generation live our best IRL.
The mental health resources available today are too old, too slow and too expensive - especially for the digital generation. While innovation in healthcare is stifled by a pervasive risk-averse culture, we believe that new resources and approaches are needed to empower young people today to build meaningful lives.
We understand that when you create something new, questions will come up - and we welcome those questions. That’s why we’ve outlined what Healthy Gamer resources do and the lines between traditional therapy and our offerings.
“Many who counseled me did so from a place of genuinely caring about protecting me and a basic sense of being risk-averse. I’m lucky to have absolute titans in the field of mental health supporting me personally and Healthy Gamer as a movement. Our mission is to provide people with a roadmap for dealing with all of their mental health challenges - not to diagnose or prescribe.”
Dr. Alok Kanojia, MD MPH
Psychiatrist, Creator, Author, President & Co-Founder of Healthy Gamer
What Consent Do Twitch Guests Give Before Stream?
One of our core principles at Healthy Gamer is “don’t worry alone”. The impact of seeing someone else process the things you’re struggling with - whether it’s being cheated on or ADD - can not be understated. Our guests who join Dr. K or one of our other experts on stream believe in that mission and proactively agree to discuss certain topics in a public forum with the goal of reducing stigma and providing space for discussion.
The line we draw between stream and therapy is when the topic is getting too close to giving medical advice: a diagnosis or medications. This is something we discuss with guests in advance, and also in our follow up discussions with our guests.
At the end of this, while we do have several layers of policies to protect everyone involved, we’re humans trying to help other humans through impactful, relatable conversations about mental health. Simply knowing that you’re not alone, everyone struggles, and that there is a way forward no matter how hopeless it seems can make all the difference.
All guests are made aware of the public nature of the conversation, are given contact info to requests modifications or edits, agree that the conversation is for educational purposes, and agree that no medical or therapeutic relationship (i.e. no doctor-patient relationship) is formed between the guest and HG.
Healthy Gamer Coaching (Group, Personal, Parents, Creator) vs. Therapy
Coaching is commonly defined as a process to help improve a person's performance. It is a self-directed process that helps a person change in the way they wish to change. Coaching builds awareness, empowers choice, and leads to change.
Healthy Gamer Coaching is a process to help you better understand how your mind works and provide a path forward, so you can build a life that helps you achieve your goals.
While both coaching and therapy use evidence-based techniques and intentional dialogue, there are important differences. Coaching is focused on "building" through planning, introspection, and awareness, while therapy is more about "fixing" something through clinical diagnoses, medication, and/or treatment. Coaching helps prioritize, set goals, and understand the root of discontent or unhappiness. Therapy is intended to alleviate clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.
You can learn more about that here.
Ethics FAQ
Has Healthy Gamer received support from other mental health professionals?
Do Twitch guests know the difference between what happens on stream and therapy?
Do you support Twitch guests after they go on stream?
What resources do you provide for users who are looking for therapy?
Why isn’t coaching regulated like therapy?
Why isn’t HG free?
Why does Healthy Gamer cite “pseudoscience”?
Mental Health Newsletter
Get the latest in mental health research, industry updates, and more
Healthy Gamer is developed by world-class addictions expert Dr. Alok Kanojia.
Mental Health Newsletter
Get the latest in mental health research, industry updates, and more
Healthy Gamer is developed by world-class addictions expert Dr. Alok Kanojia.
Mental Health Newsletter
Get the latest in mental health research, industry updates, and more
Healthy Gamer is developed by world-class addictions expert Dr. Alok Kanojia.