Overview

The online world is a pervasive and powerful force in the lives of today’s youth. From social media to gaming and internet use, children and adolescents are growing up in a digital landscape that is both enriching and potentially harmful. In this timely and insightful CPD presentation, Clinical Psychologist Vanessa Hemp explores the psychological impact of online engagement on young people—and how mental health professionals can support them effectively.

Drawing on her extensive experience working with children and adolescents, Vanessa offers a balanced, evidence-informed approach to understanding online behaviour. She explores the neurological underpinnings of adolescent risk-taking, the role of the internet in identity development and socialisation, and the key psychological risks including cyberbullying, sexting, internet addiction, and the distortion of reality through social media.

Clinicians will leave with practical tools for engaging young clients and their families in meaningful discussions about online activity, helping them navigate the digital world safely while fostering emotional resilience and balance.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this CPD session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the psychological and developmental impact of internet use on children and adolescents.
• Recognise both the benefits and risks of online activities, including social media and gaming.
• Understand the role of adolescent brain development in online behaviours and risk-taking.
• Identify and respond to online risks including cyberbullying, sexting, privacy breaches, and problematic internet use.
• Provide guidance to parents and caregivers on promoting healthy digital habits and online safety.
• Support adolescents in navigating online identities and managing the emotional effects of digital comparison.

Presenter(s)

Vanessa Hemp

About the presenter(s)

Vanessa Hemp is a Clinical Psychologist who trained at Wits University. She started working at Tara Hospital with children, adolescences and their parents, on an outpatient basis. She became Head of Department of Psychology, managing and supervising the psychological service provision throughout the hospital, including the outpatient and outreach services at Alexandra Clinic. She was also involved in the training and supervision of interns and psychiatry registrars as well as in the planning of the Children's Ward and training of staff. Vanessa's role in the Alex AIDS Orphans Project was to identify the psychological needs of orphaned children, and to develop and supervise a number of bereavement groups. This work was presented at conferences, including the World Association of Social Psychiatry in Kobe, Japan. At Tara, she served as a joint appointee to the Wits University Department of Psychiatry. Since leaving the hospital, Vanessa has been in private practice, focusing on adolescents and parenting. She continues to present at conferences on topics relating to children, adolescence and parenting. Addressing issues of affect regulation and assisting children, teens and their parents to manage stressful situations and overwhelming feelings has been a major focus of her work.

Website/s

https://calabash.courses/profile/talk/grappling-with-the-gifts-challenges-of-the-online-world?utm_source=aps&utm_campaign=aps-promotion&utm_medium=link