Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
Gaming addiction is recognized by the World Health Organization as a clinical disorder, and for the people living with it, the consequences are anything but virtual. Relationships break down, school performance collapses, jobs are lost and, in the most severe cases, basic self-care disappears.
If you or someone you love is gaming more and more while the rest of life falls away, iRely Recovery's gaming addiction treatment program in Los Angeles can help. Our licensed clinicians use evidence-based therapies to reduce compulsive gaming, restore daily functioning and address the anxiety, depression or trauma that often drives excessive play.
Key Points
- A recognized clinical disorderThe WHO added Gaming Disorder to the ICD-11, and the DSM-5 lists Internet Gaming Disorder for further study.
- It is about control, not hoursThe problem is loss of control over gaming and the damage that causes to your life.
- Evidence-based, individualized careCBT, DBT, individual, group and family therapy, plus psychiatric evaluation.
- Free insurance checkWe verify benefits at no cost. Call 818-351-1193 for a free, confidential assessment.
In Short
iRely Recovery provides evidence-based gaming addiction treatment in Los Angeles, combining CBT, DBT, individual, group and family therapy with psychiatric care for co-occurring conditions. Most insurance plans are accepted, and we verify benefits for free. Call 818-351-1193 for a confidential assessment.
What Is Gaming Addiction?
Gaming disorder is a clinically recognized behavioral addiction. The World Health Organization added Gaming Disorder to the ICD-11, the global standard for classifying medical conditions, and the American Psychiatric Association lists Internet Gaming Disorder in the DSM-5 as a condition requiring further study, with nine criteria researchers use to evaluate severity.
Gaming addiction is not about how many hours someone plays. It is about the loss of control over gaming and the damage that loss of control causes to a person’s life. Clinicians evaluate these nine warning signs over 12 months, and five or more indicate a clinically significant problem:
Preoccupation
Thinking about gaming constantly, including when doing other things.
Withdrawal
Feeling irritable, anxious or sad when gaming is taken away.
Tolerance
Needing to play longer or more intensely to feel the same satisfaction.
Failed Attempts to Stop
Wanting to cut back but being unable to.
Loss of Interest
Giving up hobbies, sports or social activities in favor of gaming.
Continued Use Despite Problems
Gaming on even when it causes relationship, school or work problems.
Deception
Lying to family or friends about how much time is spent gaming.
Escapism
Using gaming to escape negative moods, stress or painful feelings.
Jeopardized Opportunities
Risking or losing a significant relationship, job or educational opportunity because of gaming.
If you recognize several of these in yourself or a family member, a professional assessment is the right next step. Call 818-351-1193 or complete our confidential online form.
Is My Loved One Addicted to Gaming?
Parents, partners and siblings are often the first to notice. Gaming addiction does not look the same in everyone, but these patterns are common:
- Sleep disruption: staying up through the night to play and sleeping through the day
- Neglecting hygiene, meals or physical health to keep playing
- Explosive anger, anxiety or tearfulness when gaming is interrupted or removed
- Withdrawing from friends, family and activities that used to matter
- Academic or work performance declining without another clear explanation
- Spending on in-game purchases, upgrades or subscriptions without disclosure
- Denying or minimizing the amount of time spent gaming
- Physical symptoms such as eye strain, back pain or repetitive stress injuries from long sessions
One or two of these, occasionally, may be normal. When they cluster together, persist for weeks or months and resist your attempts to address them, professional help is warranted.
Our Gaming Addiction Treatment Program
Our treatment is individualized to each client. We do not apply a one-size-fits-all protocol. Our licensed clinicians conduct a thorough intake assessment to understand what is driving the gaming and tailor the plan accordingly.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is the most researched treatment for behavioral addictions. It helps you identify the thoughts and emotional triggers that precede gaming sessions, challenge distorted thinking and build coping skills for urges, boredom, stress and social anxiety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT suits clients whose gaming is driven by emotional dysregulation, impulsivity or difficulty tolerating distress, teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist explore underlying issues such as depression, anxiety, social isolation, trauma history or co-occurring substance use.
Group Therapy
Group therapy connects you with peers who know what losing control over gaming feels like, reducing shame and rebuilding social skills that may have faded during intensive gaming.
Family Therapy and Education
Family sessions help loved ones understand gaming disorder, set healthy limits and rebuild trust after the strain compulsive gaming creates.
Psychiatric Evaluation
Many people with gaming addiction also live with depression, ADHD or anxiety that respond to medication. Our psychiatric staff evaluates co-occurring conditions and manages medication as part of an integrated plan.
What to Expect: Treatment Timeline
Recovery from gaming addiction is gradual. Most clients move through three phases:
Phase 1: Assessment and Stabilization (Weeks 1 to 2)
A comprehensive assessment of gaming history, mental and physical health, family dynamics and goals. We identify co-occurring conditions, set a safety plan and agree the initial level of care: outpatient, IOP or PHP.
Phase 2: Active Treatment (Weeks 3 to 12)
Individual, group and family sessions matched to your level of care. CBT and DBT skills are practiced in session and daily life, while you build routines around sleep, exercise and face-to-face connection.
Phase 3: Continuing Care (Month 4 and Beyond)
Relapse prevention begins well before discharge. You leave with a written plan covering ongoing therapy, support groups and strategies for high-risk situations like summer breaks or exam periods.
Insurance Accepted for Gaming Addiction Treatment
Gaming addiction treatment is a medical service, and many private insurance plans cover behavioral health treatment, including gaming disorder. iRely Recovery works with most major insurance carriers and verifies your benefits at no cost before your first appointment.
Call 818-351-1193 to verify your insurance benefits for free. If you are uninsured or underinsured, ask our team about your options.
What Happens When You Call
Reaching out is the hardest step. Here is what to expect:
Step 1: Confidential Consultation
A licensed intake coordinator answers, listens without judgment, asks a few questions and explains your options. The call takes about 15 minutes and creates no obligation.
Step 2: Same-Day Insurance Check
If you move forward, we contact your insurer the same day to confirm benefits and tell you your estimated out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment.
Step 3: Assessment and Start of Care
You meet a licensed clinician for a full intake assessment, build a treatment plan together and begin care. Most clients start within days of their first call.
Call 818-351-1193 now, or complete the confidential form on this page. We answer 7 days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaming Addiction Treatment
Is gaming addiction a real medical disorder?
Yes. The World Health Organization recognized Gaming Disorder in the ICD-11, adopted in 2019 and in effect since 2022. The American Psychiatric Association lists Internet Gaming Disorder in the DSM-5 as a condition warranting further study. Neuroscience research shows that compulsive gaming activates the same reward pathways as substance addiction, producing similar patterns of craving, tolerance and withdrawal.
What is the treatment for gaming addiction?
The most effective treatments are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), individual and group therapy, and family education. At iRely Recovery we combine these in an individualized plan that also addresses co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety or ADHD that often underlie compulsive gaming.
How long does gaming addiction treatment take?
Most clients benefit from 8 to 12 weeks of active treatment, followed by an ongoing continuing care plan. The exact duration depends on symptom severity, co-occurring conditions and individual progress. Some clients step down to lower levels of care sooner and others continue intensive work longer, and we reassess and adjust throughout.
Does insurance cover gaming addiction treatment?
Many private insurance plans cover behavioral health treatment, including gaming disorder. iRely Recovery verifies your benefits at no cost before your first appointment. Call 818-351-1193 and we can confirm your coverage the same day.
What are the signs of gaming addiction?
Key warning signs include playing for escalating periods that are hard to stop; neglecting sleep, meals, hygiene or responsibilities; intense irritability, anxiety or anger when gaming is removed; lying about time spent gaming; withdrawing from relationships and activities; and continuing to game despite clear consequences at school, work or home. Five or more of the nine DSM-5 criteria over 12 months indicates a clinically significant problem.
Can gaming addiction be cured?
Gaming addiction is treatable, and most clients achieve meaningful recovery with professional support. Cure is not the right frame. Recovery means developing the skills and insight to manage the condition so it no longer controls your life. Some people return to casual gaming over time and others find it healthier to abstain. Both are valid outcomes, decided together with your treatment team.
What is the difference between gaming addiction and gaming disorder?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Internet Gaming Disorder is the DSM-5 term, and Gaming Disorder is the ICD-11 term adopted by the World Health Organization. Both describe the same clinical picture: loss of control over gaming, prioritizing it over other activities and responsibilities, and continuing despite negative consequences, persisting for at least 12 months.
Sources
[1] Mohammad, S., Jan, R. A., & Alsaedi, S. L. (2023, March 31). Symptoms, mechanisms, and treatments of video game addiction. Cureus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10065366/
[2,3] Video game addiction: What it is, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23124-video-game-addiction
[4,5,6] Internet gaming. Psychiatry.org – Internet Gaming. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming
[7,8,9] Mohammad, S., Jan, R. A., & Alsaedi, S. L. (2023, March 31). Symptoms, mechanisms, and treatments of video game addiction. Cureus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10065366/
[10] Video game addiction: What it is, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23124-video-game-addiction
[11] The health effects of too much gaming. Harvard Health. (2020, December 22). https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-too-much-gaming-2020122221645
[12] Internet gaming. Psychiatry.org – Internet Gaming. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming
[13] Video game addiction: What it is, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23124-video-game-addiction
[14] Mohammad, S., Jan, R. A., & Alsaedi, S. L. (2023, March 31). Symptoms, mechanisms, and treatments of video game addiction. Cureus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10065366/
Start Gaming Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles
One call is all it takes to start. Call 818-351-1193 for a free, confidential assessment, or complete our confidential form. There is no obligation, and our team can verify your insurance benefits at no cost.
