Social Media Addiction Therapy in Brookline & Boston, MA
Evidence-Based Support for Social Media Addiction and Problematic Social Media Use
Social media can help us stay connected and informed. But for many people, it can become difficult to step away from.
You may find yourself constantly checking notifications, comparing yourself to others, spending hours scrolling, or feeling anxious when you’re away from your phone. Excessive social media use can begin to affect your overall well-being, including your mood, sleep, and relationships. If this sounds familiar, we are here to help you.
At Careful Counseling, we provide social media addiction therapy in Brookline & Boston, MA, offering both in-person sessions and secure online therapy throughout Massachusetts.
Understanding Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction, sometimes called problematic social media use, refers to patterns of compulsive or excessive social media engagement that negatively impact daily life.
Many people seeking therapy for social media addiction also struggle with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and low self-esteem.
This may include:
Constantly checking social media throughout the day
Difficulty limiting screen time
Feeling anxious when unable to access social media
Losing track of time while scrolling
Comparing yourself to others online
Difficulty focusing on work, school, or relationships
Sleep disruption related to phone or social media use
Many people seeking therapy for social media addiction find themselves spending excessive time on one or more digital platforms that can become difficult to put down, including:
Common Social Media Platforms
TikTok
YouTube
X (formerly Twitter)
Snapchat
Streaming Apps
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Constant notifications, information overload, and fear of missing out can contribute to ongoing stress and anxiety.
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Social media often exposes us to unrealistic versions of other people’s lives, which can lead to self-criticism and unhealthy comparison.
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Frequent phone use, especially before bed, can interfere with sleep quality and make it harder to fully disconnect and recharge.
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Constant scrolling and notifications can make it more difficult to focus, stay present, and engage in meaningful activities offline.
How Social Media Can Affect Mental Health
Get Started Today
If social media and technology use has started to affect your mood, relationships, work, or daily functioning, therapy can help. We are here to help you with the first step.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn how social media addiction therapy at Careful Counseling may help.
Meet Dr. Jonathan Goldberg
Dr. Jonathan Goldberg works with individuals struggling with problematic social media use, anxiety, and self-esteem concerns.
His CBT-based approach focuses on building healthier technology habits and creating lasting change.
At Careful Counseling, we understand that technology is a part of everyday life, and we can help you develop a healthier relationship with technology and use it more intentionally.
Why Choose Careful Counseling for Social Media Addiction Therapy?
Our approach may include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify patterns that contribute to excessive social media use.
Mindfulness-Based Techniques to increase awareness and intentionality around technology use.
Building Healthy Boundaries around screen time, notifications, and social media habits.
Addressing Underlying Concerns such as anxiety, loneliness, perfectionism, stress, and self-esteem
In-Person & Online Social Media Addiction Therapy in Massachusetts
Serving Brookline, Boston, and the Greater Boston Area
Our Brookline and Back Bay therapy offices support individuals throughout:
Allston
Brighton
Jamaica Plain
Surrounding Massachusetts communities
Brookline
Boston (including Back Bay and the South End)
Cambridge
Newton
Brookline Office
COOLIDGE CORNER
1330 Beacon St, #209
Brookline, MA 02446
BACK BAY
Boston Office
376 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
Prefer virtual appointments?
We also provide online therapy across Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Social media platforms are designed to capture and hold attention through features like notifications, likes, comments, and endless scrolling. These features can create a cycle of reward and anticipation that makes it difficult to disconnect. For some individuals, social media use can become a way to cope with stress, loneliness, boredom, or anxiety.
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Common signs include spending more time on social media than intended, frequently checking notifications, feeling anxious when unable to access social media, neglecting responsibilities, losing sleep due to screen time, and continuing to use social media despite negative effects on mood or relationships.
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Excessive social media use has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, poor sleep, low self-esteem, and unhealthy comparison to others. While social media can provide connection and support, it can also contribute to emotional distress when used excessively or in unhealthy ways.
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Yes. Therapy can help you understand the emotional and behavioral patterns that contribute to excessive social media use. Approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you build healthier habits and improve your relationship with technology.
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Many people benefit from setting screen time boundaries, turning off notifications, creating phone-free periods during the day, and developing alternative activities that support well-being. Therapy can provide additional support by addressing the underlying reasons social media has become difficult to manage.
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Yes. Careful Counseling provides social media addiction therapy in Brookline, MA, as well as secure online therapy throughout Massachusetts. We work with adults experiencing problematic social media use, excessive screen time, anxiety, low self-esteem, and related concerns.
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Often, yes. Many people find that social media use increases anxiety, fuels self-comparison, worsens low mood, or becomes a way to avoid difficult emotions. Therapy can help address both the technology habits and the underlying mental health concerns contributing to them.