Manjit Bath, a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University’s Seattle Campus, has written and published a dissertation titled EMDR Gaming Recovery and Insight Protocol (E-GRIP): An Approach For Treating Video Game Addiction.
Video game addiction has escalated with the advancement of digital technologies, posing significant psychological and social challenges. Bath’s dissertation introduces Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Gaming Recovery and Insight Protocol (E-GRIP), a novel therapeutic approach designed to address the complexities of video game addiction. Grounded in the principles of EMDR therapy and incorporating insights into video game culture, E-GRIP aims to treat individuals struggling with problematic gaming behaviors by integrating their gaming experiences and preferences into the therapeutic process.
Through the lens of video game character archetypes and gaming scenarios, the protocol addresses the emotional, cognitive, and somatic components of addiction, facilitating a comprehensive treatment strategy that resonates with the gaming community. Bath uses the E-GRIP methodology through the EMDR framework by including an in-depth exploration of the client’s gaming behavior, character identification, and the utilization of gaming jargon to enhance the relevance and efficacy of the therapy.
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Certified EMDR Therapist and Approved EMDRIA Consultant from EMDRIA, Bath serves as the CEO and Clinical Director of MindRight Counselling & Consulting. He has extensive experience working with Vancouver Coastal Health, the Governments of British Columbia and Alberta, and various not-for-profit organizations, providing group counseling and individual therapy to children, youth, individuals, and families. Bath is skilled in conducting risk and suicide assessments. His therapeutic approach incorporates the bio-psycho-social model to understand clients’ issues and develop personalized treatment plans. He utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR to facilitate client progress.
Bath has vast knowledge of working with adolescent and young adult men who are struggling with navigating their emotions and developing a sense of purpose in their lives, resulting in aggressive and at-risk behavior. In addition, he is trained in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and has worked with couples working through various issues, such as communication, infidelity, betrayal trauma, and more.
Read more about Bath and download his dissertation EMDR Gaming Recovery and Insight Protocol (E-GRIP): An Approach For Treating Video Game Addiction.
