Mental Health Potluck
Welcome to Mental Health Potluck Podcast, your go-to space for mental health insights and practical guidance for mental health and wellness. Hosted by Danny Clark, LCSW, this podcast blends expert knowledge with real-world strategies to support your well-being and personal growth. Whether you’re seeking tools for personal resilience, ways to ground your day, or insights to enhance your relationships, you’ll find thoughtful conversations and actionable wisdom here.
Join us as we explore the intersection of science, therapy, and self-care—helping you and those you love.
Mental Health Potluck
Debunking the Myths: How Gaming is Actually Good for Mental Health!
Click to text me what you got out of this episode.
🎮 Are Video Games Bad for Mental Health? The Surprising Science Behind Gaming & Wellness
🎙️ Episode Summary:
Are video games really harmful, or can they actually help with stress, aggression, and building community? In this episode of Mental Health Potluck, we explore the science behind gaming and mental wellness, bust common myths, and uncover how gaming, when done right, can be a powerful tool for emotional regulation.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
✔️ Do violent video games really cause aggression? (Hint: The science says no!)
✔️ How gaming can act as a cathartic outlet for emotions.
✔️ The role of gaming in stress relief and problem-solving.
✔️ How online gaming builds community and resilience—and when it becomes unhealthy.
⏱ Timestamps & Topics:
0:08 – Are video games bad for us? Breaking down the myths.
0:28 – How research debunks the link between violent games and real-world aggression.
1:29 – The catharsis effect: How gaming helps with emotional regulation.
2:05 – Gaming as a stress reduction tool—and when it can become avoidance.
3:18 – The community aspect of gaming and its role in building resilience.
5:15 – When gaming becomes unhealthy: Signs to watch for.
6:00 – The therapist’s role in understanding gaming’s impact on mental health.
If gaming is your way of unwinding, play on! Just make sure it’s working for you, not against you. 🎮✨
How this would apply to therapy: Reality Therapy & Healthy Emotional Outlets
At Texas Insighto Center in Houston, Texas, we understand that everyone needs healthy ways to manage emotions—whether it’s through journaling, meditation, or even gaming. In Reality Therapy, we help clients assess their behaviors, determine what’s working, and make choices that support emotional well-being. If gaming helps you decompress, it can be part of your self-care strategy—but balance is key.
About Danny Clark
Danny Clark is a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist based in Houston, Texas. As the founder of Texas Insight Center, he specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate mental health challenges with practical, evidence-based approaches.
💡 Is therapy right for you? Let’s talk. If you’re struggling with stress or emotional regulation or just want to explore healthier coping strategies, reach out for a consultation. Visit www.texasinsightcenter.com to learn more and schedule a session.
đź“© Have a question or topic suggestion? Send it to danny@texasinsightcenter.com
You can also follow me on Instagram @texasinsightcenter or visit my webpage at texasinsightcenter.com
Join the conversation! Share your key takeaways using #MentalHealthPotluck or tag me on social media.
Today we're diving into something that sparks a lot of debate video games. Are they really bad for us, or can they actually help things like aggression, stress and even building community? In this episode, we'll break down what the research says, bust some myths and talk about how gaming, when done right, can be a powerful tool for mental wellness. Welcome to Mental Health Potluck, where everyone brings something to the table. I'm Danny Clark, licensed clinical social worker and family therapist, and this podcast is all about serving up bite-sized mental health insights, practical wellness tips and real conversations that nourish the mind and soul. And real conversations that nourish the mind and soul. So let's look at where gaming can actually have a benefit on our lives, and that is with three main aspects, the first one being aggression. This is something that we see a lot in the research, and there's sort of this misconception that violent, aggressive video games then produces violent, aggressive people. And that's just not the case. And, with all the research that's done, it has. And that's just not the case. And, with all the research that's done, it has yet to be conclusive in any way. As a matter of fact, there's a lot of research that shows that there's a benefit to aggressive, violent video games. For example, there's a study in 2021 that looked at children that were playing these aggressive, violent games and over time, they actually had a reduction in their level of aggression and what they feel like is happening is there's this catharsis effect. When we look at the gaming as a way of expressing those emotions, it's a safe environment to do it healthy. If a child, or even an adult, has had a day that maybe they need to express something, they've got a frustration or whichever, they can use gaming as that outlet to let that free. And that's an important part of our own personal health and it's just like it wouldn't be any different from, maybe somebody who's had a very bad day and they're frustrated with somebody and they go home and they journal about it. It's a part of catharsis. It's an active thing that they're doing to let go of whatever that is.
