Pacific Quest was recently featured in Parents.com’s article, “7 Signs Your Kid Has Screen Addiction and What To Do About It.” The article explores the growing concern surrounding screen addiction in youth and identifies key behavioral indicators families should watch for, including emotional dysregulation when screens are limited, social withdrawal, dependency on devices for coping, academic decline, and disrupted sleep.
In the feature, Kellyn explains that problematic screen use is more than just “heavy device time.” It becomes concerning when adolescents consistently prioritize screen time over in-person engagement, physical activity, family connection, and emotional development — and struggle to self-regulate their device use. Kellyn notes that technology activates reward pathways similar to other behavioral addictions, reinforcing compulsive patterns that can significantly impact teen mental health.
These insights reflect what Pacific Quest addresses daily through its holistic treatment model. At Pacific Quest, adolescents engage in nature-based therapy, experiential learning, movement, group process, creative expression, and evidence-based clinical work — all designed to replace isolated digital coping patterns with healthy interpersonal connection and emotional resilience.
Kellyn’s contribution to the Parents.com feature underscores Pacific Quest’s thought leadership in adolescent mental health care and its commitment to educating families about the modern challenges facing youth in a highly digital world.
About Pacific Quest:
Pacific Quest remains dedicated to evolving and adapting to best serve its residents and their families. It is a nature-based, integrative residential treatment program on Hawaii’s Big Island. Specializing in evidence-based care for adolescents and young adults, Pacific Quest combines traditional therapeutic modalities with innovative approaches, including horticultural therapy, functional medicine, and integrative psychiatry. Our program emphasizes whole-person wellness, focusing on the mind, body, and spirit to foster lasting change and personal growth. Through our individualized, trauma-informed care, Pacific Quest helps young people and families heal, build resilience, and achieve their full potential. For details or to explore enrollment in Continued Therapeutic Services, please contact: Kellyn Smythe, MS (Admissions Director), or call/text 808-747-4589. Email kellyn@pacificquest.org
For more information or to read the article, visit us on the web at www.pacificquest.org