Are you having difficulties with gaming? Do you spend too much time and money on games, despite attempts to stop? Are you spending less time with friends or family?
Are you a parent or family member with concerns about someone's gaming? Is it having a negative impact on their studies, family time, going out, other hobbies?
Like most activities, gaming can be a great way to relax, destress and socialise. However, for a minority of people excessive gaming can have a negative impact both on them and those around them.
We do not offer crisis interventions. We work jointly with mental health teams, aiming to provide a comprehensive package of care in collaboration with other professionals. In the event of a crisis, please contact your GP, CMHT, A&E or the Police if you feel at risk.
The National Centre for Gaming Disorders is a multi-disciplinary clinic in the UK that provides treatment for people in England, aged 13 years and over, who have difficulty controlling their video game use and the impact it has on their lives. We also offer parents, guardians and family members support alongside the person gaming.
The service offers assessment and therapeutic based treatment with CBT sessions focused on controlled levels of gaming and increasing other activities. It can also offer parents and family members educational workshops, support groups and family support.
The centre uses a holistic approach, led by consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, and family therapists.
Comprehensive consultation with the person who games
- Family consultation upon request
- Individual and/or group treatment for the person who games
- Parent workshops
- Ongoing parents support group
- Family therapy
- Support and advice for the young person's family or people close to them who may also be affected.
Our focus is on gaining more control over your gaming so it does not take over other areas of your life and feels more balanced.
The service accepts self-referrals as well as referrals from family members and professionals. Please select the appropriate link below and fill in the referral form along with the information sharing agreement:
For any referrals made on behalf of someone, please ensure the person is aware and has consented to the referral.
We are an NHS service, as such there are no cost implications to access or engage in support. We are able to offer consultation and treatment to anyone who resides in England, aged thirteen and over. We are also able to offer parents and family members support in addition, if the person is not ready to address their games use or the person is under thirteen.
Once you have completed/submitted a referral form, it will be triaged and you will be offered an assessment or signposted to a service that may be able to offer more specific support. After assessment, you will be contacted with confirmation on what you are being offered, ahead of getting started. Please note that there may be a considerable waiting list for initial assessments.
Should you prefer, you can download the referral form/s to fill in and then email back to us at ncba.cnwl@nhs.net. You can download the make a referral for you or a family member form and the information sharing form. Additionally, for a few hints and strategies for addressing the issue, try reading through our leaflet on Stimulus Control.
If you are a professional and believe that someone you are working with would benefit from a referral to our service, please download and fill out the referral form.
Read additional information about the criteria for gaming disorders.
We do not offer crisis interventions. We work jointly with mental health teams, aiming to provide a comprehensive package of care in collaboration with other professionals.
Our clinic has featured online, on television, radio and in written publications. If you wish to find out more, go to our web page.
To contact the clinic for more information or to discuss a referral:
- Telephone: 020 7381 7722
- Email: ncba.cnwl@nhs.net
- Address: 69 Warwick Road, London, SW5 9HB