This series of brief videos, based on concepts from the 5 Cs of Media Use, offers healthcare providers guidance on using motivational interviewing (MI) as a tool to engage in meaningful conversations with families about their child or teen’s media use. Led by Pam Pietruszewski, a MI trainer, the series demonstrates how MI techniques can be used to build trust, encourage reflection, and guide families toward healthier media habits.
Videos
Video 1: Provider Pause
Imagine, as a healthcare provider, walking into a room and finding your teenage patient on their phone. Your initial reaction may be to tell them to put it down, but what if you took a moment to pause instead? In this video, Pam Pietruszewski, Motivational Interviewing Trainer, shows how taking a deep breath and being curious can change how we connect with teens.
Video 2: Listening for Change
Now that we have had a chance to pause, in this video, Pam Pietruszewski, Motivational Interviewing Trainer, helps healthcare providers pivot from reacting (potentially with frustration) to listening for change. She explores questions providers can ask teens such as, 'What type of content do you like viewing on social media?' to hear their values and listen for what drives their choices.
Video 3: Working with Young Children
In this third video, Pam Pietruszewski, Motivational Interviewing Trainer, offers suggestions for open-ended questions that providers can ask when a caregiver is concerned about a young child's online activity, and dives into concepts like double-sided reflections to help families express their motivations and move forward.
Video 4: Working with Tweens and Teens
In this final video, Pam Pietruszewski, Motivational Interviewing Trainer, discusses how motivational interviewing (MI) techniques, such as open-ended questions and reflective listening, can help providers guide teens in recognizing the impact of social media on their schoolwork, sleep, and overall well-being. MI encourages teens to explore their own motivations and brainstorm strategies to make healthier choices.
Learn More
Webinar: Starting the Conversation About Teen Social Media Use with Help from the Family Media Plan
AAP Family Media Plan
This video series was created by the Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health in partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,400 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. Learn more at www.thenationalcouncil.org.
Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the US Government.
Last Updated
05/16/2025
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics