Episode #171
The Unexpected Way Gaming Saved These Father-Child Relationships
What if the video game your kid spends hours playing isn't pulling them away from you—but could actually be one of the best ways to get closer? On this episode of the Men's Therapy Podcast, host Marc Azoulay talks with psychotherapist Brian Keating, who specializes in Minecraft therapy and works with children, young adults, and families. Brian explains why dismissing video games as "brain rot" can cause parents to miss what's actually happening inside their child's world. For Brian, play is communication. The way a child plays can reveal how they're experiencing the world, from bullying and negative self-talk to frustration, disappointment, confidence, and resilience. Minecraft gives children a space where they can create, explore, take risks, fail, restart, and sometimes even teach their parents something. The conversation also tackles one of the biggest challenges for modern dads: how to enter a child's digital world without simply becoming another person telling them to get off the screen. Brian and Marc explore letting kids win, modelling healthy responses to failure, understanding screen dependency, creating online safety boundaries, and using side-by-side activities to make vulnerable conversations easier. Most importantly, the episode argues that parents don't necessarily need to pull kids out of their digital world. They need to learn how to enter it. For more podcasts, blogs, and to get involved in the Men's Therapy Online Community, visit www.menstherapy.online . Connect with Brian Website: https://www.brianwkeating.com/ Resources Mentioned Individual Therapy: https://menstherapy.online/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Service&utm_campaign=Individual_Therapy Men’s group https://menstherapy.online/mens-groups/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Service&utm_campaign=Mens_Groups MTO Slack https://menstherapy.online/slack/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Slack_CTA&utm_campaign=MTO_Slack Website: https://menstherapy.online/
