Workshop Description

The course “Disconnected: Why Today’s Adolescents Feel More Alone Than Ever” illuminates the growing problem of adolescent loneliness and digital addiction and clarifies to professionals who work with the adolescent and teenage population the strategies and interventions that are supported by academic research and evidence-based practices. The course will establish the scope and prevalence of the problem, explore definitions of and contributions to loneliness in teens’ own words, offer guiding principles for intervention, and encourage a call to action among course recipients. Professionals who work with the adolescent and teenage population are in the position to offer care, guidance, and support to reduce individual experiences of teen loneliness, as well as to advocate for systemic strategies within professional organizations to address this growing public health epidemic.

Meet Debbie

Debbie Murad is a highly experienced Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of expertise in working with adolescents, trauma, substance use disorders (SUD), and neurodivergence. She served as faculty at the USC School of Social Work for 11 years and currently maintains a Private Practice in Los Angeles. In addition to her clinical work, Debbie is the Founder, CEO, and Clinical Director of Beach Cities Gateway, an individualized treatment program that provides coaching/mentoring and mental health services to older teens and young adults navigating mental health challenges and executive functioning difficulties.

*ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES 10/29/26 @ 6 PM

*IN-PERSON REGISTRATION AVAILABLE

AT THE DOOR*

Schedule: 

MEETING INFORMATION:

Our presenter will be delivering this workshop

In-Person at Fusion Academy Hermosa!

For attendees who value the opportunity to network and connect with other clinicians, we are hosting this in-person gathering where you can enjoy a continental breakfast and meet the presenter in person. 

Unpaid invoices must be paid 24 hours before the event.

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Identify at least three behavioral or emotional signs of loneliness in adolescents.
2. Describe at least two ways smartphones, social media, or AI companionship can contribute to adolescent loneliness.
3. Develop one practical strategy to strengthen social connection and reduce loneliness within a family, school, clinical, or community setting.

Educational Goals:

1. Describe the prevalence, causes, and potential lifelong consequences of adolescent loneliness, particularly among neurodivergent youth.
2. Explain how smartphones, social media, online relationships, and AI companionship can contribute to isolation and interfere with healthy adolescent development.
3. Identify signs of loneliness and apply practical family-, school-, community-, and treatment-based strategies to strengthen meaningful connection and social confidence.

LOCATION:

Fusion Academy, 1601 CA-1 Suite 260, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Parking and Venue Information: click here