DGT FAQs:
What is Digimotor Game Therapy (DGT)?
Developed by Child Psychiatrist and screen use disorder expert Clifford Sussman MD in collaboration with Fitness for Health, DGT is gamified occupational therapy (OT) designed to transition kids off sedentary high-dopamine games while exposing kids to structure, real life socializing, and physical activity. The wonderful arcade-like gym will meets kids where they are to reduce resistance to treatment, while the customized specific activities are programmed to train executive functioning skills, delayed gratification, and use of their prefrontal cortical "brakes" to get off on time and have more patience for all real world activities.

Where is the DGT program located?
The sessions take place in Fitness for Health, a large gamified OT gym in the BECO building in the North Bethesda section of Rockville, MD.
Address:
Fitness For Health, 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 303, Rockville, MD 20852

What Services will the DGT program offer?
Each day of the program will feature an OT-led group session assisted by an advanced motor development specialist, followed by a screen-free motivational interviewing (MI) group. A weekly parenting group will also be provided with strategies for regulating family screen time.

How can playing games help kids who already have problems with excessive gaming?
One of the main reasons it is hard to get a kid off of a screen is because the games provide their brain with instant and continuous stimulation, a recipe for the highest possible flow of the brain chemical dopamine. The more dopamine the brain gets, the more it needs, which is why "high-dopamine" activities such as games and streaming videos become the most preferred activities. If someone seeking more dopamine is asked to do a "low-dopamine" activity that requires patience, such as homework or chores, they are likely to resist, resulting in conflict. If they are allowed to do physical activities that are digital and gamified, their brain will get the cues needed to decrease their resistance, while all of the DGT activities planned will use sophisticated customized settings in a structured environment to gradually lower dopamine flow and strengthen the part of the brain that opposes dopamine flow, the prefrontal cortex. In addition, they will pair physical activity with gaming, which will create new cues for the brain that encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle. In this way they will transition out of the virtual world and into the real world in a much smoother way. When the DGT session is complete, they will literally transition into the off-screen "lower-dopamine" group therapy session included in the program.

What is a motivational interviewing group?
Motivational Interviewing(MI) is an evidence-based combinated of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) and psychodynamic psychotherapy shown to have success in treating all addictive behavior. This therapy tool is designed to work with participants who may be resistant to change or not ready for change. In traditional coaching, the therapist may become an authority figure, or a parental extension, which often results in more defiance. Motivational Interviewing empowers patients to become their own authority figures and develop their own insight, exploring the motivational factors that tear them in multiple directions so they can become “unstuck.”

The group will follow Dr. Sussman’s MI curriculum which will be made available to parents upon request. Social skills and adulting skills may also be worked on as needed.

What will the billing situation be?
New patients who are not already patients of Dr. Sussman will undergo an initial psychiatric evaluation. Those who are not appropriate for the program and do not wish to be followed by Dr. Sussman in his practice may request a free written report to share with other providers. Since Fitness for Health will be managing the DGT sessions (with voluntary supervision by Dr. Sussman), and Dr. Sussman will be leading the MI group, patients will be billed separately for the respective time with each. Each provider will require a month commitment at a time financially to start the program following the psychiatric evaluation. Each provider will charge the same hourly rate for all work done at Fitness for Health, which will be competitive with typical hourly rates in the area for regular OT sessions. In addition, promotional discounted pricing will be offered for pilot groups for the first month of treatment. The program is out of network but will provide all needed codes for insurance.

How do I sign up my kid?

Please call 301-231-7138 to get on the waitlist and receive instructions for next steps. Upon request a free tour and equipment demo can be arranged.

 

Waitlists are being formed for a summer day program for 2026 and a monthly evening Mon-Thurs program during the school year of 2026-2027.