About Us
Dr. David Greenfield is the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where teaches in the psychiatry residency program courses on Sexual Medicine and Internet Addiction. He is recognized as one of the world’s leading voices on process and behavioral addictions and is author of Virtual Addiction, which rang an early warning bell regarding the country’s growing Internet Addiction problem as well as numerous medical journal articles and book chapters; he also serves as an editor for numerous psychiatric and addiction journals.
Dr. Greenfield lectures to public and medical groups throughout the world, and has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox News, ESPN, NPR and HBO. His work has been featured in U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, People, Time, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. He is widely credited with popularizing the variable ratio reinforcement schedule of process addiction and the dopamine-behavioral addiction connection.
Dr. Greenfield’s recent research and clinical work is focused on the neurobiology and psychopharmacology of compulsive Internet and technology use, behavioral addiction medicine, and compulsive Smartphone use. Dr. Greenfield is a member of the American Society for Addiction Medicine, Fellow and Past-president of the Connecticut Psychological Association, The Sexual Medicine Society of North America, and American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy. He received his doctorate in Psychology from Texas Tech University and recently completely his post-doctoral training in Clinical Psychopharmacology. He resides and maintains an addiction medicine practice in Connecticut.
CITA Bio
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The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction (CITA) serves as one of the world’s preeminent resources for neurobiological and psychological research into Internet and technology addiction, dependency, and abuse. Founded by renowned cyber psychologist Dr. David Greenfield, a pioneer concerning compulsive and addictive use who led the first large scale study of Internet use in 1999 with ABC News, CITA sets out to treat patients, train medical professionals on how to diagnosis and treat problematic tech use, and educate the public-at-large through talks, resource development, and appearing in a wide variety of major media outlets (CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox, Time, NPR).
The mission of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction is to create a new normal concerning our relationship with technology. Instead of simply eschewing technology, CITA is dedicated to practical action-based solutions that recognize the value and potential with technology while also allowing people to plug back into life. The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction has three major areas of focus: treatment, research, and education. |
TreatmentThe Center for Internet and Technology Addiction receives patients from all across the United States. Dr. David Greenfield, known for a warm and approachable demeanor, has treated over a thousand patients struggling with issues regarding video games, pornography, and tech abuse/dependency. Outside of traditional treatment, CITA has established an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program where participants work on a one-to-one basis with Dr. David Greenfield to address their compulsive and addictive behaviors in an accelerated format. |
EducationOutside of private practice, Dr. Greenfield is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. His popular tech addiction class given to the psychiatric residents is the only one of its kind in the United States. Dr. David Greenfield and CITA are continuing to develop educational materials and curricula for primary and secondary students, and recently released the DVD: “Raising Generation D: A Guide for Parents Raising Children in the Digital Age.” |
ResearchCITA continues to be on the cutting edge with research since first entering the fray in the late 90s. Dr. Greenfield is widely credited with popularizing the variable ratio reinforcement schedule of Internet use and abuse and the dopamine/tech use connection. Research from CITA and Dr. Greenfield has been featured in U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Newsweek, People, Time, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Economist, and numerous others. Dr. Greenfield’s recent research and clinical work is focused on why digital technologies are abused, how we can achieve life-balance with digital technology, neurobiology of compulsive Internet use, and most recently on smartphone use and distracted driving. He is the author of numerous professional journal articles and book chapters on Internet, computer, and digital behavior. |
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What we offer
Consultation
Personal, psychiatric, academic, legal and business consulting services on technology use and overuse.
Therapy
Individualized therapy and counseling for Internet and Technology Addiction and Compulsive Behavioral addictions.
Tech Healing Intensives
Concentrated, individualized treatment in an accelerated format.
Training
Custom-tailored lectures and training offered to the general public, behavioral health and addiction professionals and the corporate world on a variety of topics related to Internet, technology and screen use and addiction.
Our Mission
The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction (CITA) serves as one of the world’s preeminent resources for neurobiological and psychological research into Internet and technology addiction, dependency, and abuse. Founded by renowned cyber psychologist Dr. David Greenfield, a pioneer concerning compulsive and addictive use who led the first large scale study of Internet use in 1999 with ABC News, CITA sets out to treat patients, train medical professionals on how to diagnosis and treat problematic tech use, and educate the public-at-large through talks, resource development, and appearing in a wide variety of major media outlets (CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox, Time, NPR). The mission of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction is to create a new normal concerning our relationship with technology. Instead of simply eschewing technology, CITA is dedicated to practical action-based solutions that recognize the value and potential with technology while also allowing people to plug back into life. The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction has three major areas of focus: treatment, research, and education.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Greenfield is the founder and clinical director of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he teaches Behavioral Addiction Medicine, Sexual Medicine, and supervises residents in psychiatry. Dr. Greenfield is also the Medical Director of The Greenfield Recovery Center, a residential retreat center for the treatment of Internet and technology addictions. He is a leading authority on Internet and technology addiction and author of numerous articles/book chapters and the book Virtual Addiction which in 1999 rang an early warning regarding the world’s growing Internet Addiction problem. Dr. Greenfield’s recent work is focused on the neurobiology of compulsive Internet, Smartphone, and screen use. He is credited with popularizing the variable reinforcement (slot machine model) of behavioral addictions and the dopamine-behavioral addiction connection.
Dr. Greenfield participates with the national and international psychiatric community by sharing his expertise through lectures, research, and various publications. He holds advanced training and board certifications in Addictions, Addiction Medicine, and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Dr. Greenfield lectures throughout the world, and has appeared on CNN, Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox News, ESPN, NPR and HBO. He’s been featured in U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, People, Time, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.
Dr. Greenfield is a member of the American Society for Addiction Medicine, The Sexual Medicine Society of North America, and the American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy, APA, and is Past-President of CPA; he sits on numerous academic and editorial boards.
Licensure / Certification / Qualifications:
• Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut Medical School
• Connecticut Licensed Psychologist (#001399)
• New York Licensed Psychologist (#009628)
• Connecticut Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (#000558)
• Certificate of Proficiency in Addictions, APA College of Professional Psychology (#AD001519)
• National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (#40025)
• Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (#3443)
• Massachusetts Licensed Clinical Psychologist (application pending)
Melissa Rahming is a therapist at The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. She is state certified as an addictions counselor (CADC) and is in the process of completing her requirements to become an LADC. She is also a substance abuse provider for the Department of Transportation. Rahming has worked in many levels of care in the addiction world including detox, residential, intensive outpatient and inpatient since working in the addiction field since 1997. She also has an extensive work history with dual-diagnosed individuals and prides herself with the knowledge that this “hands on” experience has provided her with over the years.
Through indirect and direct personal experience of what addiction can do to a family, Rahming was inspired to study the biology of addiction at Tunxis Community College where she obtained her Associate’s Degree (DARC), and then completed her Bachelor’s at Post University in the Human Services field. She continues to maximize her exposure to associations and organizations that provide support to struggling individuals and their families. Rahming works to heal the family as a unit by helping the family develop healthy boundaries and gain a better understanding of addiction as well as recovery. Currently studying for her Master’s at Albertus Magnus College, she hopes to increase her knowledge of counseling techniques and the latest research. Her work with clients is not limited to substance abuse issues, but also covers other process addictions such as gambling, gaming, Internet and technology, and pornography.
Sheila Hageman, MFA is the Communications Director at The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. She is a women’s issues and lifestyle writer, a professor of writing, and an author. Hageman received her MFA in Creative Writing from Hunter College, CUNY, where she also graduated as valedictorian with her BA in the Thomas Hunter Honors Program and English. She is a nationally certified Yoga instructor and teaches writing at Post University.
