Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Tracy Markle MA, LPC, Founder & Co-Director
Bio
Tracy Markle is a licensed professional therapist, author, speaker, and nationally renowned expert in the treatment of digital media overuse and addiction. Since 2009, her clinical practice has focused on understanding and developing treatment interventions and strategies for internet addiction and digital media overuse and the common co-existing factors; academic challenges, anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.
Through her work, Tracy Markle developed a systemic treatment approach for internet addiction called FITS-IA, which stands for Family engagement, Integrated Treatment, Social connection for treating – Internet Addiction.
She is the founder of Digital Media Treatment & Education Center (dTEC®) in Boulder, Colorado where she serves as co-director. dTEC® provides professional training and supervision to those seeking to advance their knowledge and clinical skills to treat digital media overuse and addiction.
Through dTEC®, Tracy is involved in research to understand how digital media use affects academic abilities in the collegiate environment. This research resulted in the development of the Digital Media Overuse Scale (dMOS™), a valid and reliable instrument for assessing digital media overuse and addictions.
Tracy also founded Collegiate Coaching Services®, a dTEC® affiliate program, to offer individualized support and guidance to individuals and families impacted by technology use and digital media applications, such as video games and social media.
Tracy Markle is a licensed professional therapist, author, speaker, and nationally renowned expert in the treatment of digital media overuse and addiction. Since 2009, her clinical practice has focused on understanding and developing treatment interventions and strategies for internet addiction and digital media overuse and the common co-existing factors; academic challenges, anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.
Through her work, Tracy Markle developed a systemic treatment approach for internet addiction called FITS-IA, which stands for Family engagement, Integrated Treatment, Social connection for treating – Internet Addiction.
She is the founder of Digital Media Treatment & Education Center (dTEC®) in Boulder, Colorado where she serves as co-director. dTEC® provides professional training and supervision to those seeking to advance their knowledge and clinical skills to treat digital media overuse and addiction.
Through dTEC®, Tracy is involved in research to understand how digital media use affects academic abilities in the collegiate environment. This research resulted in the development of the Digital Media Overuse Scale (dMOS™), a valid and reliable instrument for assessing digital media overuse and addictions.
Tracy also founded Collegiate Coaching Services®, a dTEC® affiliate program, to offer individualized support and guidance to individuals and families impacted by technology use and digital media applications, such as video games and social media.
Research & Publications
- Hipp, D., Blakley, E. C., Hipp, N., Gerhardstein, P., Kennedy, B., & Markle, T. (2023). The Digital Media Overuse Scale (dMOS): A Modular and Extendible Questionnaire for Indexing Digital Media Overuse. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 4(3: Fall 2023). https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000117
- Gentile DA, Bailey K, Bavelier D, Brockmyer JF, Cash H, Coyne SM, Doan A, Grant DS, Green CS, Griffiths M, Markle T, Petry NM, Prot S, Rae CD, Rehbein F, Rich M, Sullivan D, Woolley E, Young K. Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov;140(Suppl 2):S81-S85. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1758H. PMID: 29093038.
- Markle, Tracy (2017), “Family, Integrated Treatment, Social Connection ~ Internet Addiction; (FITS-IA®); A Community-Based Approach to the Treatment of Adolescent Internet Addiction” in Young, K., Nabuco de Abreu, C., Internet Addiction in Children and Adolescents; Risk Factors, Assessment and Treatment, New York: Springer Publishing Company, pp.257-28
Clinical Trainings
- Comprehensive Youth Services, Clinicians and Directors, “FITS-IA; Introduction to Digital Media Overuse; Assessment, Intervention, Treatment,” 6-hour training, June 11, 2024
- Claudia Black Center, Clinical Leadership Team, “Digital Media Overuse; Assessment, Intervention, Treatment,” 10-hour training, May 24th, June 14th, & June 21st, 2024
- Speak Up and Reach Out, Clinicians, “Introduction to Digital Media Overuse & Treatment Considerations,” Live, Virtual, CE training, April 7, 2023
- Digital Media Treatment & Education Center, Professionals, “Introduction to Digital Media Overuse; Assessment, Intervention and Treatment,” Live, Virtual, CE Training, Oct 7, 2022, Jul 16, 2021, and Apr 16, 2021
- Open Sky Wilderness Program, Durango, CO, Clinical Team, “FITS-IA Foundation Training; Introduction to Digital Media Overuse, Assessment, Intervention & Treatment,” October 10-11, 2019
- Colorado Recovery, Boulder, CO, Program & Clinical Team, “Digital Media Overuse and Clinical Implications,” August 2017
Presentations
- Louisville Elementary PTO, Fireside Elementary PTO, and Coal Creek PTA, “Tech Talk and Q&A for Elementary Age Families,” Louisville, CO, December 12, 2024
- Eurocross Academy, Athletes, Coaches, and Parents, “Athletic Performance in the Digital Age; Protecting Your Mental Toughness,” July 26th, August 8th, and August 16th, 2023
- Crestview & Foothills Elementary Schools, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, CO, “Let’s Talk Tech! Symposium” 3-Part Tech Talk, Teachers, Administrators, & Parents, March 9th, March 23rd, and April 25th, 2023
- Watershed School, Boulder, CO, Parents, Teachers, and Administrators, “The Balancing Act; Screentime & Mental Health,” April 17, 2023
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Students, “Social Media and the Mind,” October 20, 2021, September 23, 2020
- Children’s ScreenTime Action Network, Professionals and Parents, “Is it Video Game Addiction or Not?“, Webinar, June 22, 2020
- Parent Engagement Network, Boulder, CO, Stress and Anxiety Symposium, Community Event, “Growing up Wired = Growing up Anxious?”, January 25, 2020
- Boulder Library Talk, Sponsored by Colorado Recovery & Open Sky Wilderness Program, Professionals, Boulder, CO, “An Introduction to Digital Media Overuse & Treatment,” November 19, 2019
- Temple Grandin School, Parents, Students and Teachers, “Digital Media Overuse”, Boulder, CO, November 4, 2019
- Fire Mountain Residential Program, Lyons, CO, Adolescents and Families, Milieu and Clinical Staff, “What is Digital Media Overuse?”, October 2, 2019
- Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee, Boulder, CO, CFI/PRE’s, Attorneys, and Therapists who work with divorced families, “Internet Issues and Parenting Plans: What CFIs, Attorneys and Mental Health Providers Need to Know about Digital Media Overuse,” May 1, 2019
Media Appearances
Podcasts & Radio
- LA Radio Network, Every Voice Matters with Doré Frances, Episode, “Digital Media Overuse”, Oct 14, 2021
- ScreenStrong Families Podcast, Episode, “Helping Your Children Avoid Screen Addiction“, April 6, 2021
- Recover Yourself Podcast, Episode, “Persuasive Design: The Trojan Horse in the Hands of Children,” Nov 10, 2020
- Which Way Podcast, “Living in a Digital World; Are We Connected or ADDICTED?”, Episode, July 19, 2019
- KGNU Radio, A Public Affair, Episode, “Screen Time in Schools,” April 20, 2017
Television
- A&E Network, Pilot Episode, “Digital Addiction,” September 6, 2019
- CGTN America, Interview with Hendrik Sybrandy, “Therapists report an increase in cases of Internet Addiction,” News Report, March 13, 2019
Professional Experience
- September 2022 – March 2023, APA Academic Journal: Technology, Mind, and Behavior (TMB) , Editorial Board Member for Special Issue, “Behavioral Addiction to Technology“, Volume 5, Issue 4
- January 2015 – Present, Digital Media Treatment & Education Center (DTEC®), Boulder, CO – Founder, Owner & Co-Director
- September 2008 -Present, Collegiate Coaching Services®, Boulder, CO, Founder, Owner & Clinical Director
- January 2020 – Present, Strive Psychotherapy, Boulder, CO, Founder, Owner, Co-Director
- September 2009 – April 2012, Insight Intensive at Gold Lake, Ward, CO, Clinical Consultant
- January 2004 – September 2008, Markle Solutions, Boulder, CO – Individual, Couple and Family Psychotherapist in Private Practice
