Virtual Therapy South Carolina

Data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for South Carolina indicates that about 902,000 adults in the state have a diagnosed mental health condition. including anxiety, and depression. This number is more than 6-times the population of Charleston, the state’s most populated city. Of added concern, is that about 216,000 South Carolina adults have a serious mental illness, and that nearly one-in-six SC youth between the ages of 12-17 experience a major depressive episode each year. Unfortunately, approximately 2 million South Carolinians (36% of the population) live in a community without adequate access to mental health professionals. This data regarding limited access is in reference to general clinicians, with a potentially greater gap in connecting to clinicians who offer specialized counseling services – namely for those who arrived here after searching “technology addiction treatment. South Carolina residents struggling with impulsive behaviors relating to digital activities are encouraged to explore further below.

Using Technology to Overcome Tech Addictions

Technology addiction is one of the fastest growing threats to public health in The Palmetto State. Problematic behavior regarding engagement with digital activities (referred to as digital dependencies) has compromised the wellbeing of a significant proportion of population. These issues include the following:

• Problematic online gambling behavior: Online casino gaming and sports betting may be illegal in South Carolina, but data indicates a major concern with respect to problematic behavior in the state. More than 43% percent of young adult South Carolina sports bettors use an illegal bookie for most of their bets, while nearly 24% use an offshore website. These unregulated operators do not abide by Responsible Gaming mandates, do not enforce self-exclusion programs, and do not monitor for unhealthy usage among their player membership.
• Problematic use of pornography: National studies suggest that up to 7% of adult Americans meet the criteria for problematic use of pornography, which equates 301,000 adult residents in SC.
• Problematic online trading behavior: National studies suggest that 8% of investors meet the criteria for compulsivity regarding online trading. This issue is compounded by the arrival of the new “hybrid” form of online gambling and trading – known as prediction market trading which contains features that mirror sports betting.
• Unhealthy video gaming: National studies suggest around 3-5% of gamers experience issues with unhealthy gaming.
• Problematic online shopping behavior: Traditionally, reports have shown that SC consumers are actually less likely than the national average to shop online. However, the tide is changing as brick and mortar retail has been shutting down in the state. Entering 2026, retailers in South Carolina have reduced their footprint, with major closures hitting Big Lots (33+ locations), GameStop, and Value City. Other notable exits include Walgreens (Columbia), Party City, and various local businesses. Factors driving these closures include high inflation, shifting consumer behavior, and, in some cases, bankruptcy. Consequently, residents are expected to shift to e-commerce. Given that the state is experiencing an increase in online search for “technology addition treatment”, vulnerable South Carolinians must be mindful and ensure impulsivity for other digital activities is not also reflected in online shopping behavior.
• Dependencies on artificial intelligence: While more research needs to be done as the ubiquitous use of AI in daily life evolves, early indicators suggest that South Carolinians need to be more mindful of their dependency on AI.

As a virtual counseling platform, Kindbridge leverages technology to treat all of the above. Counseling specific to each issue is available to any South Carolina resident with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop (everyone). Click or call to connect right now.

Successfully Treating Cooccurring Issues

A number of mental health concerns cooccur with technology addictions. Whether you struggle with one or more of these as cooccurring (w/ problem tech use) issues or they are standalone concerns, we will help.

Anxiety	ADHD
Bipolar Disorder	Chronic Anger + Irritability
Depression	OCD
PTSD	Substance Use Disorder