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 psychotherapy 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.

Can I see what it looks like?
Click here to see a brief youTube demonstration

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?
This depends on demand. Currently, DGT is being offered to pilot patients as individual therapy delivered by Dr. Sussman on site. If you are interested in group or day camp programs, please contact Dr. Sussman to get on his waitlist. Once there is enough to have appropriate sized groups, pilot study programs may be offered at discounted rates.

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.

What will the billing situation be?
New patients who are not already patients of Dr. Sussman will undergo an initial psychiatric evaluation at the regular out of network rate, which you can obtain by emailing Dr. Sussman.  However, if DGT treatment is recommended, promotional discounted pricing is available for DGT session pilot patients. DGT sessions are also billed out of network, but you will be provided with all needed codes for insurance.

How do I sign up my kid?
Please email Dr. Sussman at cliffordsussmanmd@gmail.com to receive instructions for next steps. Upon request a free tour and equipment demo can be arranged.

 

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