Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns: she/her) is an associate professor of graduate social work at Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro Campus. She is an international trainer and speaker and has presented clinical courses to helping professionals all over the world. Dr. Diez-Morel has collaborated on and authored numerous scientific studies, presentations and journal articles, as well as appeared in international media on a variety of radio, podcasts, and news outlets to discuss the topics of addictions, gaming disorder and other behavioral health concerns. In 2013, Dr. Diez-Morel founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding solutions for a balanced living in a technology driven world. She established education, prevention, treatment, and research on gaming disorder and other problematic technology-based behaviors for children, youth, adults, and families.

Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship offered through the Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a C-SALUD Student Scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellow, Dr. Diez-Morel’s research contributed to the reduction and prevention of health disparities affecting youth and families in the United States. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Dr. Diez-Morel has worked within nonprofit community organizations and in community hospitals providing direct clinical services to children, families, and adults experiencing addiction. In addition, she has provided clinical training, education and consultation to address addictions among various communities including medical professionals, counselors, healthcare workers, educators, caregivers, and school aged children.

Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various roles at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels in an effort to enhance the field. She was elected to be the NASW-PA NW Division Chair and Executive Committee member-at-large where she serves the profession by supporting the development of social workers and other helping professionals within the state of Pennsylvania. Dr. Diez-Morel was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to serve as a Commissioner on the Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health in the state of Pennsylvania where she works for the advancement of mental health services at the state level.

Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various roles at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels in an effort to enhance the field. Dr. Diez-Morel also works to expand the national and international standards of practice for counselors and all helping professionals in her roles as the vice president of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) as she is leading the development of the world’s first International Gaming Disorder Certification for helping professionals. In addition, Dr. Diez-Morel is also the colead for the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Gaming Disorder Taskforce where she coordinates an interdisciplinary group of international experts in Gaming Disorder on proposing up to date criteria for the diagnosis of Gaming Disorder in the DSM. Dr. DiezMorel offers consultation for the digital health wellness company DigiPanion and the telehealth company Kindbridge.

Dr. Diez-Morel continues her clinical practice as she is dually licensed in the states of Florida and Pennsylvania. Her clinical practice areas include: behavioral addictions, substance use disorders, behavioral health, co-occurring disorders, and mental health. Her research interests center on the intersections between technology use behaviors, health, and wellness among adolescents and adults.

Dr. Diez-Morel’s research can be accessed via her ResearchGate Profile and Google Scholar Profile.