There are many reasons why people with gambling problems don’t get help. Recent Ontario research has revealed that many people in need of help are unaware that specialized problem gambling counselling services are available. Other people initially refuse help because they are ambivalent about giving up their gambling, fear what may happen in counselling or are afraid of being stigmatized. Still others have not made the connection between their current difficulties and their gambling behaviour.

As a helping professional, you can address these concerns and provide accurate information about what happens in problem gambling counselling and what services are available.

Normally, clients are encouraged to contact the problem gambling counselling agency themselves. Their motivation to seek help will waver, however, so take any opportunity to link clients to services. You may want to help clients make appointments from your office or provide them with print materials they can take home.

Where to Find Help

There are specialized problem gambling services available in most communities across Ontario. Every effort is made to respond to calls within 24 hours and most people can be seen within days. Finding out about available specialized and community resources is easy by contacting the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline, a free, confidential and anonymous service open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service provides information about and referrals to problem gambling counselling services, telephone-counselling services and mutual aid organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon.

Help for a problem with gambling is available:

• free of charge and close to home;
• to anyone affected by problem gambling—not just the person who gambles;
• confidentially;
• individually, in groups and through couple and family counselling;
• by telephone in some areas; and
• in residential treatment programs.

Clients who are actively involved in counselling report that it has helped them identify their gambling triggers, restore balance and made them feel better equipped to deal with life.

Problem Gambling Counselling Approaches

Problem gambling counsellors will not make the client stop gambling. Only the client can make that choice. Instead, counsellors support clients as they explore issues they see as priorities. The client may be ready to focus on gambling or may be more motivated to address concerns related to finances, work and family relationships first. Counsellors may also help clients identify new options and provide feedback as to whether goals are reasonable and achievable.

By focussing on clients’ identified concerns, strengths and solutions— and by helping them set short-term, achievable goals—counsellors inspire hope and a sense that change is possible. When ambivalence is high, a brief solution-focussed approach may be most effective in increasing awareness, building trust and engaging the client in a therapeutic relationship.

Harm reduction is a common counselling approach. Counsellors help clients assess their gambling and reduce the negative impact it is having on their lives. This is a method of reaching clients who are at all stages of change, and it respects clients’ right to choose their own goals. Some people who gamble choose to set time and money limits, or to stay away from gambling activities that cause them the most harm. Others decide that the only solution to their problem is abstinence and stop gambling completely.

Using motivational interviewing, problem gambling counsellors provide accurate information, advice and support that helps clients assess the harm gambling is causing and decide what is right for them. Problem gambling counsellors will often encourage clients to take a break from gambling in order to assess its impact and gain control.

Problem gambling counsellors can help clients:

Gain Control over Gambling

Using cognitive and behavioural techniques, clients learn to control gambling triggers, patterns and urges and to plan ways to stay in control of their gambling. Counsellors may help clients identify faulty beliefs about gambling, such as the role of skill, the odds of winning, randomness and their ability to influence outcomes. Counselling helps clients uncover and explain those faulty beliefs in a way that helps them understand their urge to gamble and gain life-long control.

Some of the common faulty beliefs about money that may be addressed in counselling include:

• money lost through gambling is not “lost” and, with time, it will be won back;
• gambling is a good “investment” and persistence will eventually pay off;
• gambling is a quick and easy way to “earn” money;
• if you gamble enough, you will eventually win;
• past gambling losses indicate that a win is due;
• debts can only be paid off as a lump sum.

Counsellors can help clients understand that once money is lost, it is lost, that future gambling is not affected by past gambling, that the more they gamble, the more they are likely to lose and that debts can be paid off in stages.

Deal with Feelings

Some people use gambling to cope with abuse, sickness, loss or caregiver burden, or to avoid difficult feelings such as depression, anger or anxiety. Counselling helps clients understand and cope with those challenges in other ways. Learning to identify feelings and accept them as normal and healthy can help to reduce the urge to gamble, restore intimacy, health and a sense of well-being.

Address Health Problems

Clients may also be struggling with other serious health problems including problems with alcohol or other drugs, physical illness and emotional or mental health concerns. Problem gambling counsellors can help link clients and families to the services they need.

Heal Family Relationships

Through individual, couple or family counselling, counsellors help the family understand what has happened and explore ways to restore trust within the family or to deal with the impact of separation.

Find Balance

Gambling problems often result in the loss of overall balance in life. Counselling can help the person who gambles and his or her family return to normal routines and replace gambling with healthier and more rewarding lifestyle choices.

Prevent Relapse

Relapse is often part of the recovery process and can help reinforce the client’s need to manage his or her gambling. Counselling can help the client identify his or her unique patterns and triggers and plan ways to reduce risk and increase control.