Stages of Change

Some people seeking help respond quickly when a concern is identified, while others resist. If you suggest that a client go for problem gambling counselling when they have not yet identified that their problems may be related to gambling, you will probably meet with resistance. You may even discourage the client from continuing to work with you. Your influence will be greater if you understand and match your support to the client’s stage of change.

Pre-contemplation

The person is not considering change and does not recognize the need for change. “Yes I gamble and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.” Helping professionals can give clients feedback on the impact that gambling is having on their life. Encourage clients to reflect on why others may think there is a problem. Invite clients to use the Gambling Monitoring Tool provided in the Client Handout section to help track gambling and the Canadian Problem Gambling Index to enhance awareness. If clients don’t respond, let them know that you can discuss the matter in the future.

Contemplation

The person is considering change and may be ready to commit to change. “Yes, I’ve thought about staying away from the casino, but I’m due for a big win.” Helping professionals can help clients weigh the positive and negative aspects of continuing to gamble. When clients begin to deal with the reality of their problems, they may begin to link gambling to their current problems and consider changing their behaviour. The Gambling Monitoring Tool and the Canadian Problem Gambling Index may be useful here. Provide information about problem gambling counselling services, and safer gambling. Discuss perceived barriers to accessing these services. Help clients explore possible solutions to the problems they’ve identified.

Action

The person is ready to commit to change. “Who can I call for help?” Helping professionals can link clients to appropriate problem gambling support. Several programs are available:

Problem gambling counselling services are available throughout the province. The Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline can provide the phone number of the service in your community. These services are funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. They offer individual, couple, family and group counselling to people with gambling problems. They will also provide counselling to family members on their own.
The Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline can also link clients to the Tele-Counselling Treatment Services that have been developed to increase availability of counselling services. The program is suitable for people who are unable to access a local service for reasons such as distance, a disability, concerns about privacy, financial limitations, full-time work obligations or childcare needs. Clients receive six weekly telephone sessions with a counsellor experienced in gambling treatment.
Residential programs for people more severely affected by problem gambling are also available. The local problem gambling counselling service can provide the client with more information about this treatment option and will refer when appropriate.
Gambler’s Anonymous is available in many communities. Based on Alcoholics Anonymous, ga uses a 12-step mutual-aid approach to recovery.
Gam-Anon is a 12-step, self-help program for the family members, friends and loved ones of people with gambling problems.
Gam-Block helps gamblers avoid online gambling by blocking access to Internet gambling sites.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation offers Self-Exclusion Programs at all casinos and slot machine facilities at racetracks. Only the person who gambles can take this step. The person will be removed from the marketing lists, and barred from entering casinos and slot machine facilities at racetracks. The program is not always successful in keeping people out of these facilities if they want to get in, but if they are caught trying to re-enter, trespassing charges may be laid. The fear of being charged does deter some people.
Many self-help books and websites are available.

When clients reach the “Action” stage, helping professionals should support their efforts and and commitment. Give them lots of praise and encouragement to move them to the next stage.

Maintenance

The person is adjusting to the change and learning and practicing new skills.

“I’m taking things one step at a time.”

Help the client come up with some strategies to maintain the change. Continue to praise the client’s efforts and progress. Acknowledge that slips happen. Encourage clients to develop relapse prevention skills.

At this point, clients may feel motivated to take on a second job as a way of quickly repairing the financial damage caused by their gambling. This can be helpful in demonstrating responsible behaviour, restoring trust and avoiding further borrowing; however, recovery from gambling also requires a restoration of balance within the person’s life. This includes striking a healthy balance between work, family and leisure pursuits and not just replacing gambling with work.

Relapse

The person has not maintained the change.

“I had an extra fifty bucks and I felt lucky.”

Work with clients to bring them back to maintenance stage. The client may be back at the first stage again.

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