Treating Problem Gamblers — and Their
Family Members continued from page 14
In addition , almost 40 percent reported feeling too overwhelmed by other things to seek support and help .”
Interestingly , family members of problem gamblers who do seek help look for three types of treatment : gambler-focused treatment , family-focused treatment , and a blended approach : “ how to support the gambler and how to deal with the negative impacts .” The authors of this study , which appeared in the Nov . 2019 issue of the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction , say that these findings “ suggest interventions need to able to accommodate both gambler-focused and family-focused approaches .” https :// bit . ly / 357yRqE
Research on problem gambling has increased over the past 10 years , leading to a rise in supportive resources for the problem gambler and their families , with simple internet searches leading to helpful information and publications for families of problem gamblers . Free , confidential helplines are available 24 / 7 . ( The National Problem Gambling Hotline is 1 – 800 – 522 – 4700 bit . ly / 3Lu7NkZ .)
Information is key . Problem gambling spins families ’ lives out of control , but with help and resources , recovery is possible and families can heal . But families are not likely to succeed on their own . Clinicians can provide support for the family members of problem gamblers to navigate their way back to health .
APPROACHES FOR TREATING FAMILY MEMBERS OF PROBLEM GAMBLERS
What can clinicians do to diagnose and treat the families of problem gamblers ? What techniques are recommended for this population ? What resources are available to guide us in successfully treating this demographic ?
Few family therapists have training in identifying , assessing , and treating problem gambling and its impact on the couple and family relationships . Research by Joseph W . Ciarrocchi , PhD , and Ann A . Hohmann , PhD , conceptualizes problem gambling as a family issue and encourage clinicians and researchers to
pay attention to the systemic antecedents and consequences of problem gambling on family relationships .
When treating this population , consider that research as far back as 1989 has found that problem gamblers ’ family environments are comparable to those of people with drinking problems , and also , individuals who suffer from alcohol use disorder are more susceptible to develop a gambling disorder .
While Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors ( LCMHCs ) who have been treating the families of problem drinkers can use some of those same techniques with problem gamblers , the addictions differ in some basic ways . For example , one similarity is that medically assisted treatment can be effective for substance abuse as well as for gambling disorder . One difference is that gamblers can voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos through a formal agreement that remains in force for up to five years . Individuals with alcohol addiction cannot as easily self-exclude from businesses that sell or serve alcohol !
And though neither addiction to alcohol or gambling is easy to manage or recover from , “ Of all the various forms of addiction , gambling addiction has the highest rates of suicide . Studies have found that problem gamblers are 15 times more likely to take their own life than an average individual , and that one in five individuals with a gambling addiction attempt suicide , according to Lin Sternlicht , LMHC , and Aaron Sternlicht , LMHC , CASAC , both of Family Addiction Specialist ( bit . ly / 3JCIxre ).
Timothy Fong , MD , identifies several types of psychotherapy that are most effective for treating pathological gambling , including Group Therapy , such as Gambler ’ s Anonymous ; Cognitive Behavior Therapy , Psychodynamic Psychotherapy , and Family Therapy , which is helpful by “ providing support and education and eliminating enabling behaviors .”
A 2020 report by GREO , “ Effective Treatment and Support for Problem Gambling ” ( bit . ly / 3jwxoNS ), concludes that “ Evidence suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) is the most effective modality for treating problem gambling .” The report also evaluates the effectiveness of motivational interventions , remote and self-help interventions , helplines , treatment involving “ concerned significant others ,” residential treatment , pharcontinued on page 16
The Advocate Magazine 2022 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org 15