According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and other recent studies, people with gambling addiction issues are at a higher risk for comorbidity and co-occurrence problems. That means that they often present more than one type of psychological problem such as depression or anxiety in addition to their compulsive behavior.
Gambling is very addictive and you need to get a professional who can help you through the journey. It is a stressful experience more so if you keep losing every bet. But how can writing therapists help ?
Comorbidity is also known as “co-occurrence” or having more than one diagnosis
People with gambling addiction problems may need to see a therapist who specialises in writing therapy services, alongside working on their psychological issues, including depression and anxiety. They can be referred to any of the following therapists Specialising in this type of treatment:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a specialisation in gambling addiction issues. They provide writing therapies, such as expressive writing and other creative techniques to help people explore their emotions through written words on paper or typing on a keyboard. People who have anxiety disorders may find it difficult to express themselves orally or in person. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) specialising in writing therapies and gambling addiction issues can help people explore their emotions through expressive writing or other creative techniques, including poetry, drawing, etc. LPCs have at least two years of graduate training beyond the master’s degree level, including coursework on psychopathology, human development, and counselling theories. Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) specialising in gambling addiction issues can provide people suffering from this type of compulsive behaviour access to additional resources within their community such as Gamblers Anonymous meetings or 12 step programs. The CAC has two years of training beyond the high school level and has passed a national certification exam.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) specialising in gambling addiction issues can help people explore their emotions through expressive writing or other types of creative techniques, including poetry, drawing, etc. LPCs have at least two years of graduate training beyond the master’s degree level, including coursework on psychopathology, human development, and counselling theories. Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) specialising in gambling addiction issues can provide people suffering from this type of compulsive behaviour access to additional resources within their community such as Gamblers Anonymous meetings or 12 step programs. The CAC has two years of training beyond the high school level and has passed a national certification exam.
Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) specialising in gambling addiction issues can provide people suffering from this type of compulsive behaviour access to additional resources within their community such as Gamblers Anonymous meetings or 12 step programs. The CAP offers services that are best suited for individuals, couples, families & groups. The CAP has two years of training beyond the high school level and has passed a national certification exam.
How they help
You may be wondering how writing therapists help people with gambling addiction issues, whether they could make a difference. The answer is “yes”, and here are some ways to look at it. Writing therapy sessions always begin the same way: asking clients what their main concerns are to understand which direction to take with their writing. Next, we brainstorm potential solutions to their problems and find the best way of communicating them on paper. The client will receive a piece of advice from us to better understand what is going through their head when it comes to gambling addiction issues. We have many clients who come in because they want us to help them figure out why they gamble and how it makes them feel. We always tell our clients that this is not the right approach because there are many underlying reasons for gambling addiction.
We ask our clients if they think their behaviour would be different had writing therapy been available in the past before any of these problems started. Our clients always answer that it would have made a big difference.
Next, we ask our clients what is stopping them from starting to use writing therapy sessions as soon as possible so they can overcome their gambling addiction issues once and for all. They tell us that there are many reasons why they aren’t using writing therapy, but the main one is that they’re afraid of it.
The best way to help clients overcome their fear and start using writing therapy sessions as soon as possible, we tell them, is by guiding them through the process step-by-step so there are no surprises along the way. For example: first, you write down your feelings about gambling addiction issues, then you write down how to solve them.
Most clients are afraid of writing therapy sessions because they have no idea what will happen during the process and that there is a chance that their feelings won’t remain private (which is not true). We assure them that everything stays between us, and we will never share any client information with anyone.
The essential part of any writing therapy session is the end because that’s when we tell our clients how much they have improved throughout their time with us, and it usually makes them want to come back for more!
Gambling addiction is on the rise in Australia
Gambling addiction has become an increasing problem. The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that nearly two million Americans are addicted to gambling, with another ten million engaging in problematic behaviour due to their compulsion for betting and risk-taking. Those who have a close friend or family member struggling with these issues may come across the term “gambler’s fallacy” often.
Find a good source of Australia’s gambling help resources: https://aucasinoonline.com/responsible-gambling/
Gambling addiction has become an increasing problem that affects two million Americans. -The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that nearly ten million more people are engaging in problematic behaviour due to their compulsion for betting and risk-taking. -Those who have a close friend or family member struggling with these issues may come across the term “gambler’s fallacy” often.
Conclusion
When a person has an addiction, it’s not just their body that is negatively affected by the substance or activity. Their minds and spirits are severely damaged as they continue engaging in addictive behaviours despite negative consequences on their health, finances, relationships with family members and friends. If you believe someone you love may be suffering from gambling addiction issues, it is vital to seek help from a professional. A therapist can provide the support and guidance needed for someone struggling with addiction issues to overcome them and start on the path toward healing.