Compulsive Gambling - Treatment and Recovery

Compulsive gambling is a treatable disease and there are many facilities available to help those with gambling problems. For most individuals with a serious gambling problem, recovery can be found in Gamblers Anonymous which has helped tens of thousands of men and women maintain abstinence from gambling through working the 12 steps of this self-help recovery program.

Quite apart from these emotional and personal issues, there is the inevitable financial devastation that has to be assessed, confronted and dealt with. While it is the sole responsibility of the compulsive gambler to make good on gambling debts and other financial results of the gambler's misbehaviour, it is naive to think that family and business colleagues will be insulated from these problems.

Families will have to find the money for mortgage payments, car payments, food and insurance, telephone and transportation. Often, law partners will have to find money to replenish trust funds in order to save the firm from professional misconduct hearings, law suits and loss of reputation.

There are community resources that include gambling toll-free hotlines, education and awareness programs, professional training, assistance and development of referral resources and distribution of literature, as well as counselling, outreach programs and speakers' bureaus.

Your Lawyer Assistance Program has access to trained experts who can assist in the identification of problems, the assessment of those problems and the development of a treatment strategy that can really work. Peer Volunteers who are available through your Lawyer Assistance Programs are an invaluable resource and perhaps the single most effective tool in bringing a gambling addicted lawyer, judge or law student to treatment.

What Does A Treatment Facility Look Like?

Excellent treatment facilities have been developed in Canada and the United States over the last 40 years. One of the leading Institutions in Canada is Bellwood Health Services Inc., building upon the treatment methods and philosophies developed by Dr. Gordon Bell over the past 50 years. In more recent times, many addiction treatment facilities have developed expertise and programs to deal with problem and pathological gambling. Bellwood is no exception and has become a world leader in providing treatment for problem gamblers and pathological gamblers.

Bellwood's abstinence based Problem Gambling Treatment Program is available on a residential or day patient basis.

The length of the intensive phase of a program is determined individually, following a careful assessment of individual client needs. The length of the treatment varies from 30 to 60 days and the longer program customarily is recommended for clients with co-morbidity or dual diagnosis addictions or trauma issues.

The initial intensive phase of the Bellwood Problem Gambling Treatment Program follows the assessment process. All clients attend this core program which includes group therapy, nutritional counselling, physical exercise, drama therapy, alcohol and other drug education, physician lectures, meditation and relaxation techniques, and addictions education. Specific Problem Gambling Program Sessions are held on a daily basis and are specific to gambling issues. The Problem Gambling Program starts with Step One of the Twelve Step Recovery Program of Gamblers Anonymous. In addition, clients work with budgeting and financial, issues including the emotional meaning of money. Clients learn to focus on honesty and identifying their true thoughts, feelings and behaviours as they are connected to gambling. Clients look at how these behaviours have permeated their lives, their families and their careers.

Group and individual discussions are essential to success. Group therapy provides private group interaction, identification, sharing and understanding. Newcomers hear stories of compulsive gambling and its negative impact from others and come to recognize their own problems. Individual therapy allows for total safety and privacy.

Excellent specific videos are provided and written exercise materials made available to provide the opportunity for the client to examine their own beliefs, lifestyle and previous choices while focusing on making fresh choices for a future in recovery.

An important part of gambling recovery is the Family Program for those who have been closely connected with the problem gambler.

Following completion of the residential or day patient treatment, continuing care is available for up to five years, or even longer. Clients can participate in weekly support groups which are held at the Bellwood Hospital. Clients at greater distances are encouraged to return for two day refresher mini-programs held at scheduled times throughout the year.

Bellwood also has a 24 hour toll-free telephone support and all clients are assigned their own recovery counsellor to monitor their aftercare needs.

In many cases, work place support is encouraged. Telephone support and a two-hour educational seminar, as well as three-way conference calls (client, employer, Bellwood) are made available where appropriate. In all cases, special arrangements can be made to meet the needs of each individual client.

Bellwood's approach to addiction recovery includes overall health and wellness through treatment, consultation, education and research. It is a holistic approach built on the disease concept of addiction and the spirituality model of recovery.

In addition to Bellwood, there are many fine recovery institutions across Canada and the United States. Your Lawyer Assistance Program can help you to find the right one in your area.