Gambling Dependence

Treating problem gambling can look different for different people. For example, if gambling is a coping mechanism for, say, depression or anxiety, then those need to be looked and treated. Your therapist will talk with you about your unique individual circumstances. In general, there are several therapies that have been effective in helping clients to overcome their problem gambling such as:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) One of the most commonly used treatment methods for addiction and problematic compulsive behaviours is cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviours and how they perceive themselves, others, and the world. CBT differs from other therapies because of its emphasis on the theory that how you perceive a problem or situation causes negative or dysfunctional emotions and/or behaviours. The goal of CBT in the context of a substance use disorder and/or problematic substance use issues is for the client to understand what drives their problematic behaviours and how these issues are related to other aspects of their lives. Once the client understands what thoughts and/or environmental factors lead to their problematic and/or compulsive behaviours, they are better equipped to succeed in the recovery process and prevent future relapse.

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• Emotionally Focused Therapy Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) may be used to treat problematic gambling, shopping, video games, eating disorders, and sex compulsions including pornography. Emotionally focused therapy is an empirically-based approach, which looks at emotions and emotional intelligence, which helps support stronger and more secure relationships by helping better understand how our problematic behaviours impact others, and how our emotions drive our interactions.

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• Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy may be used to treat smoking, problem gambling and certain food and eating issues. This therapeutic modality allows clients to travel deeper into the unconscious or subconscious to look at and work with issues and ideas perhaps inaccessible otherwise. It’s like guided daydreaming: a form of relaxed concentration. Insight's hypnotherapists in Edmonton are trained to induce a trance-like, altered state of consciousness in individuals by making suggestions and describing pleasant images on which to focus.

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• Behaviour Therapy ​ Behavioural therapy may be used to treat a wide range of problematic compulsive behaviours such as drug and/or alcohol use, food or eating issues, problematic gambling and gaming, pornography and sex related compulsions, relationship dependence, shopping compulsion and smoking. Behaviour Therapy includes the thinking processes, attitudes and values which typically impact an individual. Generally speaking, Behaviour Therapy tends to view human beings and behaviour with the assumption that humans are a product of their sociocultural conditioning and environment. In the context of addiction or a substance use disorder, behavioural therapy focuses on changing self-destructive or problematic behaviours through purposely and systematically applied concepts. Behavioural therapy also looks at your current problems and the factors influencing them. This therapeutic modality emphasizes noticeable and obvious behaviour changes more than your underlying unconscious processes.

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• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be used to treat drug or substance use issues and behavioural compulsions which may include shopping, gambling, video games, porn, sex and/or social media. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on being present in your life and dealing with your challenges rather than trying to eliminate the difficult or unpleasant thoughts or feelings related to them. This therapy will help you learn to open up and accept those feelings that lead to struggles with addiction, substance use issues or compulsive behaviours rather than trying to escape them or avoiding situations in which they may occur. Acceptance and commitment therapy will help the client hone in on their core values and align their thoughts and behaviours to them. The success of this therapy lies in the client feeling better, which then leads to a better understanding of their issues and the work it takes to successfully recover from their struggles with addiction.