Lori G, LPC
Therapy
Understanding Problem Gambling
Gambling can be a form of entertainment, but for some people it can gradually become difficult to control.
Problem gambling may affect finances, relationships, work, emotional well-being, and daily responsibilities. It can also create cycles of secrecy, guilt, chasing losses, and repeated attempts to stop or cut back.
Like other behavioral addictions, problem gambling is not simply about making “bad choices.” Gambling activates reward and reinforcement systems in the brain, and patterns can become increasingly difficult to interrupt over time.
Signs Gambling May Be
Becoming a Problem
Gambling concerns can look different from person to person. Some common signs may include:
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Gambling more often or spending more money than intended
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Increasing the amount wagered to create the same level of excitement
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Trying unsuccessfully to cut back or stop
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Thinking about gambling frequently
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Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, or other difficult emotions
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Chasing losses in an attempt to win money back
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Borrowing money or using money intended for other expenses
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Hiding or minimizing gambling from family or friends
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Experiencing relationship, work, or financial consequences
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Feeling restless, irritable, or distressed when trying to reduce gambling
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Returning to gambling after periods of stopping
A person does not need to experience every one of these concerns for gambling to deserve attention.
Gambling Can Take Many Forms
Problem gambling is not limited to casinos.
Gambling behaviors may involve sports betting, online betting, casino games, slot machines, lottery tickets, scratch-offs, poker, fantasy sports, or other activities where money or something of value is placed at risk.
Online access has also made gambling easier to engage in privately and more frequently, sometimes making it harder to recognize when the pattern has begun to change.
Why It Can Be So Difficult to Stop
Gambling can create powerful cycles of anticipation, excitement, loss, and the hope of winning.
After a loss, a person may feel pressure to keep gambling in order to “get even.” After a win, the excitement may reinforce continued gambling.
Over time, gambling may also become connected to emotional coping. It can provide temporary distraction from stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship problems, or other concerns.
Understanding the role gambling serves can be an important part of changing the behavior.
Recovery Looks
Different for Everyone
There is no single path to recovery from problem gambling
.For some people, recovery may mean completely stopping gambling. For others, the first steps may involve acknowledging the impact gambling is having, limiting access to money or gambling platforms, identifying triggers, or building additional support.
Recovery often involves more than simply stopping the behavior. It may also include rebuilding trust, addressing financial consequences, developing new coping strategies, and learning how to manage urges without returning to gambling.
Gambling & Mental Health
Problem gambling often overlaps with other emotional or behavioral health concerns.
Anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, substance use, chronic stress, and relationship difficulties may contribute to gambling or become more difficult to manage because of it.
Therapy can help look at the whole picture rather than focusing only on the gambling behavior itself.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy for problem gambling may include work around:
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Understanding gambling patterns and triggers
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Identifying high-risk situations
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Managing urges and cravings
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Developing strategies to interrupt impulsive decisions
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Challenging thoughts related to winning, losses, or “getting even”
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Addressing shame and secrecy
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Improving communication and relationships
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Rebuilding trust
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Developing healthier ways to cope with stress or difficult emotions
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Addressing co-occurring mental health or substance use concerns
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Creating boundaries around money and access to gambling
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Developing a recovery and relapse-prevention plan
What Therapy With Me
May Look Like
My approach is person-centered, collaborative, and nonjudgmental.
Gambling can carry a great deal of shame, especially when finances or relationships have been affected. Shame can make it harder to ask for help, so therapy should provide a space where concerns can be discussed honestly without being reduced to mistakes or consequences.
Depending on your needs, I may incorporate Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy,
psychoeducation, relapse-prevention strategies, and strengths-based approaches.
We may also look at what gambling has been providing emotionally, what situations increase urges, and what needs to change to make recovery more sustainable.
The goal is not simply to tell you to stop gambling. It is to understand the pattern, build practical strategies for change, and help you move toward a life that feels more stable and aligned with what matters to you
Support for
Families & Relationships
Problem gambling often affects more than the person who is gambling.
Partners and family members may experience worry, anger, mistrust, financial stress, confusion, or uncertainty about how to help.
Therapy may also include support around communication, boundaries, education about gambling behaviors, rebuilding trust, and helping family members identify what they need for their own well-being.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to schedule therapy?
Visit Healthstead Psychiatry for scheduling, availability, and insurance information.
Not sure yet?
Contact me for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to see whether we may be a good fit.