Five Steps to Stop Problem Gambling

Video and story by Sedondra Ellis, Insight News reporter

The Gambling Clinic on the University of Memphis campus is designed to assist problem and pathological gamblers throughout West Tennessee. The clinic program promotes self- change and motivational approaches to assist problem gamblers.

The treatment consists of just five phases that accentuate the pros and cons of change along with alternate behaviors.

The treatment also exploits personalized feedback about the addictive behavior and encourages the client to make choices about treatment goals in order to better fit treatment to the individual’s expectations and willingness to change. 



Phase 1: Running Start Assessment
Dr. Jim Whelan, co-director of The Gambling Clinci, describes the first phase of treatment

·     In Phase one this session is used to become familiar with the client, learn what kind of gambling habits they have come accustom to. 
·     In this session the client is asked to jot down his gambling routines.
·     How much do they spend? How much did they intend to spend? How long does the client usually spend gambling? What is the most spent at once and what's the least amount spent?  

All questions asked are a part of the brief decisional balance exercise, use to understand where the clients are.

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Phase 2: Motivation & Feedback  
Dr. Jim Whelan, Co- Director of The Gambling Clinic, describes the second phase of treatment

 

·   In phase two all, the imformation collected from phase one will be use in many ways as feedback to the client. 
·   In this session, the client will learn how much time and money she has risked over the course of a year. By seeing it, this will hopefully bring a motivational change within the client. This session is also intended to help patients recognize the attributes of gambling that are valued and would likely be missed when removed.

Phase 3: Functional Analysis of Gambling
Jim Whelan, director of The Gambling Clinic, describes the third phase of treatment

·      Phase three is used to discuss what triggers gambling and the consequences behind it.
·      The client briefly describes daily complications that may triggers gambling or problem that he may face

Phase 4: Implementation of Alternative Behaviors
Jim Whelan, co- director of The Gambling Clinic, describes the fourth phase of treatment

·     Phase four is used to discuss alternate routes, giving the client the option to find other hobbies other than gambling.
·      This session is intended to offer more interactions that are positive.
·      The question clients should be asking  themselves is: What can I do beside gambling, that will make me happy?

Phase 5: Relapse Prevention 
Jim Whelan, co- director of The Gambling Clinic, describes the fifth phase of treatment  

·      Phase five is use to prepare the client for the “what if” 
What happens when I gamble?

·      This session is intended to develop personal strengths and resources to resolve gambling complexities.

 

The Gambling Clinic located on the University of Memphis campus in Memphis, Tennessee.

 
Materials adapted with permission from: 

Whelan, J. P., Steenberg, T. A., Meyers, A. W. (2007). Problem and Pathological    

Gambling. Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe & Huber.




 

 

 

The Gambling Clinic can be reached at (901)-678-STOP and accessed online at www.thegamblingclinic.memphis.edu