Dear W--
Thanks for getting back to me. I do have office hours in North San Diego County (Poway) 3 days a week: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I have the Saturday hours because I know how hard it is for some people to have to take off work to see a doctor---and because I don't have evening hours right now.
You mentioned you have been in treatment for other issues. That makes sense since "escape-relief" gamblers, like yourself, who favor the machines are at a high probability of having an affective disorder. Research shows that 70% or more of escape gamblers suffer from major depressive disorder or are bipolar. You may be gambling to "self-medicate" your depression. Also, escape gamblers lose control especially because of unresolved underlying issues. For example: incidence of separation and divorce, loss of a family member or friend, loss of a job, or relationship issues, etc. Of course, it could be as simple as boredom. There is something that "drives" you to escape into the casino to "avoid" dealing with whatever is really bothering you. The gambling sets-up a "smoke screen" of sorts so the real problem doesn't get dealt with.
W, good for you for giving up the credit cards---one big pain you can live without. You made a large decision to do that---and demonstrated control--to keep it!
As far as face-to-face therapy versus online---I tend to agree with you. The added therapeutic input from visual cues cannot be denied, especially from a therapist's viewpoint. It is one of the major drawbacks of online treatment. However, there are a lot of gamblers out there who live nowhere near a credentialed and competent gambling counselor. Or even a gambling treatment program. Some of my patients drive from as far away as Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Palm Springs and Temecula to my Poway office. It takes strong motivation for a better life and to defeat gambling to make those long drives.
Basically, the online treatment program was developed for gamblers outside the San Diego driving area like Sacramento, Fresno and San Francisco. They have no treatment programs or certified gambling counselors in their area. Their only option is GA--and research shows that GA is not as effective because it isn't "treatment" per se--but it complements treatment. Others with gambling problems are Seniors who don't drive---you know, here in San Diego County where we have 10 Indian casinos (the most in any county in the US), the casinos have daily bus service that actually goes to retirement communities early in the morning, picks up the Seniors, gives them a coupon for lunch, transports them to the casino and takes them home in the evening so they don't have to drive! Certainly it contributes to the fact that Seniors have the highest gambling rate of any other age group.
OK, now W---let's do it! 1-866-40-NOBET or in San Diego 619-806-7453.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Dear Anonymous:
I know it's a terrible feeling to feel at the mercy of this disorder. It's like being on a rolling-coaster nightmare, isn't it? Somehow, you got to catch hold and get treatment. I doubt that you "never have any money"---and if you can stay out of the casino for even a week, that would pay for a treatment session. If you have insurance, that could be a bonus. As a provider, I accept some health insurance--which covers treatment.Online at SDCPG it only costs $60.00 a session---and it can be put on your credit card via Pay Pal. That's cheaper than some people pay to get their hair cut, nails done, or spend on dinner and a movie----or buy a couple cartons of cigarettes. And--you don't have to pay for gas or travel to the Poway office (end of advertisement :)
It is important that when looking for a therapist who is a gambling counselor you have to be careful what you get. You need to check credentials. There are a lot of drug and alcohol counselors who think they can treat gamblers when in reality they are practicing outside their training and credentials. This can be devastating to your getting better. Comparing the treatment of gambling and drug/alcohol is like comparing apples and watermelon! Beware of so-called "interns" who are "in-training" to become counselors. Some of these "beginners" charge outrageously low fees to attract gamblers like you because they know you have no funds and cannot afford to be picky. Do you really want to get "treatment" from someone who is "practicing" on you and may not be supervised---or worse yet, doesn't even have a college degree? I don't think so! If you needed open heart surgery would you want an intern to perform it? Get my point?
You know that the whole idea behind gambling is to get something for nothing---when what you end up with is nothing for something. There is no "free" anything--including your "comps" from the casino which you paid 2-3 times for through your losses. There's always a catch, or fine print. If it looks or sounds too good to be true---it usually is. If you pay $10-$15 for gambling treatment--you get what you pay for.
Research shows that when people pay for their therapy, they take ownership of it---therapy becomes more meaningful: they work harder to achieve their goals----and keep appointments.
So, before you get your "stimulus check" or bonus or whatever, stop doing the gambling thing of procrastination (yes, it is "dry gambling!") and living your life according to the "gambler's fallacy"---"If I gamble long enough I will win it back"--and find a good treatment program with certified mental professionals who have at the very least a master's degree. Gambling is a complex disorder that requires education and training to treat it effectively.
Get off the roller-coaster! You can do it---I see gamblers do it every day in my practice. Defeat this thing---get some help for yourself. And, I don't mean GA, which is great, but it is not treatment.You don't need to stop gambling before you go to treatment---you have a pathological gambling problem---you cannot stop without help.
Let me know how you do---I have the faith that you can begin the journey of recovery--if you want it bad enough. It's not easy, but escape-relief gamblers like yourself have an excellent prognosis.
Love yourself enough to take that first step.
I know it's a terrible feeling to feel at the mercy of this disorder. It's like being on a rolling-coaster nightmare, isn't it? Somehow, you got to catch hold and get treatment. I doubt that you "never have any money"---and if you can stay out of the casino for even a week, that would pay for a treatment session. If you have insurance, that could be a bonus. As a provider, I accept some health insurance--which covers treatment.Online at SDCPG it only costs $60.00 a session---and it can be put on your credit card via Pay Pal. That's cheaper than some people pay to get their hair cut, nails done, or spend on dinner and a movie----or buy a couple cartons of cigarettes. And--you don't have to pay for gas or travel to the Poway office (end of advertisement :)
It is important that when looking for a therapist who is a gambling counselor you have to be careful what you get. You need to check credentials. There are a lot of drug and alcohol counselors who think they can treat gamblers when in reality they are practicing outside their training and credentials. This can be devastating to your getting better. Comparing the treatment of gambling and drug/alcohol is like comparing apples and watermelon! Beware of so-called "interns" who are "in-training" to become counselors. Some of these "beginners" charge outrageously low fees to attract gamblers like you because they know you have no funds and cannot afford to be picky. Do you really want to get "treatment" from someone who is "practicing" on you and may not be supervised---or worse yet, doesn't even have a college degree? I don't think so! If you needed open heart surgery would you want an intern to perform it? Get my point?
You know that the whole idea behind gambling is to get something for nothing---when what you end up with is nothing for something. There is no "free" anything--including your "comps" from the casino which you paid 2-3 times for through your losses. There's always a catch, or fine print. If it looks or sounds too good to be true---it usually is. If you pay $10-$15 for gambling treatment--you get what you pay for.
Research shows that when people pay for their therapy, they take ownership of it---therapy becomes more meaningful: they work harder to achieve their goals----and keep appointments.
So, before you get your "stimulus check" or bonus or whatever, stop doing the gambling thing of procrastination (yes, it is "dry gambling!") and living your life according to the "gambler's fallacy"---"If I gamble long enough I will win it back"--and find a good treatment program with certified mental professionals who have at the very least a master's degree. Gambling is a complex disorder that requires education and training to treat it effectively.
Get off the roller-coaster! You can do it---I see gamblers do it every day in my practice. Defeat this thing---get some help for yourself. And, I don't mean GA, which is great, but it is not treatment.You don't need to stop gambling before you go to treatment---you have a pathological gambling problem---you cannot stop without help.
Let me know how you do---I have the faith that you can begin the journey of recovery--if you want it bad enough. It's not easy, but escape-relief gamblers like yourself have an excellent prognosis.
Love yourself enough to take that first step.
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