Gambling Disorder: A Clinician's Guide to Screening, Assessment, & Treatment Options

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Kathleen Zamperini, LPC, CIMHP Related seminars and products

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Kathleen D. Zamperini, LPC, CIMHP has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a master’s degree in education with secondary guidance certification. Kathleen received a degree in holistic nutrition from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and is a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional. She has a passion for helping clients understand the role of nutrition in mental health. She has 30 years of counseling experience working with persons dealing with depression and anxiety, and was previously the director of counseling for a large social service agency in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kathleen Zamperini is a published author and receives royalties. Kathleen Zamperini receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kathleen Zamperini has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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Objectives

1. Assess warning signs and symptoms that indicate the development of problematic gambling.  
2. Evaluate intervention strategies and stages of recovery for gambling disorder.   
3. Distinguish when to refer to a Gambling Counselor and how to find professional resources in your area.  

Outline

Assessment and Screening 

• Top 5 red flags when gambling becomes problematic 
• DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder 
• Action gambler vs. Escape gambler 
• Risk factors: Genetics, co-occurring disorders, and predisposing events 
• Assessments and screenings  
  • Lie-Bet –2 simple questions you can add to your current assessment 
  • Gambler’s Anonymous twenty questions 
  • South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) 
  • G-BIRT – how to ask screening questions for the best results 
• The stages of problem gambling 
  • Winning/social, losing, desperation, hopelessness  
• Factors affecting progression 
  • Life stressors and internal factors 
  • Depression, general health, nutrition, and more 
    • Case study – 65-year-old female – gambling triggers/sugar 

Treatment and Intervention Strategies  

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 
• Self-esteem and self-care strategies, including nutrition 
• Grief counseling 
• Case study – 43 – year old male – unresolved grief 
• Self-exclusion  
• Financial problems are the symptom not the cause 
  • What is a ‘bail out” and how does it affect gambling problems? 
• Stages of recovery 
  • Critical stage 
  • Rebuilding stage 
  • Growth stage 

Clinical and Ethical Considerations 

• Education and awareness for clients 
• When to refer to a Gambling Counselor 
• The limitations of research studies 
• Additional resources  
  • Gamblers Anonymous 
  • GAM-ANON 
  • National Council on Problem Gambling 

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Physicians
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists
• Therapists
• Addiction Counselors
• Case Managers
• Nurses