Choosing a rehab for your gambling addiction: A few Considerations
When shopping for a treatment rehab center for your gambling addiction, you want want to consider a few significant factors
1) Does the program offer individual therapy?
In recent years, the literature and specifically, the HBO Special Presentation, Addiction, speak about the importance of treating addictive behaviors, as well as, the underlying issues helping to maintain the addiction. Many programs still only offer group therapy as their ONLY mode of therapy. You can gain skills from group therapy, there is no question, but the individual therapy offers another set of experiences that can assist you in a long lasting recovery! The gambler needs to engage in behavioral and cognitive treatments. The goal for any pathological gambling is abstinence. We attain abstinence through a deeper understanding of the core issues leading to gambling, develop new behaviors that avoid gambling scenarios (the people, places and things) associated with gambling. It is recommended that a rehab client see their individual therapist (a licensed therapist) at least three times per week during primary treatment.
2) Does the program offer an aftercare program?
Practically speaking, when you are investing the amount of time and money in a gambling treatment center, it is equally important that the program offers continuing contact after you leave them. An effective addiction counselor would be most interested how a client is doing once they are away from the protective environment of the rehab, back home in their day-to-day routine. Programs may offer different style programs, but there should be at least a one-year aftercare program offered.
3) Does the program offer attention to a dual diagnosis?
Most clients entering drug rehab or alcohol rehab have significant mental health issues. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal thoughts, rage, psychosis you need a program that can offer you the psychiatric attention that these conditions require. You can treat both conditions at the same time, with the possible exception of a psychotic episode. If you have any affective disorder, you should be able to be treated in a rehab while attending to your recovery needs.
4) Are there considerations that include multiple ways to recovery?
Some programs are strictly a 12-Step approach, other programs are strictly non 12-Step designed. You want to make sure that the "philosophical bias" of the program is not fixed and strict. You need to work with a professional addiction treatment team, and with them decide your way towards recovery. Be careful of programs that proselytize and push an agenda outside health. Don't waste your energy fighting it!These are just some considerations when shopping for a rehab and hoping for a good match for a most important and needed investment you are planning to make towards your future and your family's future.
1) Does the program offer individual therapy?
In recent years, the literature and specifically, the HBO Special Presentation, Addiction, speak about the importance of treating addictive behaviors, as well as, the underlying issues helping to maintain the addiction. Many programs still only offer group therapy as their ONLY mode of therapy. You can gain skills from group therapy, there is no question, but the individual therapy offers another set of experiences that can assist you in a long lasting recovery! The gambler needs to engage in behavioral and cognitive treatments. The goal for any pathological gambling is abstinence. We attain abstinence through a deeper understanding of the core issues leading to gambling, develop new behaviors that avoid gambling scenarios (the people, places and things) associated with gambling. It is recommended that a rehab client see their individual therapist (a licensed therapist) at least three times per week during primary treatment.
2) Does the program offer an aftercare program?
Practically speaking, when you are investing the amount of time and money in a gambling treatment center, it is equally important that the program offers continuing contact after you leave them. An effective addiction counselor would be most interested how a client is doing once they are away from the protective environment of the rehab, back home in their day-to-day routine. Programs may offer different style programs, but there should be at least a one-year aftercare program offered.
3) Does the program offer attention to a dual diagnosis?
Most clients entering drug rehab or alcohol rehab have significant mental health issues. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal thoughts, rage, psychosis you need a program that can offer you the psychiatric attention that these conditions require. You can treat both conditions at the same time, with the possible exception of a psychotic episode. If you have any affective disorder, you should be able to be treated in a rehab while attending to your recovery needs.
4) Are there considerations that include multiple ways to recovery?
Some programs are strictly a 12-Step approach, other programs are strictly non 12-Step designed. You want to make sure that the "philosophical bias" of the program is not fixed and strict. You need to work with a professional addiction treatment team, and with them decide your way towards recovery. Be careful of programs that proselytize and push an agenda outside health. Don't waste your energy fighting it!These are just some considerations when shopping for a rehab and hoping for a good match for a most important and needed investment you are planning to make towards your future and your family's future.
Labels: addiction rehab, gambling addiction, gambling treatment center
