Written by Lindsey Flack, Gambling Counsellor

How scary does it feel to reach out when you think you are the only person struggling with ‘gambling harms’ and no-one will understand?

What if the support offered is alongside other people who may feel the same?

Would the thought of having therapy alongside other people put you off seeking support, or could it be a way of helping you realise you are not the only person to feel how you do or to be affected by gambling harms?

At Ara we offer a range of support both 1-1 counselling and in groups. The CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Management) based group is an 8 week program run in small online groups, facilitated by 2 qualified counsellors. It offers a structured approach to help change gambling behaviour and automatic thoughts related to gambling.

Week by week we work through topics such as setting goals, challenging helpful and unhelpful thinking, understanding the link between behaviour, thoughts and emotions and how these link to gambling harms. We help clients begin to recognise potential triggers, patterns of behaviour and explore new coping strategies, while offering space to talk about their individual experiences of gambling and the impact it has had.

As part of the sessions, we encourage individuals to share their experiences and progress each week. Some clients may still be gambling; others may have stopped or recently relapsed. No matter what is going on for everyone, there is learning from peers, that can offer insight, reflection or a sense of hope. Recognising that changing gambling behaviour is a process that will take time and conscious effort, can be reinforced in a group setting. Being able to interact with others who know what it is like to desperately want to stop gambling, but not know how, can help, especially if someone is struggling alone.

Learning to talk about gambling harms can be a huge challenge and not feeling able to, often plays a part in the ‘secretive’ negative cycle individuals can find themselves in, when gambling feels out of control. This is why we offer group support. Daunting it may seem, but our experience of working with clients who have attended the CBT group, is that, once they have overcome any apprehension and anxiety, the benefits of beginning to make changes alongside other people can be empowering and provide ‘hope’ that things can be different.

Some comments from clients who have attended the CBT group recently

“Thank-you; this group has been brilliant and all the content has been so beneficial to me…. I felt comfortable sharing past experiences, something I would never dream of doing before. I could also relate to the majority of others’ thoughts, feelings and experiences.”

“I have enjoyed the group sessions and believe they along with the 1 to 1 sessions are a massive reason as to why I have abstained from gambling for a month my longest period to date.”

“I genuinely feel a bit deflated that it’s over I was getting so much out of the group. It takes me a while to warm up to people, so six weeks just feels a bit too short. The hosts running the group were very knowledgeable and emphatic and kind. “

We currently run the CBT group/program on Thursday evenings between 5.30pm and 7pm.

If you are struggling with gambling harms and feel working through a structured program alongside other people could be beneficial for you, please contact Ara for more information.

Reaching out to start with, is often the hardest part. But we are here to support and encourage, if you are able to take the first step. Find out more here