Counseling Family Members of Problem Gamblers

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Counseling Family Members of Problem Gamblers

• Elda Chan
• Certified Problem Gambling Counsellor, Train the
  Trainer
• Coordinator of Even Centre
• Tung Wah Groups of Hospital
• (Hong Kong)

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What is Gambling?

• Betting something valuable including on an
  unpredictable event. This event or activity must
  be
• Time restricted
• Irreversible
• The result cannot be manipulated by any means.

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Questions

• 1) Is problem gambling an individual or family
  problem?
• 2) Should counsellors always consider working
  with families of problem gamblers?

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Reasons to work with family members of problem
gamblers

• It is ethical, family members are victims of
  problem gambling
• Problem gambling can be a form of pathological
  coping to the psychological damage rooted within
  the family
• An dysfunctional family system can maintain the
  problem gambling behaviour and be counter
  productive to the treatment process. On the other
  hand, a supportive family system enables a more
  pronounced and prolonged change.

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Four Interlocking Theoretical Concepts

• Co-dependency
• Triangulation
• Family Distance and Emotional Cutoff
• Family Roles

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1. Co-dependency

• Differentiation of Self and other
• Differentiation of rational and emotional
  reactivity
• Seek for approval, sense of safety and self worth
  
• Introjected self-image

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2. Triangulation

• Play victim
• Alliance for isolation
• Over-involvement

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Play Victim
Persecutor
Rescuer
Victim
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Alliance for Isolation
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Over-involvement
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3. Family Distance

• Handling anxiety
• Problem Solving
• Emotional cutoff
• Physically present but emotionally unavailable

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4. Family Roles

• Hero
• Baby
• Black sheep
• Missing child
• Parental child

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Damage from a Pathological Family

• Introjected self-image
• Modeling and overlearning
• Maintaining problem gambling through interactive
  sequential behavior patterns eg. co-dependency
• Emotional vulnerability, eg. Depression, anxiety
  and apprehensive mood
• Emotion reactivity and poor impulse control
• Polarized perception
• Ambivalent interpersonal relationship

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Associating Family Dysfunctions with Problem
Gambling

• Use gambling to cope with family dysfunction such
  as family anxiety, family distance, triangulation
  or structural imbalance (avoidance or
  compensation ).
• Influence of developmental wounds or traumatic
  events
• Acting out of introjected self-image

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Problem gambling can be a form of pathological
coping to the psychological damage rooted from
family.

• Problem gambling can be maintained by interactive
  sequential behaviour pattern.

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Case Study - Jack
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Common Myths for Family Members

• If he gambles again, that means he doesnt love
  me or the kids
• I am a failure if he doesnt change
• If he appreciate what I have done for him, he
  should change
• He deserves no right at home and respect from us

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Treatment Direction with Family Members of
Problem Gamblers

• Identify the in-depth needs and expectations
• Identify the family dysfunctions and maintaining
  cycle
• Facilitate understanding and insight into the
  meaning and function of behaviour
• Facilitate the gambler to take responsibility
• Dilute self or mutual blaming
• Forgive ? forget

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Treatment Direction with Family Members of
Problem Gamblers

• 7. Issues of trust
• 8. Safety measures
• 9. Self protection financial and safety
• 10. Facilitate self care and development
• 11. Giefing
• 12. Correct family structure such as
  detriangulation, readjusting family distance and
  rebuilding family connection

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Therapeutic Attitude

• Beware of triangulation or take side
• Beware of blaming
• Focus on the cycle of interaction and dynamics
  rather than individual behaviour
• Normalizing the problem and focus on strength
• Encourage the problem gambler to take
  responsibility
• Be respectful and empathic

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Once you know what works, do it more.
If it doesnt work, do something different.
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• Questions and Discussions
• Thank you!