Therapy for Problem Gambling & Gaming
Not sure how you feel about your gambling or gaming lately? Exploring that here might be a good place to start.
Are you reflecting on your relationship with gambling or gaming? Are you wondering whether it still feels enjoyable or if it’s starting to feel hard to manage? Maybe you’re trying to cut back, stay on track with changes you’ve made, or cope after a setback. Whatever you’re experiencing, you deserve support that meets you where you are at in life. You don’t need to be in crisis or have a formal diagnosis to reach out for help. Support for gambling or gaming concerns can help you better understand how these behaviors affect your life, explore meaningful changes, and work toward a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. It can also offer accountability and practical tools to reduce harm and prevent relapse. Whether you’re simply curious, feeling concerned, or ready for change, support is available and you don’t have to navigate this alone. Many people struggle in silence, but effective treatment is available and helpful.
Problem & Compulsive Gambling Counselor (PCGC)
While Colleen is a fully licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC), she also has a specific certification in problem and compulsive gambling (PCGC). Therapy for someone struggling with gambling or gaming looks different than therapy for other addictions. Colleen has received the training and knowledge needed to help support those navigating their behaviors with gambling and gaming.
Resources
Problem Gambling & Gaming
Loss of control: playing or gambling longer than planned, repeated failed attempts to cut back or stop
Preoccupation: constantly thinking about the next game/bet, planning life around when you can play or gamble, replaying past wins or losses in your head
Emotional dependence: using it to escape stress, anxiety, boredom, or sadness; feeling irritable or restless when you can’t play
Ignoring work, school, relationships, or responsibilities
Lying to others about how much time or money you spend
Continuing despite harm (financial, emotional, social)
Chasing losses: “I’ll win it back next time”
Borrowing or stealing money to gamble or play
Hiding bank statements or debts
Mood swings tied closely to wins and losses
Common Symptoms Include
*Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Every individual battling an addiction will have unique struggles and can cycle through various addictive behaviors at different times in their lives.
Casino
Card & Table Games
Slot Machines
Lottery & Scratch Offs
Sports Betting
Stock Market & Day Trading
Prediction Market
Video Gaming & Internet
Examples
Gambling in Illinois & Chicagoland Area
In a sports-driven city like Chicago, where loyalty to teams like the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, and White Sox runs deep, gambling can easily feel part of the fan experience. With legal sports betting, gambling apps, and casinos available in Illinois, gambling has never been more accessible. What often begins as casual entertainment—whether placing a bet, playing slots, or tracking the markets—can quietly become something harder to control.
With mobile betting apps such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and Kalshi just a tap away, gambling is available around the clock. Watching a sports game is no longer just about the sport itself, but about the bets placed on it. Following the news or current events are no longer just about staying informed, but about bets placed on prediction markets. Yes, prediction markets can be considered a form of gambling. The accessibility and instant gratification from these apps can lead to a loss of control affecting your daily life, relationships, finances, and emotional well-being.
A gambling problem often begins when occasional wagers turn into frequent betting or when you feel the need to risk larger amounts of money just to experience the same thrill or relief. The transition from recreational to disordered gambling is usually marked by preoccupation and escape: persistent thoughts about your next bet, parlay, casino trip, or game. You may find yourself chasing losses, trying to “win it back,” or feeling pressure to hide your gambling and cover past losses. Over time, what once felt fun can start to feel stressful, urgent, or even necessary.
If you live in the Chicagoland area or Illinois and you are questioning your relationship with gambling, you don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Therapy can help you better understand your patterns, regain a sense of control, and develop healthier ways to cope, reconnect, and move forward.
Our Therapy Approaches
We use an evidence-based approach to help you find your path and work on your goals. Our treatment methods include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
An evidence-based, structured approach that helps you recognize and reshape unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.
Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
An evidence-based approach that helps individuals gradually face intrusive thoughts and fears, reduce compulsive behaviors, and build confidence in managing anxiety.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
An evidence-based approach that focuses on accepting internal experiences while committing to behaviors that align with personal values.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
An evidence-based approach that helps individuals explore ambivalence, strengthen motivation, and make meaningful changes aligned with their values.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
An evidence-based approach designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and navigate life’s challenges. more effectively.
Client Centered & Individualized
An approach that recognizes each person’s unique experiences, goals, and strengths. It tailors therapy to meet individual needs.
IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER THERAPY FOR GAMBLING OR GAMING
If gambling or gaming are getting in the way of your work, relationships, or self-worth, then that’s reason enough to seek support. Book a complimentary consultation to see how our addiction specialists can help