Dot Duda Presents: Working with Families Affected by Gambling Disorder

Clock hours/Continuing Education Units: 4.5

This course will focus on helping clinicians learn how to engage and treat the entire family of problem gamblers and begin the path of recovery from this addiction. All aspects of the effects on family members will be discussed, including the financial impact on the family, the emotional ramifications, including trust, and the psychological consequences for many family members. Often, family members are left untreated with serious, painful effects from their loved ones’ gambling. While the financial impact is the most obvious, the other effects, including severe depression, trauma and an inability to function, are often present as well.

The clinician is in a unique position to offer help and support to these family members but must begin with knowledge of this addiction and how family members can address the pain caused. Family members must be offered help, hope and support, and a clear understanding of how they may be able to protect themselves and function better in their world.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify symptoms of problem gambling and be able to understand the impact this addiction may have on family members;
• Interview, assess, refer, and treat members of the gamblers family members who may be affected by the gambling problems;
• Provide a safe, therapeutic environment for growth and understanding of family members of problem gamblers as they work through the issues in themselves and their family.

For more information including if you are deaf or hard of hearing, or are a person with a disability and require an accommodation, please contact Odessa Dwarika, Director of Programs and Services @ 617-426-4554, TTY: 617-426-1855 or odessa@maccg.org.

Funded By: Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling Services