Gambling addiction, or compulsive gambling, is a type of impulse-control disorder. Individuals with a gambling addiction cannot control their impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their loved ones. For someone with a gambling addiction, the gambling takes over their thoughts and behaviours, driving them to want to gamble, despite negative consequences. Individuals who are addicted will often keep gambling whether they are winning or losing, happy or depressed. If you are struggling with a gambling addiction, you might feel that you must continue to gamble even if you know the odds are against you, and even when you can’t afford to lose. You may find it difficult to explain the overwhelming urge to gamble to family and friends, and feel guilty that you are not in control. However, like any addiction, professional help is often needed to overcome it’s hold.
The most common forms of gambling are betting on sports, betting at the casino, or playing the lottery. Individuals who enjoy gambling often use gambling as a release, and a way to unwind after a stressful day, an argument, or a challenging situation. However, if your gambling behaviour has started to cause tension with family or friends, or has started to impact your ability to work or maintain other commitments, you may benefit from speaking with a psychologist.
Gambling often leads to financial hardship, which can then put strain on your relationships with a partner or other family. Having to hide losses and financial problems from family members can be extremely stressful. Arguing with loved ones about money often leads to unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, fear, and anxiety, and can trigger compulsive gambling or make the gambling behaviour worse. Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as the “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers typically deny or minimise the problem, as well as going to excessive lengths to hide their gambling.
Every gambler is unique and therefore treatment needs to be tailored specifically to the individual. The biggest step in treatment is the individual recognising that they have a gambling addiction.
If you believe you may be struggling with a gambling addition, your someone.health psychologist can help in various ways:
Helping you to identify the thought patterns that causes you to gamble; identifying triggers and high-risk situations; reducing access to money or venues; modifying routines
Goal setting – creating action plans and alternative activities
Learning alternative ways of managing negative emotions (e.g. improving problem-solving skills and relaxation techniques)
Helping to prevent you from relapsing by maintaining changes over time in order to avoid returning to gambling in the future; developing plans for future situations; and how to recover from a slip
Meet the someone.health psychologists currently available to see new clients for counselling on gambling addiction.
Manya is experienced in helping people change behaviours that form part of a chronic condition whether physical or psychological. These changes include becoming more physically active and fit; pain management; feeling in control of your eating; the moderate consumption of alcohol; and cessation of smoking & problem gambling. She also has extensive experience helping people exit a substance abuse lifestyle.
View ProfileDajana has 20 years experience as a Psychologist working with a diverse range of clients. She has extensive experience in substance abuse and addictions, depression, anxiety, stress management, adjustment disorder, PTSD and grief and loss.
View ProfileSimon is a qualified primary school teacher as well as a registered psychologist. Simon has a keen interest in working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and behaviour and emotional disorders in children. He has a relaxed, easy going nature and likes to provide people with the skills to manage life's challenges.
View ProfileJames' approach to mental health is about mind-body integration and looking at the “whole person”. Mental health influences how we feel, think and move, how we communicate and relate to the world, and can seriously impact our physical health. James will hep make sense of how this all fits together, to explore unhelpful thoughts and behaviour, and identify different options.
View ProfileHi! I'm looking forward to supporting you on your journey in working towards your goals, wherever you want to go. I aim to provide a safe space to talk about difficult things and value working with a bit of humour. Sometimes it helps bring some spark of joy back to the day to day. It can add meaning when it...
View ProfileDeciding to see a Psychologist is a big step, so congratulations for coming this far. Once you choose a therapist, stepping into a their virtual therapy room is the next big step, and for many people this can feel overwhelming. A big part of my job is to help you feel comfortable and safe. All you have to do is...
View ProfileJade has more than 20 years experience in working with people of all ages, across both private and government settings. She has a special interest in weight management psychology, as well as mood disorders (anxiety and depression), stress management and health psychology.
View ProfileWell done for making it this far! I'd love to work with you to further harness your bravery to go and get whatever you want for your life. This includes relationships, which can be hard, but also so fulfilling. If that's not your current experience, I'd love to work together to figure out attachment styles, or better conflict resolution or...
View ProfileI am looking forward to working with you. I believe that our experiences of life informs how we see the world. This means that I’m interested in who you are and what you believe in. My goal is to move you to the place that you would like to be. I have a lot of experience working with people whose...
View Profile“First I’ll listen, then I’ll help” Hello, I am Dr Geoff Pearce, a Performance and Positivity Psychologist and have 30 years’ experience. I work with Performance and Positivity in adults. ‘Performance’ refers to how well people do the things that are important to them
View ProfileI am committed to working with clients through a collaborative client-centered approach. I view acceptance and a non-judgmental interaction as critical components to the client-therapist relationship. I believe in focusing on strengths and self-observation skills as the keys to client change, growth, and development. I look forward to the opportunity of working with clients who are seeking to move forward...
View ProfileGeoff has over 10 years of experience working as a psychologist and has a keen interest working with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, procrastination, interpersonal difficulties and low self esteem. Geoff is trained in evidence-based approaches including CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
View ProfileMatthew is trained in several evidence-based therapies, including; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing. Matthew has a keen interest in working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma related concerns, drug and alcohol misuse, and OCD.
View ProfileSarah uses a person-centred, strength-based approach, working in collaboration with clients to reach their therapeutic goals. Sarah is highly focused on the therapeutic relationship using a calm and relaxed manner, positive communication strategies, empathy, and understanding during therapy sessions.
View ProfileRosa strives to help clients to gain greater insight into their lives to understand and overcome their presenting issues, develop their self-confidence and make meaningful changes in their lives. Rosa provides psychological services in both English and Spanish.
View ProfileWelcome and hello to you, I am looking forward to understanding who you are as an individual. I am hopeful that through our time together we can put in place some steps and strategies to assist you in achieving the outcomes you desire.
View ProfileMartin is best known for his humour and pragmatism. Martin has experience working with a diverse range of clients, including children, adolescents, adults and families. Martin has spent recent years working in a mental health clinic for people living with addictions, trauma and mood disorders.
View ProfileI love getting to know you as an individual and what makes you tick. I enjoy working in a collaborative and holistic way, incorporating your strengths and values into your therapy journey. My style is conversational, warm and natural with a dash of humour thrown into the mix.
View ProfileTony supports people with a variety of presentations including depression, anxiety, stress, adjustment difficulties, grief and loss, addictions and work-related conditions such as burnout and career transition. Tony can also provide support in a high performance context (for example athletes & executives, start-up founders). Having lived in multiple continents and being from a multi-cultural background, Tony is able to support...
View ProfileBilyana's 20 years’ experience is vast, having started my career in nursing before embarking on study to become a Clinical Psychologist. She sees people presenting with a broad spectrum of presentations, including trauma, depressive and anxiety based disorders, workplace bullying, phobias, relationship issues, stress disorders, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicidal behaviour, personality disorders, grief and relationship issues.
View ProfileMy combined professional and life experiences make me highly aware of the types of difficulties encountered by people from all walks of life and the impact on their and others’ lives these obstacles to wellbeing can have. My efforts and professional skill are dedicated toward helping to make a difference and to assist people in developing their greater potential
View ProfileTrisha has experience working with a diverse range of clients including children, community from different cultural backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and LGBT+ community.
View ProfileHi there, I’m Hugo and I’m an early career psychologist. I see the client as the expert in their own lives and use my knowledge and skills to help you overcome the barriers that are getting in the way of leading a purposeful and meaningful life
View ProfileEva’s expertise is in women’s issues, particularly managing the impacts as a result of sexual assault trauma. Eva has worked with people from varying life backgrounds, diverse concerns and people of all cultural backgrounds are welcome. Eva has worked with agoraphobia, self-hate, low self-esteem, crisis work, anxiety. Ethical practice is important to Eva which is why she adheres to a...
View ProfileWill is a warm and compassionate Psychologist who is passionate about supporting individuals attain greater mental health and well-being. Therapeutic sessions are centered around helping individuals gain a deeper insight of themselves, their behavioural patterns and self-beliefs.
View ProfileHi, I am really looking forward to getting to know you and working together to achieve your therapy goals. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, recognizing that the psychological and physical both impact overall mental well-being and as such my approach to therapy includes elements of each in order to achieve lasting change.
View ProfileI have learned that deep and lasting change is possible, that long-term issues can be resolved, and people can be free of emotional pain they carry by making sense of difficult experiences together, both past and present, and moving towards a place of self-understanding. Michiel works with adults and adolescents using an integrative approach which is based on empathy and...
View ProfileDavin is a compassionate, warm, flexible, and approachable psychologist who understands the need for a safe and non-judgemental environment to support individuals in attaining better mental health and well-being. Davin has experience working with a wide range of age groups who are dealing with a wide variety of challenges. Davin is passionate about supporting individuals and providing a therapeutic, holistic,...
View ProfileI am a clinical psychologist with experience working with adolescents and adults. I aim to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where we can collaboratively explore the challenges you are currently facing; identify and work on the goals you want to achieve in therapy.
View ProfileJessie has expertise with the psychological impact of perinatal loss, the topic of her Ph.D. She has worked with adults experiencing mood disorders, personality disorders, procrastination, anxiety and grief. Jessie offers a supportive, non-judgmental and accepting environment for her clients to feel safe so that they can openly discuss the issues that they would like to change.
View ProfileDavid has had 15 years of experience as a Psychologist working with children, adolescents and adults. He has experience working with educational needs, with a particular focus on life long education, differential diagnosis, understanding giftedness and managing neural diversity. David has also worked extensively with people experiencing anxiety, depression, issues of self worth and attachment concerns.
View ProfileWelcome and congratulations on taking this first step – it isn’t always an easy one! I can’t wait to meet you and hear your story. There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ in therapy, and the connection you have with your therapist is so important.
View ProfileReaching out for support isn’t easy. It takes courage to be honest and vulnerable, especially when things are difficult. I have been a counsellor for over 20 years and a psychologist for 3. And I have accessed counselling myself on the occasions where I have needed support. I find it really useful to have someone there to help think things...
View Profile