The concept of the “12-step program” has become ubiquitous with supporting recovery from substance addictions and behavioral health disorders alike. It was developed in the 1930s and launched concurrently with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Its omnipresence over the realm of treatment is steeped in familiarity, in that people who struggle with an addiction/compulsion automatically perform a search for 12-step programs for whatever they perceive their struggle to be. As a result (and outside of alcohol/substance use concerns) thousands of Americans plug “12 step program for gambling” or variants for gaming, pornography, and sex, and other process addictions into their Google search browsers each month. While it absolutely has merits, it’s important to note that the 12-step program is a proprietary eponym that has become genericized in the realm of behavioral health, and may not be the end-all be-all solution for everyone.
The good news, is that your online search for a 12 step program for gambling addiction brought you to this resource. While you know that 12-step programs are associated with recovery, you may appreciate a better understanding of its foundation before deciding to enter into that specific form of treatment. You may also want to know that American addiction specialists cite success rates of the program between 5% and 10%.
So what is a 12 step program? Given the time period from which it was developed, it should come as no surprise to find that the program is rooted in spirituality and religion. While there are semantic variations, the following summarizes the program:
- Admitting powerlessness over emotions.
- Acknowledging God (or other higher power one believes in).
- Turning one’s life over to God (or other higher power).
- Taking a moral inventory.
- Admitting personal wrongs.
- Acknowledging the ability of God (or other higher power) to remedy character defects.
- Asking God (or other higher power) to remove any personal shortcomings.
- Listing the people one has harmed and developing a willingness to make amends.
- Whenever possible, making amends with any individuals who have been harmed.
- Taking personal inventory on a continual basis and admitting any wrongs.
- Improving one’s connection with God (or other higher power) through prayer and meditation.
- Living the 12 step principles and sharing the program’s message with others who may be in need.
Considering these fundamental features, a 12-step program for gambling addiction would theoretically read something like this:
- Admitting powerlessness over compulsion to gamble.
- Acknowledging a higher power’s role in recover from gambling addiction.
- Turning one’s compulsion to gamble over to that higher power.
- Taking a moral inventory of what has gone wrong from compulsive gambling (debt, criminality, etc.).
- Admitting personal wrongs from compulsive gambling.
- Acknowledging the ability of the higher power to remedy the symptoms of compulsive gambling.
- Asking the higher power to remove any personal shortcomings associated with problem gambling.
- Listing the people one has harmed from compulsive gambling and developing a willingness to make amends.
- Making amends (where viable) with any individuals who have been harmed (i.e. friends you have borrowed money from to gamble).
- Taking personal inventory on a continual basis and admitting any missteps.
- Improving one’s connection with the higher power through prayer and meditation
- Living the 12 step program for gambling principles and sharing the program’s message with others who may struggle with casino gaming and sports betting.
While there are certainly valid features in the traditional 12-step mantra, it’s not for everyone. Moreover, feeling beholden to work through the dozen item checklist may scare a problem gambler (yourself included) away from getting much needed help. This is on top of the most defining evaluation of 12-step programs:
“Addiction is a complex phenomenon characterized by a loss of control and compulsive, habitual behavior. Since there is no single, specific cause for addiction, there is no single, standard treatment for it.” (American Medical Association)
So where does this leave you, an individual who is struggling with casino gaming and/or sports betting? Whether or not you decide that a 12-step path is where you want to begin, find peace of mind that there is a powerful alternative or supplement available through Kindbridge Behavioral Health.
Powerful and Effective Alternative or Supplement to the Traditional 12-Step Program for Problem Gambling
Step 1: Take Gambling Disorder Quiz
Sometimes people are told (by friends and loved ones) that they have a problem, when in reality they may not. Either that, or there is something else compromising one’s behavioral health (more on this below). In either case, let’s find out where you stand with respect to problem gambling. Take this brief 5-minute quiz:
Step 2: Book Virtual Assessment with Specialist
If the quiz infers that there is an issue, it’s time to connect to a care coordinator and book an official assessment with a specialist. The short assessment will confirm the presence of problematic gambling behavior. Of equal importance, the assessment will identify any mental or behavioral health issues that are known to cooccur with problem gambling. These may include anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD, and more. This part of the process is what truly sets our model apart from the traditional 12-step program. In recognizing comorbid concerns, a customized treatment plan will be created that is unique and specific to YOU.
Step 3: Schedule First Virtual Session with a Problem Gambling Counselor
This is where recovery begins! After your assessment is complete you will be free to schedule an online or telehealth appointment with a problem gambling counselor at your convenience. The virtual platform allows you to partake in your custom treatment plan remotely from anywhere at a time that does not disrupt your day. Further, this first session gives you the opportunity to get to know your counselor. If for whatever reason you don’t feel a connection, you can contact your care coordinator to request a new therapist.
Step 4: Select Problem Gambling Treatment Subscription Plan
After your first session, you will begin to feel empowered (even if there’s a lot of work to do) and will be ready to commit to a journey of recovery. Kindbridge has made available a number of individual and group therapy plans and subscriptions to accommodate preferences, finances, and insurance plans. During this step you will choose which works best for YOU at this time. Click or tap here to have a look.
Step 5: Start Feeling Better
Our strategy works, and our clients exhibit improvement scores that land far beyond industry standards. Have a look at a recent Treatment Outcomes Report to review tangible data for our problem gambling program.
Ready to begin your journey to recovery? Follow the steps above or simply reach out via your preferred form of contact below.
Release the Grip that Gambling Has on Your Life
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
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