There are thousands of monthly searches occurring across various platforms (Google, ChatGPT, et cetera) within the United States, inquiring about who is qualified to provide counseling for unhealthy gambling behavior. Along the gamut of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed counselors, and trained professionals that individuals are curious about, are social workers. Can social workers treat gambling addiction? The question is generally posed by groups from two sides of the public health concern. One group, are social workers who are increasingly meeting individuals and households who have been impacted by the harms of gambling. The other group, are the individuals and households who have been impacted by the harms of gambling, who are wondering if they should reach out to a social worker for help. Below is a succinct reply to lead either group to recommended next steps.
Straightforward Overview of a Social Worker’s Potential Role in Treating Gambling Addiction in the United States
Asking as a Social Worker?
To become a social worker in the U.S., one requires a bachelor’s (BSW) or master’s (MSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program, state licensure, and must pass an Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam. Clinical social workers (LCSW) must have an MSW, plus roughly 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
Technically, social workers who are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), commonly LCSWs and RSWs with Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees, are able to address addictive behavior relating to gambling, in addition to cooccurring issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic anger. However, a significant number lack the specific training, knowledge, experience, and/or confidence to effectively treat problem gambling in its various forms. Results from a recent survey of nearly 1,800 clinical social workers, conducted by the Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies in the School of Social Work, were quite telling:
“On average, participants answered less than half of the knowledge questions correctly. Most participants did not know the current diagnostic classification for a gambling disorder. About 72% believed gambling disorder was listed as an impulse control disorder in the DSM-5. Participants had limited knowledge about the clinical screening tools for gambling. Only 2% of participants could name a common screening tool. About 21% of participants had previous training in gambling counseling. Most social workers were unaware of important facts about gambling or had viewpoints that were outdated for clinical practice. For example, only 28% of participants knew that young adults had the highest rates of problem gambling.” (Source)
For a social worker wondering about their place in helping vulnerable Americans overcome the harms of problem gambling, the recommended next step is to get gambling counselor certification.
As America’s leading virtual counseling provider for problem gambling, Kindbridge has developed the most advanced and comprehensive training platform for social workers and related professionals. Our online, engaging, and interactive programs can be completed at your own pace. Learn more and register for your preferred course via the following links:
- International Certified Gambling Counselor I Core Training
- International Certified Gambling Counselor I & II Core Training
Do you have additional questions before committing to training? Click or call for a friendly chat about your professional goals.
Asking as Someone Harmed by Gambling?
A large number of individuals and households depend upon social workers for support with complex life challenges, such as those related to housing, disability, substance abuse, mental health, and more. Your own exposure to them as a valued resource for coping with various issues may have occurred through a hospital, community clinic, government agency, or other referral system. But as someone who has been impacted by the harms of gambling and searched “Can social workers treat gambling addiction?”, you are wondering if they can help with this particular problem. They can, but we do encourage you to reference the survey results in the section above. As studies show, your social worker may not yet have the requisite training, experience, or confidence to help you and your loved ones overcome the extremely complex nature of problem gambling.
As a supplement to your engagement with a social worker (where applicable) we encourage you to connect to Kindbridge Behavioral Health. We have a team of clinicians, near you, who have the training, experience, and confidence in problem gambling treatment for individuals, couples, and family households. Our virtual counseling services are covered by a most insurance plans, and we also have gambling support groups to accommodate varying needs. Connect to a care coordinator today to begin your road to recovery.
