Need help with a client who wants to stop Gambling

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Permalink Reply by ShantiShanti on May 31, 2008 at 4:14pm

In the metro Detroit area, with the many local casinos available to folks, I'm also interested in your replies. Sorry, I'm a total newbie, but hope to learn from those who choose to assist you with this client. I'm certain hypnosis can help your client - again, interested in your success in this.

ShantiShanti

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Permalink Reply by JT Moore on June 1, 2008 at 7:08am

I'm a newbie too and haven't worked with any gamblers yet.

While we wait for the more experienced to pipe in here I would consider several things. Gambling is a definite physiological stimulator on the winning side and the loosing side. That high they get from winning and low they get from loosing has to play havock with some of the brains chemicals. I would consider working with those impulses to have that stimulation along with why they need it. Is it a replacement for something else that is missing?
It seems to me the why of the gambling addiction would be a good place to start but the physiological aspects might be addressed in a circle therapy around going into the gambling institution and/or playing their favorite game. Something like experiencing the high and rush of the mixed emotions and their physical charges while questioning to go in the building or not and come around to a replay where those emotions are more flat and have lost the charge seeing the entrance to the institution while expressing the benefits of not going in and being able to spend more time with family, friends, etc...

I'm sure there many ways to tackle this addiction and I know hypnosis can help.

I'm interested in some experienced folks jumping in here.
Thanks for starting this topic.
Blessings!
JT

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Zimmerman on June 2, 2008 at 8:49am

Joshua,

First, start with a thorough intake interview. Ask about his thoughts and feelings -- both emotionally and mentally-- about this problem. Ask how if affects his life - the benefits and the negative aspects. I often keep clients talking longer because I have a feeling that they will say something that will give me a clue as to how to approach their problem.

In the first session I'd probably help him to change his self talk and record the session. In the next session you can use the feelings that he has right before he gambles as a bridge and do a regression to the first time he had those feelings. Depending on his progress you might also do parts therapy and talk to the part that chooses gambling when he's bored.

Hope that helps.
Katherine Zimmerman
www.trancetime.com

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Permalink Reply by JT Moore on June 2, 2008 at 5:49pm

Sounds like a plan to me!
Thanks Katherine.
Blessings
JT

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Permalink Reply by StressQT24 on June 4, 2008 at 5:31am

Here are a few links for some scripts on gambling, (you have to buy them though lol, sorry couldn't find any freebies)

http://hypnoticworld.com/subscriptions/gambling.asp

http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/scripts/hypnotherapy/gambling-addi...

http://www.stevegjones.com/endgamblingaddictionhypnosiscdmp3.htm

Hope that gives you some ideas :)

Sincerely,
Stacey

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Permalink Reply by claymore58 on June 9, 2008 at 10:29am

As with most compulsive/addictive bahaviors, there is usually and underlying issue.
Much like alcohol or drugs,it's a self medication of an unspecified pain.
Keep that in mind,in your interview,and be sure to listen for organ language;and other
verbal or visual cues.

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Permalink Reply by Joshua Houghton on June 9, 2008 at 10:31am

Thanks for all the great ideas. The ideas and suggestions in this post give me a idea on where to start and how to approach this situation.

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on January 20, 2009 at 1:44pm

Hi Joshua,

Did you ever worked on your client, any suggestions or progress you would like to share?

Thanks Doreen

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Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on January 20, 2009 at 1:51pm

Joshua - Scott Sandland is a great one for addictions - Shout out to him

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on January 20, 2009 at 2:52pm

Scott Sandland, Hellooooooooo Please share some good hypnotic tips related to gambling and addiction with us,
I had very little experience it this are, I was successful but again very little experience, specific to gambling...
The one I can remeber, was someone who was influenced by his friends, so I suggested that all the urge and desire he had for gambling will be put into his relationship... like each and everything you have that strong desire to gamble your money, you instead will think of how wonderful it is to be with your wife sharing those loving moments...

But then that was something he was missing out when he was choosing to gamble and he use to feel guilty about it, since he felt that his wife was the best thing ever happened to him... this is from an old client I can remeber of.

Hope that helped, but Scott you are not off the hook :)

Respectfully, Doreen

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Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on January 20, 2009 at 7:42pm

First, you do a very thorough intake , and find out why gambling is a hindrance to something else that the person wants more.

Second, make sure that you have somnambulism.

Third, your suggestions should have very little to do with gambling.

Instead, you make suggestions about the other goal.

When they want the other goal SO MUCH, gambling is gone...

,

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Permalink Reply by Ian Patterson, CCH on January 20, 2009 at 7:50pm

While I've never worked with gambling exclusively, I would treat it as any other habit which could become destructive (i.e. smoking, drinking, etc.) Flash them forward into their life (or lack thereof) in this case broke, a nervous wreck who's waiting for the day that never comes when they finally win. That's the Shock and Awe procedure anyway.

Or, it could just be that he can't quit due to some negative past event which is causing him to latch onto anything habitual. Get him to latch onto something less destructive, like knitting or something. Well, okay, maybe not actually knitting, but if that doesn't work, therre's always regression!

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