Abstract
Two individuals with records of prior compulsive gambling involvement are profiled in order to illustrate the nature of a gambling lifestyle and describe the process of lifestyle change. The treatment model utilized by therapists proposing a lifestyle interpretation of compulsive gambling behavior is guided by three primary objectives or goals: (1) the cessation of lifestyle activities; (2) the development of skills useful in managing gambling-related conditions, choices, and cognitions; and (3) the implementation of an effective program of follow-up intervention and support. These goals give rise to the three stages of lifestyle intervention — (1) laying a foundation for change, (2) identifying vehicles for change, and (3) establishing a reinforcing nongambling life-style—from which specific change strategies are derived. The implications of this model and the possibility of limited generalizability are discussed.
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The assertions and opinions contained herein are the private views of the author and should not be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Federal Bureau of Prisons or United States Department of Justice.
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Walters, G.D. The gambling lifestyle: II. Treatment. J Gambling Stud 10, 219–235 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02104964
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02104964