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Tele-counselling for Problem Gambling: A Case Study

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Abstract

Innovative approaches to the treatment of pathological gambling are required since the number of individuals who seek treatment tend to be fewer than the prevalence studies would indicate. In this study, an innovative approach to the treatment of pathological gambling was used in order to address the common hindrances to treatment-seeking these patients face. One such approach is to offer the option of manual-guided tele-counselling. This case study reports on the progress of one individual who was treated using this modality. For reasons of privacy and anonymity, the individual in this case report preferred to address her problem gambling with the assistance of a therapist whom she never met. The client was provided with 10 weeks of tele-counselling treatment during which six treatment modules were delivered. Problems of access, privacy and anonymity were overcome with this method and the client was able to reduce their gambling behavior significantly with the therapeutic gains being maintained at the 6-month follow-up. The implications for the treatment of problem gambling using a non-traditional approach are discussed.

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Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Grant Number: No number assigned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, M135-45 Willcocks St., Toronto, M5S 1E2, Canada

    Tony Toneatto

  2. Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Sabina Pillai

  3. Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Barbara Kosky

Authors
  1. Tony Toneatto
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  2. Sabina Pillai
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  3. Barbara Kosky
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Correspondence to Tony Toneatto.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the IRB of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.

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Toneatto, T., Pillai, S. & Kosky, B. Tele-counselling for Problem Gambling: A Case Study. J Contemp Psychother 47, 191–198 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-016-9350-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-016-9350-7

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