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Group psychotherapy with pathological gamblers

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Abstract

This paper reviews some of the group therapy techniques utilized in the authors' work with pathological gamblers. These conceptual tools ranged from rational-emotive psychotherapy to Zen philosophy which provided a background and foundation for working with pathological gamblers. Many therapeutic and antitherapeutic beliefs and behaviors of gamblers are discussed including narcissism, manipulative behavior, and rejection of Gamblers Anonymous. Each technique, behavior or belief discussed is explained in terms of how each affects the group process and how each is managed in group therapy.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reno Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Missouri, St. Louis

    Julian I. Taber Ph.D. (Chief) & Martin P. Chaplin

Authors
  1. Julian I. Taber Ph.D.
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  2. Martin P. Chaplin
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Additional information

This paper represents a discourse on the group treatment of pathological gamblers primarily from the experiences of Julian Ingersoll Taber, Ph.D. who was the coordinator of the Gambling Treatment Program at the Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center for seven years. Dr. Taber is currently Chief of the Addictive Disorders Treatment Program at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Martin Paul Chaplin, Ph.D., who is specializing in the treatment of addiction, assisted in the theoretical and editorial aspects of this article. He worked under the aegis of Dr. Taber as an intern at the Gambling Treatment Program and currently has a position at Community Mental Health Services of Medina in Ohio.

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Taber, J.I., Chaplin, M.P. Group psychotherapy with pathological gamblers. J Gambling Stud 4, 183–196 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018331

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018331

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