PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE FAMILY

PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE FAMILY PROBLEM GAMBLING IS A FAMILY MATTER TREATMENT INSTITUTE JUNE 29, 2007 Donna Whitmire, Problem Gambling Counselor and Linda Graves, Problem Gambling Program Manager, DASA

ProblemGambling is a Family Matter • Progression of the Family with Problem Gambling Issues • A Family Out of the Money • Understanding the Three C’s in Family Recovery • Family Systems Therapy

Denial Phase • Occasional worries • Keeps concerns to self • Makes excuses for gambling • Considers gambling temporary • Questions unpaid bills • Easily reassured • Unexplained financial crisis • Accepts remorse of gambler

Stress Phase - Spouse spends less time with family - Arguments - Spouse feels rejected - Demands upon gambler - Attempts to control gambling - Provides bailouts - Avoids children, family and friends - Isolation

Exhaustion Phase Intense resentment Thinking impaired Confusion Physical symptoms Immobilization Doubts sanity Rage Anxiety-panic

Film—A Family out of the Money Mom Sons Daughters

Three C’s in Family Recovery • Communication • Compromise • Commitment

Family Systems Therapy Structural Family Therapy– Minucin Observed family interactions • family structure rules • Flexibility of boundaries • Enmeshment in families • Disengaged-rigid families • Aligned family systems • Coalitions – between family members against another family member

Family Systems Therapy • Murray Bowen developed a system where he saw psychological characteristics in families were passed on generationally with: • Fusion • Differentiation • Pseudo self • Triangulation • Family projection process • Emotional cut-off

Thanks a bunch for your participation! Donna Whitmire, NCGC-II dwwanna@aol.com Linda Graves, NCGC-II gravell@dshs.wa.gov

PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE FAMILY