Gambling Treatment

Mon – Fri: 9AM – 5PM

503-674-7777

Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline

24/7

877-MY-LIMIT (877-695-4648)

Gambling Treatment

Gambling addiction can interfere with your finances, relationships and life. Cascadia offers free individual, group and couples counseling for Oregon residents. Treatment is customized for each client and can help you regain control of your life, deal with the stresses and problems created by gambling, and can help you build new skills to help you reduce your dependence on gambling.

For more than 20 years we have been changing lives, restoring hope, and promoting lasting recovery. We have specialized training and years of experience addressing all of the challenges that come with gambling addiction. We understand that addictive gambling can be relentless and unforgiving. It can destroy not only the life of the gambler but also impacts the financial and emotional safety of their friends and family. The first step is recognizing and acknowledging the gambling issue.

A recipient of the Oregon Treatment Program Awardee of Excellence, our treatment uses addictions and mental health approaches to help you regain control of your life. Any eligible adults dealing with a gambling problem, that are in need of help, are welcome to utilize our services.

How common is problem gambling?

Problem gambling occurs in two to three percent of the population, making it far more common than most people know. It is an issue that can remain hidden until the point at which a financial or emotional crisis surfaces.

Why can’t a problem gambler just stop?

Problem gambling is a complex issue. There are biological, psychological, social and financial components to it. Problem gambling operates in many ways like a drug addiction, except the person is addicted to a behavior and not a substance. Problem gamblers generally have thought about stopping, but often need help to do it. Problem gambling almost certainly impacts brain chemistry, creating an altered state that occurs during gambling that can become addictive for some people. Chasing this altered state, and chasing lost money, can bring about transient character changes, depression and anxiety. It can be difficult to stop without some kind of support or guidance.

What kinds of services are available?

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare offers FREE treatment for problem gamblers and/or their loved ones. Our comprehensive program provides individual, group, couples counseling and financial education. Experience has shown that this type of comprehensive approach works very well. We will work with you to set up a program that is tailored to your specific, individual needs. We also provide problem gambling prevention services in Clackamas County.

What can I expect from therapy? And does it work?

You can expect to talk with a professional with specialized training and clinical experience in treating problem gambling. Our treatment team respects just how difficult it can be to initiate counseling, and we work to provide a caring and accepting place for help, and for sharing your experience. Independent research has shown our program to be quite successful in helping people reduce or stop gambling.

What should I do if I love someone who is a gambler?

FREE individual counseling, as well as couples or group counseling, is available through our program. The gambler in your life does not need to be in treatment for you to be. One thing you can do, whether you participate in our program or not, is work with the gambler to set up reasonable, temporary measures to reduce the gambler’s access to large sums of money. We also encourage you to learn as much as you can about problem gambling. Another resource is to find a Gam Anon support group in your area. Contact us for more information.

What do I have to do to get started in counseling?

All you have to do to get started is call (503) 239-5952 and talk with our Program Coordinator about setting up an initial, free assessment. We believe that a thorough understanding of you as a unique individual is vitally important to the success of your treatment. We will do a thorough assessment and you can then begin learning how to confront and deal with a gambling problem.

Get Help Now

Locations

Plaza Health Center
2415 SE 43rd Ave, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97206

Clackamas Health Center
17070 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie, OR 97267

Make the Call

(503) 674-7777
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5:00 PM

After Hours Helpline

After hours and weekends, call the Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline: 877-MY-LIMIT (877-695-4648)

Problem Gambling Services

Individual Counseling

All of our clients receive free and confidential individual counseling from a highly trained gambling treatment specialist. Individual counseling provides a safe place to talk about sensitive issues and to learn new skills for addressing gambling and the effects of gambling. The client and clinician collaborate to create a custom recovery plan based on each individual’s experiences, circumstances, and preferences.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is probably the most effective intervention available for problem gamblers in recovery. Our groups provide education, expand insight, and increase confidence and competence for those who attend.

Available Support Groups

Change is Possible

This group is designed for clients who are new to problem gambling recovery or who want a review of basic recovery skills. It serves to provide education on core topics that are part of a foundation of recovery from problem gambling.

Education

Focusing upon learning, sharing, and growing, group members are able to develop and utilize coping skills and recovery tools. Education and insight-oriented exercises help to increase awareness of problem gambling and in the development of strategies for managing the emotional and cognitive components that contribute to problem gambling.

Friends & Family

For individuals who are enrolled in the friends and family program; helps individuals foster hope, gain understanding of the addiction process, and develop a self-care plan that supports the unique needs of those who are connected with a problem gambler.

DBT Skills

Time-limited, modulated group sessions focusing on developing skills for distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation. Sign-up only.

Couples/Family

For partners and family of gamblers, addressing the addiction is one of the most difficult aspects for a person seeking treatment. Family and friends frequently do not know how to bring up the issue of addiction therapy. Cascadia helps family and friends in addressing the addiction issue while encouraging a supportive environment for everyone involved.

Help for friends

Involving family and friends in focused treatment programs can be the deciding factor in successful addiction recovery by:

Developing an overall understanding of the addiction
Providing the education and tools to prevent enabling addictive behaviors
Educating family and friends on communication skills building a strong support group for both the addict and the entire family

Online Counseling

After visiting one of our locations for an in-person assessment, you may qualify for online individual treatment, via Skype. This service is for those individuals, problem gambler or significant other, who are not able to come to one of our established treatment centers. This can be an attractive option for those who aren’t easily able to travel to one of our locations.

Problem Gambling Prevention

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare offers Problem Gambling Prevention Services in Clackamas County. There are two main goals for problem gambling prevention: outreach aimed at increasing the general public’s awareness of problem gambling and preventing problem gambling.

What are some examples of problem gambling prevention activities?

The problem gambling prevention specialist is available to fit your needs:

They can teach the “Stacked Deck” curriculum, which is an evidenced-based problem gambling prevention program for high school students. The series of interactive lessons use a variety of methods to engage students while learning about gambling prevention.

Middle school youth have an opportunity to participate in the Oregon Health Authority’s Problem Gambling Awareness Art Search. Every year middle school youth create art with a message of building awareness around problem gambling. The top 12 submissions are then created into a special calendar that is distributed throughout the state.

Cascadia prevention specialists can give presentations to any of the following populations: drug and alcohol or mental health groups, older adults, college students, or veterans. They are able to do tabling events, public service announcements, and education sessions at places such as libraries or other businesses.

What are the costs?

Cascadia provides free problem gambling prevention services for anyone in Clackamas County. If you are outside of Clackamas County, we can help find you other community resources to fit your needs.

If you are interested in having a Cascadia’s Problem Gambling prevention specialist at your organization, contact us today.

Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Every year March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Are you interested in having a problem gambling prevention activity to help raise awareness? Cascadia hosts events every March for this cause.

Problem Gambling Self-Test

This self-test can help you decide if you or a loved one MAY have a gambling problem. It is not definitive, and does not replace the need to consult with a gambling treatment specialist.

Do you often find yourself thinking about gambling? For example do you relive past gambling experiences and plan the next time you would play, or think of ways to get money to gamble?
Do you find you need to gamble with more and more money to get the amount of excitement you’re looking for?
Do you make repeated unsuccessful attempts to control, cut down or stop gambling?
Have you become restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling?
Do you gamble to escape from problems or when you have felt depressed, anxious, or bad about yourself?
After losing money gambling, do you return to gamble another day in order to “get even”?
Have you lied to your family or others to hide the extent of your gambling?
Have you even gone beyond what might be strictly legal in order to finance your gambling or to pay gambling debts?
Have you risked or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling?
Have you sought help from others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?

If you answered “Yes” to two or more questions, you may want to explore how to reduce or stop gambling.

Community Resources

Cascadia Problem Gambling Program is committed to creating a resilient Oregon community that knows the impactful risks around gambling. Cascadia believes in integrating gambling education within businesses and communities.

Cascadia Educates Communities

Our highly trained gambling treatment specialists are happy to present on various gambling topics. Whether it’s to educate to recognize a gambling problem, or start a conversation at work, Cascadia can customize presentations to your needs.

Contact us today to find out how we can raise awareness within your community and what services we can provide. We provide free talks about gambling around the Tri-County area. Let us know how we can speak with your group or organization.

Cascadia Problem Gambling Program Helps Within Prison Walls

Since 2005 Cascadia has been working within the prisons, offering a program called “GEAR” (Gambling Evaluation and Reduction) to inmates. The GEAR program initially started at the women’s institution, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in Wilsonville. Cascadia eventually expanded the program to the Columbia River Correctional Facility (CRCI) for men in Portland. Cascadia Problem Gambling Counselors have been working on problem gambling education within the prison systems and are changing lives.

GAMBLING TREATMENT