A private, collaborative space to talk about gambling and the ways it may be affecting your money, your relationships and your peace of mind. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, social workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and supervised student therapists. In person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtual across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Problem Gambling Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure your gambling is a real problem. It is legal, people around you may do it too, and there may be whole weeks when it feels under control. So it can be hard to tell whether the uneasy feeling you carry is worth acting on, or whether you are overthinking it.

Maybe you have noticed small things. Telling yourself one more bet will be the last, then placing another. Checking your balance after a night of betting and feeling your stomach drop. Keeping a statement, an app or a withdrawal to yourself because explaining it feels harder than hiding it.

Or you may be here because of someone else's gambling. You might be trying to make sense of missing money, broken promises, or a sense that something at home has shifted.

Feeling pulled in two directions, wanting to cut back and wanting to keep going, is a very human response. It is not a character flaw. Wanting to keep things private while you figure them out is understandable too. None of this means something is permanently wrong with you, or with the person you care about.

If you are trying to work out whether talking with someone could help, you may wish to read on and see what this kind of counselling involves. Take in as much or as little as you need today.

Who We Help

Problem gambling counselling may be a good fit if you:

• feel gambling is taking more time, money or attention than you intended
• are unsure whether you want to stop, cut back or simply understand your habits better
• are carrying stress about debt, spending or money worries connected to gambling
• notice urges to gamble during stress, boredom, loneliness or celebration
• bet online, on sports, at casinos, on lottery products or in other ways and want to talk about it
• are facing conflict, secrecy or trust concerns in a relationship because of gambling
• are a partner, parent, adult child or friend affected by someone else's gambling

This service may not be the right fit if you:

• are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the crisis resources below.
• need a court-ordered evaluation, a legal report or another forensic service. These needs are outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• need debt counselling, financial planning or legal advice. A therapist may encourage you to look into these supports alongside counselling but cannot provide them.
• need medical care or intensive, specialized addiction treatment. Counselling does not replace these services.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling is not set up for emergencies. If you have an immediate safety concern, or may act on thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line (Canada): text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Problem Gambling Counselling Is

Problem gambling counselling is talk-based support for people who want to understand their gambling, or its effect on someone close to them. It offers space to understand patterns, clarify goals and consider next steps. "Problem gambling" is a term Canadian community mental health organizations use for this kind of support (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA] Grey Bruce, n.d.).

You do not need a diagnosis to start. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification includes gambling disorder within disorders due to addictive behaviours (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). A web page cannot tell you whether that label applies to you, and this counselling service is not a diagnostic assessment.

Counselling here is not:

• a legal service or an investigation into what happened with money or relationships
• crisis intervention or emergency care
• debt counselling, financial advice or medical treatment
• a psychological assessment, which is offered as a separate service
• a replacement for specialized addiction services when those are needed

You set the pace. You decide what to talk about and when, and you can decline any topic. What you share is confidential within limits set by law and professional standards, and your therapist will explain those limits before you begin (see Confidentiality and Privacy below). Each clinician works within their own scope of practice, so if your needs fall outside it, they may suggest other supports.

Signs Gambling May Be Affecting You

Gambling concerns are studied at a national level in Canada. Statistics Canada (n.d.) has published research on who gambles and who experiences gambling problems. On a personal level, gambling can sometimes affect finances, relationships, work, routines or emotional well-being. You might recognize some of these experiences:

• gambling taking up more of your time or attention than you meant it to
• finding it hard to stick to limits you set for yourself
• worry about bills, debt or borrowed money connected to gambling
• keeping bets, accounts or losses from people close to you
• more arguments, or less trust, at home
• moods that rise and fall with wins and losses
• thinking about gambling at work, during family time or when trying to sleep
• changes in sleep, appetite or energy as stress builds
• pulling back from people or activities you used to enjoy

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to stress, money pressure and habits that have become hard to shift. Structured support can give you a place to look at them clearly, at a pace that feels manageable.

If you would like to read more on your own, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA, 2020) has published a public fact sheet on gambling.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use our Match Tool or browse therapist profiles to learn about each clinician's background. If you would like guidance, our admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book online or by phone. Your first appointment covers consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what you would like support with. You do not need to have everything figured out before you come.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan around your goals. That might mean stopping, cutting back, rebuilding trust, or understanding what gambling has been doing for you. Your input guides it.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Follow-up timing is often weekly or bi-weekly and can be adjusted collaboratively.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going with you on a regular basis. The plan can change as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage, including decisions to change focus, slow down or take a break. Our Getting Started with Therapy page walks through the process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, n.d.) has published guidance on the identification, assessment and management of gambling-related harms. The summaries below are deliberately cautious. They describe approaches a clinician may draw on, depending on their training, your goals and fit, and they say plainly where the evidence summarized here is limited.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: CBT focuses on the thoughts, situations and routines that lead into gambling, and on practising different responses to urges.

Evidence summary: Cognitive behavioural treatment for gambling harm has been examined in an umbrella review and meta-analysis ("Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Gambling Harm," n.d.). Because an umbrella review brings together earlier reviews, this shows the approach has been studied repeatedly. Cognitive behavioural approaches may be considered as part of counselling.

Limitations: The review's findings are not summarized on this page, so no claim is made here about how well CBT works or who benefits most. Responses vary from person to person.

Learn more about cognitive behavioural therapy.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

What it helps with: MI may help when part of you wants to change and part of you does not, by exploring those mixed feelings at your own pace.

Evidence summary: Some counselling conversations may draw on motivational interviewing principles to explore change at a person's own pace. Research on MI for gambling concerns is not summarized here, so this page makes no claim about its effectiveness.

Limitations: Not every clinician uses this approach. How useful it feels depends on the person and the therapeutic relationship.

Learn more about motivational interviewing.

Values-Based and Skills-Focused Work

What it helps with: This work may help you clarify what matters to you and build practical skills for stress, urges and difficult emotions linked to gambling.

Evidence summary: Values-based conversations and emotional regulation skills may be drawn on when they suit your goals and the clinician's scope of practice. Research on these approaches for gambling concerns is not summarized here, so this page makes no claim about their effectiveness.

Limitations: Fit depends on the person and on the clinician's training. Gambling-specific evidence for these approaches has not been reviewed for this page.

Learn more about emotional regulation.

What Results to Expect

Change with gambling is rarely a straight line. Some people notice shifts within months, while others benefit from longer-term work. A setback does not have to undo what you have learned.

What helps, and how quickly, depends on many things. These include how long gambling has been a concern, what else is happening in your life, financial and relationship pressures, the support around you, and how well you connect with your therapist. No form of counselling can guarantee an outcome, and results vary from person to person.

Fit matters. If a therapist or an approach is not working for you, you can change either one, and our admin team can help you find someone else.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Your therapist will not share information about you without your consent, except in situations where the law requires or permits it.

Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow its standards of practice. They also follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Other clinicians follow the standards of their own professional bodies.

Two Alberta privacy laws are relevant. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics collect, use, store and disclose personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by custodians, such as public health services, and by providers working on their behalf. Your clinician can explain how these laws apply to your care.

There are limits to confidentiality. Your therapist may need to share information without your consent if:

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• there is a suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, which must be reported under Alberta law
• a court orders the release of records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy, record-keeping or virtual sessions before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about how much I have lost, or every detail of my gambling?

No. You decide what to share and when. Some people start with present-day patterns, such as when urges show up or how gambling fits into a typical week, rather than going over every bet or dollar. Your therapist may ask questions to understand your situation, and you can always say you are not ready to answer.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within limits set by law. Your therapist can share information without your consent only in specific situations, such as a risk of serious harm, a suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, or a court order. These limits are explained in your first session. The Confidentiality and Privacy section above has more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a short period to work through a specific concern, while others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist will review progress regularly and decide together whether to continue, change focus or finish.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and wanting someone different is a reasonable request. You can let our admin team know, and they can help you find another clinician whose approach or background suits you better. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Virtual counselling suits some people better than others, so your therapist can talk with you about whether it fits your needs and your privacy at home. You can read more about online counselling.

Do I need to have decided to quit before I start?

No. You do not need a diagnosis or a fixed plan. Counselling can give you room to explore mixed feelings, priorities and options at your own pace, whether you are thinking about stopping, cutting back or simply understanding your habits better.

Someone I care about gambles. Can I get support for myself?

Yes. Gambling can affect partners, families and close friends, and you can seek counselling for your own stress, boundaries and decisions. Individual, couples or family-focused support may be worth discussing. The right format depends on the people involved, their goals and clinician availability. Our pages on couples counselling and family issues may also help.

Can my therapist help with debt or money decisions?

A therapist can help with the stress, conflict and emotions that can come with money problems, but cannot give financial or legal advice. When relevant, they may encourage you to consider additional financial, legal, medical or community supports. If money worries are a large part of what you are facing, our page on financial risk and stress counselling may be useful.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with CAP. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students who see clients under supervision.

Clinicians' training and areas of focus vary. Individual profiles on our Our Therapists page describe each person's background, so you can look for experience with gambling-related concerns, addictive behaviours, financial stress or relationships. The Match Tool can help you narrow your options, and our admin team can offer guidance at 780-904-4880.

Children and Youth

Gambling can affect a whole household, including children and teens who may notice tension, money worries or changes at home. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. They also work with parents and caregivers to support a steady, caring environment at home.

You can learn more about child and youth counselling and adolescent mental health support.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to talk with someone about gambling, whether your own or someone else's, you can take the next step in whatever way feels manageable.

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call our admin team: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy to see what to expect

Starting the conversation is enough.

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce. (n.d.). Problem gambling treatment.
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2020). Gambling [Fact sheet].
• Cognitive-behavioral treatment for gambling harm: Umbrella review and meta-analysis. (n.d.). PubMed.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Gambling-related harms: Identification, assessment and management.
• Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Study: Who gambles and who experiences gambling problems in Canada.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics: Gambling disorder.