GAMBLING & SPORTS BETTING

Although I work with patients who are dealing with all sorts of mental health issues, I am an International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC-I) and my specialty and expertise lies in addiction disorders and more specifically, in gambling and sports betting. 

As online sports betting has grown in popularity, legality, and accessibility over the past few years, sports gambling addiction has grown as well. In response to this greater need for treatment and long-term solutions, I’ve developed a unique approach to treat this specific kind of problematic addiction; my approach is a holistic one that includes both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness principles. 

Our cultural obsession with watching and talking about sports can make it extra challenging to cut sports from our lives, so instead of focusing on quitting sports entirely, my method focuses on maintaining sports viewing and participation while abstaining from betting—or, in other words, separating the action of gambling from the sport itself. 

I want my clients, some of whom are athletes of all levels—including current and former college athletes—to be able to enjoy sports again, without feeling the pull of their addiction. My goal is to help individuals learn how to healthfully navigate sports viewing and to remain strong when faced with the barrage of sports betting advertisements that has become such a big part of so many modern sports viewing experiences. 


“Can’t we all just be fans?! Sports betting in 2024 and Beyond” Workshop

In addition to working individually with clients who struggle with sports betting, I also serve as the Training Specialist for the Responsible Gambling Department at Telus Health. In this role I have created a curriculum for other therapists and facilitate professional workshops on this subject. As with my individual work, these workshops focus on teaching clinicians how to help their clients maintain their competitiveness and participation in sports/sports viewing while abstaining from gambling.  

Learn more about me and my approach in the following clips (from a feature on Boston 25 News)

Interested in learning more?