According to Gambling Therapy, gambling is a taught addiction or behaviour which has not spontaneously arrived like an illness arrives but has been etched into an individual’s state of being. Gambling Therapy maps out 6 stages that emerge with the gambling addiction, including:
Stages of Gambling Therapy
Pro-contemplative
In the pre-contemplative stage, the individual has not yet identified the gambling problem and lacks motivation to change their gambling habits.
Contemplative
The contemplative stage is when a gambling addict begins to think about whether they need to change their ways and which methods of change might be available to them.
Determination
The Determination stage involves recognising the need for change and developing plans to implement it.
Action
Initiating plans for change refers to taking action.
Maintenance
In the maintenance stage, we establish barriers to ensure the continued success of the change.
Relapse
Relapse refers to the addict falling victim to old gambling habits and diverting back to the pre-contemplative stage. It is not necessarily true that all individuals addicted to gambling will embark on each of these stages. What is consistent, according to Gambling Therapy, is the conscious act of decision-making. To address their addiction, an individual must shift from the subconscious to the conscious mind. If a gambler has not reached a ‘conscious’ state of mind, they are unlikely to take action on their addiction.