RI Gambling Treatment Program
Group Therapy
 We
currently offer group therapy two evenings per week from 7 to
8:30. Enrollment is limited to about 12 patients per group. Group
therapy is only available to patients who are being seen regularly
in individual therapy as well.
Our "beginner's" group is the Gambling Recovery
Skills Group. This is a structured group that focuses on a
different topic each week for 10 weeks. The group begins with
a lecture format each week followed by group discussion of the
topic. Groups are limited to pathological gamblers with the exception
of the last group, where spouses, partners, parents and others
are invited by the group members to discuss issues in a shared
group. The topics are:
- Introduction to the group and to stages of change.
- Benefits and costs of gambling.
- Triggers to gambling and gambling cravings.
- "The Experience Cycle"—thoughts, emotions and
impulses to gamble.
- Leisure activities (developing new leisure skills is important
to recovery).
- Randomness and gambling: Safe@Play®
slots tutorial.
- Cognitive distortions and gambling.
- Relapse prevention.
- Open discussion group.
- Significant others.
Patients who have completed the Gambling Recovery Skills Group
may transition to the Continued Recovery Support Group.
This is an open-ended discussion group that centers on, but is
not limited to, discussions of gambling. It allows discussion
of personal issues in a safe, supportive and confidential environment.
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